ETHICAL DECISION MAKING AND ACTION

DECISION MAKING FORMATS

GROUP 10

KIDDER’S ETHICAL CHECKPOINTS

Kidder - nine checkpoints for ethical decision-making:

1. Recognize that there is a moral issue.

2. Determine the actor.

– Whose issue is it? Is anyone responsible?

– Is anyone morally obligated to do anything?

3. Gather the relevant facts.

Good decision making requires good understanding of facts.

What are the relevant facts of the case? What facts are not known? Can I learn

more about the situation? Do I know enough to make a decision?

4. Test for right vs. wrong issues.

Evaluate the options by asking the following questions:

Which option will produce the most good and do the least harm? (The

Utilitarian Approach).

Which option best respects the rights of all who have a stake? (The Rights

Approach).

Which option treats people equally or proportionately? (The Justice

Approach)

5. Test for right-versus-right paradigms.

What sort of dilemma is this?

Is it a case of truth versus loyalty?

Is it a case of short-term versus long-term?

Is it a case of justice versus mercy?

6. Apply the resolution principles.

• Ends-based thinking: Do what's best for the

greatest number of people.

• Rule-based thinking: Follow your highest sense

of principle.

• Care-based thinking: Do what you want others

to do to you.

7. Investigate the "trilemma" options. Is there a

third way through this dilemma?

8. Try to find a creative middle ground. Make

the decision.

9. Revisit and reflect on the decision.

THE MORAL COMPASS

• Professor Lynn Paine offers a four-part “moral

compass” for guiding managerial decision

making.

• The goal of the compass is to ensure that

ethical considerations are factored into every

organizational decision.

1. Purpose—Will this action serve a worthwhile

purpose?

2. Principle—Is this action consistent with relevant

principles?

3. People—Does this action respect the legitimate

claims of the people likely to be affected?

4. Power—Do we have the power to take this action?

THE FIVE “I” FORMAT

• Identify the problem.

• Investigate the problem.

• Innovate by generating a variety of solutions.

• Isolate a solution.

• Implement the solution.

CASE STUDY

A Violation of Etiquette or Ethics?

Facts

• Worldwide, cell phones have become more common than

fixed telephones.

• Common complaints include:

– High volume conversations referred to as “cell yell.”

– Irritating rings.

– Inappropriate timing.

– Inane conversations.

– Forced intimacy.

– Disregard for immediate others.

• Begun to publish guidelines for cell phone etiquette on

their Web sites in hopes that users will change their ways

before further restrictions are put into place.

• Users will modify their behaviours once they learn the

rules.

• One survey found that the percentage of cell phone owners

using their devices in public places had decreased.

• Cell phone abuse sparks intense emotional reactions.

• Those victimized by thoughtless callers can feel violated,

embarrassed, and angry.

• A number of ethical principles could be applied

to the controversy surrounding cell use.

– For instance, in deciding whether or not to carry on

a conversation in public, callers might ask

themselves if they would want everyone to do the

same.

– Or they might also ask themselves if such

conversations promote the common good or

concern for others.

How does etiquette differ from ethics?

• Ethics are the moral guidelines around which a society

bases its values. Etiquette is nothing more then social

codes determining politeness in a given situation.

• Business etiquette is conduct prescribed by convention

or by authority to be used while interacting with business

associates. Business ethics is the principles of right or

good conduct governing business people and

organizations.

Is public cell phone abuse a matter of etiquette or ethics or both? Why?

• Both.

Cell phones have made it possible for us to stay in touch no matter

where we happen to be working.

– But it can also be a means of irritating and annoying fellow mobile workers,

co-workers and clients and also the people around you.

– If you fail to use proper cell phone etiquette you may also risk disclosing

confidential corporate information.

– The man or woman talking loudly into a mobile phone forces others to

listen to business that's none of their own.

– Unknown messages and phone calls.

Do you think that cell phone abuse is becoming less or more of a problem? What evidence can you

offer for your conclusion?

• Cell phone abuse is becoming more of a

problem.

– MMS

– Blank calls or unknown calls

– Service messages

How do you respond to someone misusing a cell phone in public? Is your response ethical?

The different actions can be :-

1. Telling the person that whatever he is doing is wrong.

2. If the person violates rules of the public places than one can

complain to respective authority.

• Yes, our response is ethical because we are preventing that

person from violating rules and regulations of the such

public places.

IS BETTER TO ASK FOR PERMISSION OR TO ASK FOR FORGIVENESS

Facts of the case Anselmo Escobar – the owner of the stately homes, a small

residential contractor.

Thinking of building apartments in locality by cutting many mature

trees.

Also fear that this move will not liked by the neighborhood

residents.

He had two options in this situation i.e.

• First, Cut the trees without informing the residents and

• Second, to consult the people before cutting the trees.

And also the fact that their was no legal

constraint on him to compulsorily inform the

people.

Ethical Issue in the case :-

Should he cut trees without informing the

residents ?

What should Escobar do ?

He should take the permission of residents

before cutting down the trees.

He should in consultation with the residents

try to make an tree plantation program or

growing more trees thus reducing the impact

of cut trees .

If he takes the decision to cut the trees without informing people than …….

1. People may revolt or make agitation about

the project.

2. It will also will damage the goodwill of the

company thus resulting cancelations of many

such projects.

If he takes the permission of people to cut the trees than …….

1. He can complete the project without any objection

from local residents.

2. It will also create goodwill to the company by

showing concern for people and environment.

3. It will help him in introduction of many such new

projects.

GAMING THE SYSTEM

Facts of the case

Alice Hamilton is a primary care physician at a large Health

Maintenance Organization (HMO)

Determine to keep medical costs down

Many of Alice’s colleagues lie to ensure that patients get the

care they deserve - refer to as “gaming the system.”

However, their cheating is a way to pacify patients who

demand unneeded tests and treatments.

Should Dr. Hamilton game the system like many of her fellow professionals ? Why or why not ?

He should not because it is not ethical , and it will be against

Justice approach. The doctors main priority is to cure the

patients and not to try to play with the life’s of the people.

Secondly, people visits doctors thinking that they are 2nd

after god who has power to cure humans.

It is also moral duty of the physician being loyal to his

patients.

WHEN THE GOOD NEWS IS BAD NEWS

Facts about the case

Kentuky College which is small private school.

Employees and Administrators were happy that new freshman were admitted in

the school.

Thinking that it will result in increase in salaries, new facilities

It resulted in increased in students but there was no enough rooms for student

to accommodate,

New students were placed in study rooms and in double rooms that were

converted to “triples” by adding an extra bunk bed.

But the students were asked to pay the full charges .

Discussion Questions

1. Was Kentucky college wrong to admit more students

than it could house comfortably?

Ans. Yes,

They were wrong to admit more freshman than their

capacity to accommodate them.

Their duty is to see that they are provided with proper

housing facilities.

2. Was the housing director justified in refusing to

reduce fees for those students forced to live in

substandard conditions ?

Ans. No,

He violated the fairness or justice approach by making

the students to pay same amount of fees with

inappropriate staying facility.

MERCY FOR MARGARET?

FACTS

• Receptionist Margaret Simpson was one of the first employees hired at T

Rex Manufacturing when the company opened 20 years ago.

• For two decades she has been the face of the company to visitors and a

friendly voice on the phone for suppliers and employees alike.

• Margaret’s job performance has begun to slip.

• Smith must come to a decision about Margaret soon.

• T Rex executive knows that the choice is a difficult one given Margaret’s

loyal service, her age and lack of retirement savings, and his desire to foster

a family-like atmosphere at the plant.

What action should Smith take?

• Find the cause of downfall of her performance

• Demotion rather than removal.

• Job rotation.

THANK YOU