Opportunism

Opportunism is “taking advantage of circumstances”. With the definition of opportunism, one would think that “wise” people would act opportunistically since it is an additional benefit for them. However, there are some people who don’t act opportunistically because they would want to be a “good citizen” or their opportunistic action is considered unethical.

In class, we discussed an example of being a “good citizen.” Good citizens (students) would help students who are enrolled later in the course to figure out what is going on in the class since they have been in class from the beginning, and they know what is going on in the class. That action is not required but as a good citizen, students would help others to get caught up in the class. Also, voting is an example of good citizen’s behavior. Voting for presidential election isn’t required but good citizen would vote and express one’s thought for the better society.

Taking advantage can be considered unethical in a sense of it was solely due to one’s self-interest and that act directly or indirectly cause disadvantage to others. On the other hands, if one takes advantage of circumstances, and it doesn’t cause any disadvantages to others, that action is ethical, and it is a wise decision to take advantages since such opportunities are rare.

I would like to give an example from my friend who didn’t act opportunistically. During summer, he was interned in some company in South Korea. In South Korea, it is hard for college student interns to get involved in projects with team manager unlike in the United States. The duty for most interns in South Korea would be running errands such as typing and making a coffee for their superiors. I am not saying that internship in South Korea is not worthy, since they will learn and experience actual atmosphere of that company. The point that I would like to make is that interns should grab opportunities and ask their managers for more tasks to do. If their managers think that intern is capable of doing so, managers would assign actual tasks to the intern, but those tasks are not naturally given in Korean companies as an intern.

My friend was given an opportunity to be involved in his team manager’s project and his name would be on projects which could be even better experience that he could write in his resume. His manager asked my friend to be part of his project because the other intern who was supposed to be part of that project was ill and was absent for the work few days. He said that he felt some kinds of guilt if he took his chance to be part of that project while the other intern was not present in the workplace. In my friend’s perspective, he wanted to act like a good citizen. He didn’t want to steal the other intern’s opportunity. Even though it was not technically stealing since the manager asked my friend to be part of it, he waited until the other intern recovered to come back to the company and worked on team manager’s project. However, in my perspective, I think he should have been part of the manager’s project. I believe that it is a good citizen to work in manager’s project instead of the other intern who was absent for few days. It would be more efficient for the manager to work on projects few days earlier with my friend and finish the project in advance. And, I believe that is the reason why the manager asked my friend if he wants to be part of his project. In addition, since the manager asked my friend, it is not unethical to be part of the project. There were unfortunate circumstances for that intern who was ill, and my friend could take an advantage of that circumstance. Some might say that my perspective is self-interested to do so, but acting opportunistically naturally involves self-interest and I don’t think it is bad unless it actually abuses others.

Opportunities are not given often. When opportunities arise, I believe that one should take that opportunities. It is true that one is patient then other opportunities will be given in some future. However, it is uncertain that opportunities will arise in the future, and one will have chance to take that opportunities. So, I think that people should take opportunities unless it is unethical to do so.