B&S Chapter 8 - Personal and Organizational Ethics

Question 1

Ethics principle

Answer 1

ethical concept, guideline, or rule which, if applied when you are faced with an ethical decision or practice, will assist you in taking the ethical course

Question 2

Teleological theories

Answer 2

focus on the consequences or results of the actions they produce. (ie Utilitarianism, which recommends the action that produces the greatest good for the greatest number)

Question 3

Deontological theories

Answer 3

focus on duties.

Question 4

Aretaic theories

Answer 4

Aristotle’s “virtue” theories

Question 5

Utilitarianism

Answer 5

act to produce the greatest ratio of good to evil for everyone. Focus on common welfare.

Question 6

Kant’s categorical imperative

Answer 6

sense of duty arises from reason or rational nature, an internal source.

1) Act only on rules that you would be willing to see everyone else follow.
2) Principle of ends: treat humanity in every case as an end and never as merely a means.
3) Principle of autonomy: We do not need an external authority to determine moral law, we can discover it ourselves.

Question 7

Principle of rights

Answer 7

Rights cannot be overridden by utility; only y another, more basic or important right.

Question 8

Negative right

Answer 8

the right to be left alone, to think and act freely

Question 9

Positive right

Answer 9

the right to something, such as food, shelter, education

Question 10

Principle of justice

Answer 10

The “fairness principle.” Involves the fair treatment of each person.

Question 11

Distributive justice

Answer 11

distribution of benefits and burdens in societies and organizations

Question 12

Compensatory justice

Answer 12

compensating someone for a past injustice

Question 13

Procedural justice (ethical due process)

Answer 13

fair decision-making procedures, practices, or agreements

Question 14

Rawl’s principle of justice

Answer 14

1) Each person has an equal right to the most extensive basic liberties compatible with similar liberties for all others.
2) Social and economic inequalities are arranged so that they are both reasonably expected to be to everyone’s advantage and attached to positions/offices open to all.

Question 15

Ethics of care

Answer 15

Responsibilities to others and the necessity of interdependent relationships

Question 16

Virtue ethics

Answer 16

An individual is imbued with virtues (honesty, fairness, truthfulness). Focuses not on actions but on being a virtuous person.

Question 17

Servant leadership

Answer 17

An approach to ethical leadership and decision making based on the moral principle of serving others first.

Question 18

The Golden Rule (ethic of reciprocity)

Answer 18

Do unto others as you would have them do unto you

Question 19

Test of common sense (“smell” test)

Answer 19

Logical to consider the practical implications of a decision. If a proposed course of action stinks, don’t do it.

Question 20

Test of one’s best self

Answer 20

“Is this action compatible with my concept of myself at my best?”

Question 21

Test of making something public (Disclosure rule)

Answer 21

“How would I feel if others knew I was doing this?”

Question 22

Test of ventilation

Answer 22

Expose your proposed action to others and get their thoughts on it before acting.

Question 23

Test of purified idea

Answer 23

“Am I thinking this action or decision is right just because someone with appropriate authority or knowledge says it is right?”

Question 24

Test of the big four

Answer 24

Greed, speed, laziness, and haziness. If you’ve fallen victim to one of these, you may not be acting ethically.

Question 25

Gag test

Answer 25

A dubious decision or action is going too far when you simply “gag” at the thought of carrying it out.

Question 26

Philip Lewis process

Answer 26

1) look at the problem from the position of the other person
2) try to determine what virtuous response is expected
3) ask how it would feel for the decision to be disclosed to an audience and whether the decision is consistent with organizational goals
4) act in a way that is right and just for any other person in a similar situation and good for the organization