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4 Ethical Problem-Solving Techniques
• SECTIONS
• Introduction
• OBJECTIVES
• Apply these methods to • Introduction
• Analysis of issues in
Ethical Problems
• Line Drawing
• Flow Charting
• Conflict Problems
• Apply these methods to
hypothetical & real cases
• See how flow charting
can be used to solve
ethical problems, &
• Learn what bribery is &
how to avoid it.
• Conflict Problems
• An Application of Problem-
Solving Methods:
Bribery/Acceptance of
Gifts
how to avoid it.
• The 1st step in solving any ethical problem:
– to completely understand all of the issues involved
– frequently a solution to the problem becomes apparent
ANALYSIS OF ISSUES IN ETHICAL PROBLEMS
• The issues involved in understanding ethical
problems can be split into 3 categories:
– Factual
– Conceptual
– Moral
• Understanding these issues helps:
– to put an ethical problem in the proper framework
– often point the way to a solution
Types of Issues in Ethical Problem Solving
• Factual issues
•what is actually known about a case
(what the facts are always clear)
•may be controversial•may be controversial
• global warming is of great concern to society
as we continue to emit greenhouse gases into the atmosphere
•resolved through research to establish the truth
•Conceptual issues
•the meaning or applicability of an idea
•In engineering ethics: •In engineering ethics:
• defining what constitutes a bribe as opposed to an acceptable gift
• determining whether certain business information is proprietary
•resolved by agreeing on the meaning of terms & concepts
•Like factual issues, conceptual issues are not always clear-
cut & will often result in controversy as well
Types of Issues in Ethical Problem Solving
• Once the factual & conceptual issues have been resolved, all
that remains is to determine which moral principle is applicable
to the situation.
•Finally, moral issues are resolved by agreement as to
•which moral principles are pertinent
•how they should be applied
•Often, all that is required to solve a particular ethical problem is
a deeper analysis of the issues involved according to the a deeper analysis of the issues involved according to the
appropriate principles
•Once the issues are analyzed & agreement is reached on the
applicable moral principles, it is clear what the resolution should
be
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• useful for situations in which
– the applicable moral principles are clear
– but there seems to be ‘gray area’ about which ethical principle
applied
LINE DRAWING
applied
• to determine
– whether the problem is more like the positive or negative paradigm
– whether it is acceptable or unacceptable
• An advantage
– gives a visual picture of a
situation
– allows you to readily see
the consequences that
flow from each decision
FLOW CHARTING
flow from each decision
• Different flow charts can
be used to emphasize
different aspects of the
same problem
The key to
effective use
• Essential
– to be as objective
as possible
– to approach
flow charting honestly
to be creative in
determining
possible outcomes
& scenarios
not to be shy about
getting a negative
answer & deciding
to stop the project
• Frequently relates to problems with a choice between 2
conflicting moral values, each of which seems to be correct
CONFLICT PROBLEMS
• Can be solved in 3 ways:
– The easy choice: often, one is obviously more significant than the
other & easy choice
– The “creative middle way”: a compromise that will work for everyone
– The hard choice: sometimes, you have to bite the bullet & make the
best choice possible with the information available at the timebest choice possible with the information available at the time
• Frequently, you must rely on “gut feelings” for which path is
the correct one
• One of the many gray
areas of engineering
ethics:
AN APPLICATION OF PROBLEM-SOLVING METHODS:
BRIBERY / ACCEPTANCE OF GIFTS
ethics:
– the acceptance of gifts
from vendors
– the offering of gifts to
customers to secure
business
• The difficulty:
Sometimes,
the distinction has
to do with the value
of the gift
Always,
Ensure that
no matter
• The difficulty:
– the potential for gifts to
become bribes or to be
perceived of as bribes
– There is a fine line
between bribery & a
simple gift
Always,
it has to do
with
the intent of the
gift
no matter
how innocent
the gift may be,
the appearance
of impropriety is
avoided
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• Bribe:
– something, such as money or a favor, offered or given to someone in a
position of trust in order to induce him to act dishonestly
AN APPLICATION OF PROBLEM-SOLVING METHODS:
BRIBERY / ACCEPTANCE OF GIFTS
position of trust in order to induce him to act dishonestly
– something offered or serving to influence or persuade
• What are the ethical reasons for not tolerating bribery?
– bribery corrupts our free-market economic system & is anticompetitive
• Bribery does not reward the most efficient producer
– bribery is a sellout to the rich– bribery is a sellout to the rich
• Bribery corrupts justice & public policy
by allowing rich people to make all the rules.
– bribery treats people as commodities
that can be bought & sold
When Is a Gift a Bribe?
• Gifts
– nominal value, with a vendor’s logo & phone number on it, are really
just an advertising tool
• Generally, there is no problem with accepting these types of items.
– Social interaction, such as eating together, often facilitates the type
of close & successful interactions required by both sides
• However, when meals or gifts are no longer of low cost &
the expense of these items are not shared equally, the the expense of these items are not shared equally, the
possibility for abuse becomes large
During a sales visit, a sales representative offers you a coffee mug with his company’s name & logo on it. During a sales visit, a sales representative offers you a coffee mug with his company’s name & logo on it.
The value of the mug is $5. The value of the mug is $5.
Can you accept this item? Can you accept this item?
Examples of Gifts vs. Bribes
Does the answer to this question change if this item is a $350 crystal bowl
with the name of the company engraved on it?
Does the answer to this question change if this item is a $350 crystal bowl
with the name of the company engraved on it?
How about if there is no engraving on it?How about if there is no engraving on it?
Your meeting with a sales representative is running into the lunch hour.Your meeting with a sales representative is running into the lunch hour.
She invites you to go out for lunch.She invites you to go out for lunch.
You go to a fast-food restaurant & pay for your own lunch.You go to a fast-food restaurant & pay for your own lunch.
Is this proactive acceptable?Is this proactive acceptable?
Does the answer to this question change if you go to an expensive French restaurant?Does the answer to this question change if you go to an expensive French restaurant?
If she pays for lunch?If she pays for lunch?
• How can the analysis methods
described in this chapter be applied
to these examples?
Problem Solving
to these examples?
• by looking at the factual,
conceptual, & moral issues
– The facts will be obvious:
• who offered a gift, what its value was, & what its purpose was
– Conceptual issues will be somewhat more difficult:
• it must be determined whether the gift is of sufficient value to
influence a decision or whether that influence is the intent of the
gift
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• Line drawing can be very effectively applied to the
Problem Solving
examples
• The subtle differences between the value of the gift, the
timing of the gift, etc., are easily visualized using line
drawing
• Often it will be clear what will result from the acceptance or
offer of a gift
• How does one ensure that
accepting a gift
doesn’t cross the line into bribery?
Avoiding Bribery Problems
• The most important method
for determining this is to look at company policy
– Any deviation from this rule requires approval from appropriate
supervisors
– Other companies realize the importance of social interactions in business
transactions & allow their employees more discretion in determining what
is proper
• In the absence of strict corporate guidelines, a preapproval
from one’s management is the best guide to what is acceptable
Avoiding Bribery Problems
• In the absence of any corporate guidelines, another method for
determining the acceptability of an