Ethics Flashcards
What is ethics?
Determining right from wrong. Living a virtuous or rational life.
Distinguish between values, morals, ethics and ethical principles.
Values – beliefs important to you.
Morals – beliefs related to right and wrong.
Ethics – conscious reflection on moral beliefs.
Ethical principles – turning moral beliefs to actions.
How do personal and professional ethics differ?
Personal ethics: based on personal values, upbringing, family, culture
Professional ethics: from a formal system or set of rules adopted by a group.
Name several personal and organizational influences on ethical decision-making.
Personal influences: values and morals.
Organizational influences:
* integrity
* professionalism
* teamwork
* ethical standards
* honoring others’ rights and responsibilities
How can the many theories on ethics be loosely grouped?
- Virtue theories focus on the actor.
- Deontological theory focuses on the act.
- Utilitarianism theory focuses on the consequences.
What are virtue ethics?
The central function of humans to lead a rational life that is defined as virtuous.
Describe the advantages and disadvantages of virtue ethics.
Advantages: Allows doing bad things for the right reasons.
Disadvantages: Doesn’t explain how to know what is moral.
What school of ethics concentrates on the act?
Deontological theory.
Describe the advantages/disadvantages of the Deontological school.
Advantages: Defines what is moral and are good acts; it is your duty to be moral.
Disadvantages: Creates a paradox because you can never do anything wrong.
How do Utilitarian’s make ethical decisions?
Utilitarian ethics is the pursuit of pleasure.
Ethical decision making is possible using a mathematical formula.
Describe the advantages/disadvantages of utilitarian ethics.
Advantages:
Defines what is moral as what brings us happiness;
determine what is moral through basic math;
defines why you should be moral.
Disadvantages:
Ignores consequences;
happiness all the time is impossible.
What are the inherent problems with these philosophical approaches?
We may not agree with the content;
we may not agree on the same set of human and civil rights;
we may not agree on what serves the ‘common good.’
What should the goal of leaders be?
To make decisions that are ethically ‘right’ and beneficial to the organizational goals.
What are the four decision-types? Define each.
- Right/good decisions – ethically supportable and good for organizational goals.
- Right/bad decisions - ethically supportable but do not immediately contribute to organizational goals.
- Wrong/bad decisions – against ethical principles and detrimental for organizational goals.
- Wrong/good decisions - against ethical principles but profitable to the organization.
What are the five steps to making ethically-sound decisions?
- Recognize an ethical issue.
- Get the facts.
- Evaluate alternative actions.
- Make a decision and test it.
- Act and reflect on the decision.
In step one, what questions can you ask to decide if an ethical dilemma exists?
Is there something wrong personally, interpersonally, or socially?
Could the conflict, situation, or decision be damaging to people?
What questions should be asked in step two?
- What are the relevant facts?
- What people have an important stake in the outcome?
- Have all stakeholders been consulted?
How can you gather information in step two?
Combination of methods – interviews, group meetings, document review.
What is the ‘Globe and Mail’ test?
If you had to explain your decision on television or to a journalist, would you be comfortable doing so?
Would the headline be positive about the actions taken by your organization?
What can a Code of Ethics achieve in an organization?
acceptable behavior;
benchmark for self-evaluation;
high standards of practice;
framework for professional behavior;
mark of occupational maturity;
provides professional identity.
Why should a code be tailor-made?
Needs to be specific to be effective.
Why should employees be involved in creating the code?
People who are guided by the code should be actively involved for it to be meaningful and accepted.
Who should be consulted?
Key stakeholders.
Should the creation of the Code be outsourced?
Hiring a consultant can be useful, but they should not take over;
the Code should reflect your organization’s values.
