Session 2 - Individual ethics (Lance)

Question 1

How can you evaluate an individual business action? (three dimensions)

Answer 1

1. ethical evaluation
2. relational evaluation
3. economic valuation

Question 2

What is the ethical decision making process? what are the two dimensions and the four steps in it?

Answer 2

Question 3

What influences the decision making process? (two sets of factors)

Answer 3

1. individual factors (age, gener, personality etc.)
2. situational factors (reward system, job roles, context etc.)

Question 4

what are the 5 psychological factors associated with misbehavior?

Answer 4

1. overvaluing outcomes (pass on misbeh. if outcome is good)
2. motivated blindness (if it is in our interest, we ignore it)
3. ethical illusions (we think we are more ethical than we actually are)
4. ethical spillover (individuals might adapt their own ethical norms to the those of the organization)
5. denial of responsibility (we perceive that we have no other choice than to participate)

Question 5

What is the slippery slope effect?

Answer 5

• small steps not qualitatevily meaningful may lead to journey of unethical or illegal behaviors
• gradual unethical behavior of others is easier to accept than a sudden change

Question 6

How can you graphically show the slippery-slope mechanism?

Answer 6