Chapter 6 Ethical Principles Applied to Sport Management.

Chapter 6

Ethical Principles

Applied to Sport Management

Introduction• Ethics

– The systematic study of the values guiding our decision making

– Ethics reflect how we believe people should behave and how we want the world to operate

• Ethical dilemma – Practical conflict involving equally compelling

values or social obligations; solved when we articulate which commonly held values we admire most

• Morality – The list of those actions people ought to do or refrain

from doing

Ethical Considerations

• Decisions that affect diverse groups of people with conflicting interests (e.g., athletes, fans, media, community, businesses)

• Sport managers’ decisions about ethical dilemmas tend to fall under greater public scrutiny

• Ethical analysis involves a systematic process of reasoning: – Weighing pros/cons of two or more seemingly

valid choices that reflect equally cherished values

Ethical Considerations: Codes of Conduct

• Need exists for establishing solid ethical climates in corporations.

• Code of conduct outlines and explains the principles under which an organization or profession operates.

• Codes of conduct should be clear and straightforward and encourage employees to understand the goals they are trying to accomplish.

Ethical Considerations: Morality

• Some ethical dilemmas are about choosing between right and wrong or two opposing choices.

• Social practices depend on people upholding certain baseline values.

• Many moral values in society are codified in laws, but moral behavior cannot always be legislated and people cannot be forced to act morally.

Ethical Considerations: Morality in the Work World

• Absolutism – Moral precepts are universal—applicable to all

circumstances.• Relativism

– What is moral depends on the situation.• Commercial moral rules

– Rules of the marketplace guide activities such as sales and marketing.

• Noncommercial moral rules – Occupations demand loyalty to an oath of office or

professional standards to guard against selling out.

Ethical Considerations: Morality and Multiple Roles• Specific jobs in sports do not reside completely in

either the commercial or the noncommercial sphere.

• Process of making a moral choice, of deciding what is right and wrong, involves understanding the parameters of acceptable behavior in the context of one’s multiple roles in society.

Ethical Considerations: Morality and Corruption• Immoral behavior violates our basic assumptions

and corrupts our social institutions.• An immoral decision can lead to systemic

corruption that can destroy a sport enterprise.• Corruption usually occurs when people hop from

one set of moral precepts to another.• One feature of corruption is that it is systemic.

Ethical Considerations: Moral Reasoning and Work• Contemporary society is characterized by

innovation, which continually presents new ethical dilemmas

• Periodically need to assess whether our current practices are in keeping with values that underlie a just society

• Moral and ethical principles evolve over time

Key Skills: Ensuring Morality in the Workplace

• Rules designed to protect integrity of sports operate uncomfortably alongside business structure underwriting sports.

• Organizations can help individuals make moral choices by establishing standards, encouraging self-examinations, providing support structures, and enforcing codes.

Key Skills: Self-Examination

• An effective tool to remind people of ethical actions and express institutional concern for ethical issues

• Ask employees to think about hypothetical ethical dilemmas

• Accreditation programs (NCAA)

Key Skills: Forum for Moral Discourse• Communication is critical to

decreasing corruption and resolving ethical dilemmas.

• Employees should be encouraged to get together to discuss where and how they face specific problems.

• The process takes pressure off individuals and clarifies issues at stake.

• Decisions should be reviewed only after they have been made.

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Key Skills: Consequences

• Employees need to know there are consequences for immoral behavior.

• If people understand that corruption comes with certain risks, they are less likely to engage in immoral acts.

• Discipline must meet two criteria: – It must be (1) meaningful and (2) enforceable.