Chapter 3: ethical issues Flashcards
def. ethics
The principles of right and wrong that individuals use to make choices to guide their behaviours
What are the four widely used ethical standards?
- utilitarian approach
- rights approach
- fairness approach
- common good approach
def. utilitarian approach
an ethical action is the one that provides the most good or does the least harm
utilitarian approach in corporate action
the ethical corporate action would be the one that produces the greatest good and does the least harm for all affected parties—customers, employees, shareholders, the community, and the physical environment.
def. rights approach
an ethical action is the one that best protects and respects the moral rights of the affected parties
def. moral rights
Moral rights can include the rights to make one’s own choices about what kind of life to lead, to be told the truth, to be not injured, and to enjoy a degree of privacy. Which of these rights people are actually entitled to—and under what circumstances—is widely debated
organizational action based on the rights approach
An ethical organizational action would be one that protects and respects the moral rights of customers, employees, shareholders, business partners, and even competitors.
def. fairness approach
ethical actions treat all human beings equally, or, if unequally, then fairly, based on some defensible standard
example of fairness approach in corporate world
most people might believe it is fair to pay people higher salaries if they work harder or if they contribute a greater amount to the firm. However, there is less certainty regarding CEO salaries that are hundreds or thousands of times larger than those of other employees. Many people question whether this huge disparity of wages is based on a defensible standard or whether it is the result of an imbalance of power and hence is unfair.
def. common good approach
highlights the interlocking relationships that underlie all societies
argues that respect and compassion for all others is the basis for ethical actions.
What are the two frameworks for ethics?
traditional approach and Giving voice to values (GVV) approach
what does the common good approach highlight?
It emphasizes the common conditions that are important to the welfare of everyone. These conditions can include a system of laws, effective police and fire departments, health care, a public educational system, and even public recreation areas
What are the steps in the traditional approach?
- Recognize an ethical issue
- Get the facts
- Evaluate alternative actions
- Make a decision and test it
What questions do you ask in the first step of the traditional approach? (Recognize an ethical issue)
- Could this decision or situation damage someone or some group?
- Does this decision involve a choice between a good and a bad alternative?
- Is this issue about more than what is legal? If so, how?
What questions do you ask in the second step of the traditional approach? (get facts)
- What are the relevant facts of the situation?
- Do I know enough to make a decision?
- Which individuals and/or groups have an important stake in the outcome?
- Have I consulted all relevant persons and groups?
What questions do you ask in the third step of the traditional approach? (Evaluate alternative actions)
- Which option will produce the most good and do the least harm? (the utilitarian approach)
- Which option best respects the rights of all stakeholders? (the rights approach)
- Which option treats people equally or proportionately? (the fairness approach)
- Which option best serves the community as a whole, and not just some members? (the common good approach)
What questions in the fourth step of the traditional approach? (Make a decision and test it)
- Considering all the approaches, which option best addresses the situation?
- What is the outcome of my decision and what should I do next?
- How can I implement my decision with the greatest care and attention to the concerns of all stakeholders?
- How did my decision turn out, and what did I learn from this specific situation?
What questions should you ask in the first step of the GVV approach? (Identify an ethical issue)
- What are the different issues that give rise to the ethical issue?
- What are the values of the individuals or organizations underlying the ethical issue(s)?
- Is there a possibility of action to resolve the ethical issue?
What questions should you ask in the second step of the GVV approach? (purpose and choice)
- What personal choices do you have in reacting to this ethical issue?
- What is your most appropriate professional choice, being guided by professional rules, and what would be a “good” choice?
What questions should you ask in the third step of the GVV approach? (stakeholder analysis)
- Who is affected by the ethical issue?
- How are they affected, considering if I do give voice to resolving the issue?
- How are they affected, considering if I do not give voice to resolving the issue?
- How can I connect with the stakeholders to best deal with the ethical issue?
What questions should you ask in the fourth step of the GVV approach? (Powerful response)
- Who is my audience?
- What types of things could I say to provide a response to the ethical issue?
- What are some inhibiting arguments that would prevent me from acting?
- What could I say in response to the inhibiting arguments (called an enabling argument)?
- What external arguments (called levers) support my enabling arguments?
- What external research supports or refutes my arguments?
What questions should you ask in the fifth step of the GVV approach? (Scripting and coaching)
- What words (script) could I use when talking about the ethical issue? (consider both positive and negative responses)
- Who can I practise with?
- How would I approach my audience to provide the best opportunity for discussing the ethical issue?
What are the 5 steps of the GVV approach?
- Identify an ethical issue
- Purpose and choice
- Stakeholder analysis
- Powerful response
- Scripting and coaching
What does the traditional ethical approach provide a tool for?
deciding the nature of an action response that you can take
What does the GVV approach provide a tool/tools for?
dealing with the ethical issue in a co-operative way
def. code of ethics
A collection of principles intended to guide decision making by members of an organization
are different codes of ethics always consistent with one another?
no
thus, an individual might be expected to conform to multiple codes
What are the 3 fundamental tenets of ethics?
responsibility, accountability, and liability
def. responsibility
means that you accept the consequences of your decisions and actions
def. accountability
means determining who is responsible for actions that were taken
def. liability
a legal concept that gives individuals the right to recover the damages done to them by other individuals, organizations, or systems