Governance and Ethics (within decision making) Standards in Action Governance and Ethics (within decision making)

Governance and Ethics (within decision making)

Standards in Actionwww.bsieducation.org/standardsinaction


Author:Dr John McManus



Objectives of material

• How should Managers behave?• Who should Managers be responsible to?• Governance and Governance and ethics, (the business

dimensions for concern)• Code of Governance and ethics• The rise of the green agenda and ethical business• Environment complexity



Ethical Issues Faced by Managers

• Bribery• Conflicts of interest• Environmental protection • Fairness• Fraud• Honesty in research and testing• Public safety



Definitions of Governance and Ethics

• Governance and ethics is the study of the characteristics of morals– The moral choices that are made by each person in their

relationship to others

• Engineering Governance and ethics is the rules and standards governing the conduct of engineers in their role as professionals



A Definition of Ethics

A man’s ethical behavior should be based effectually on sympathy, education, and social ties; no religious basis is necessary. Man would be in a poor way if he had to be restrained by fear of punishment and hope of reward after death.

Albert Einstein (1879-1955)



Governance and Ethics Provides Framework for Decision Making• The concepts are not aimed at making the decision

maker a good person or a bad person• Ethical problems are complex

– The choice between right and wrong is often complex and overshadowed

– Analytical tools need to be applied to break the question down to its core elements

• The correct decision is often obvious at the rudimentary level



Governance and Ethics Across the World

• General philosophy behind Governance and ethics is non-religious– Human societal experience– [Not for Greeks: see Ulysses]

• Location or tradition independent– What is considered to be unethical in one location will be

considered unethical in another– Ethical behavior doesn’t change just because of local

circumstance



Similar to other Management Disciplines

• No unique correct solution– Range of answers with some better than others

• Apply a large body of knowledge to the problem• Involve the use of analytical skills



Moral Theory• Utilitarianism

– Produce the most overall utility

• Duty Governance and ethics– Duties should be performed regardless of outcome

• Rights Governance and ethics– Moral rights can not be violated

• Virtue Governance and ethics– Good character traits (virtues) vs. bad character traits (vices)



Utilitarianism• Risk-benefit analysis and cost-benefit analysis

– Ultimately tied together• Can seem to ignore the needs of the individual

– The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few or the one - Spock from The Wrath of Khan

• Outcome prediction is key to application• Act utilitarianism and rule utilitarianism

– Act utilitarianism: only outcome counts– Rule utilitarianism: must stay within boundary of law even if

outcome is limited [Because of unintended consequences]



Duty and Rights Governance and Ethics Good Consequences for Society as a whole are not the only moral consideration Duty Governance and ethics

Ethical actions can be written as a list of duties Be honest, don’t cause suffering, be fair, etc.

Rights Governance and ethics People have fundamental rights

Life, liberty, and the pursuit of property (happiness) [interesting change]



Duty and Rights Governance and Ethics (cont.)• Opposite sides of the same coin

– Duty Governance and ethics: people have certain duties one of which is to protect the rights of others

– Right Governance and ethics: people have fundamental rights that others have a duty to protect

• Problems– Conflicts between one’s rights and another’s– Doesn’t account for the overall good of society very well



Virtue Governance and Ethics

• Fundamentally interested in determining what kind of people we should be

• Virtue is often defined as moral distinction and goodness– Actions are deemed right if they support good character traits

• Personal morality should not be separated from business morality– Virtuous behaviors should extend from personal life into his or

her business life



Personal vs. Corporate Morality

• A company cannot be a moral agent– Legal authority is diminished

• As a pseudo moral agent they should however be held to the same standard as individuals– A corporation cannot do whatever it pleases– Must respect right of others– Demonstrate same virtues that we expect of individuals



Which Theory to Use?• Many times the different theories lead to the same

conclusion (THE GREEN ISSUE)– A chemical plant releasing toxins into watershed

• Utilitarianism vs. Rights

• Some cases lead to conflicting conclusions– Duties and rights Governance and ethics conclusion weighted

more heavily• One life lost effect• Rationalization of 55 mph vs. 65 mph speed limits• [Right to smoke, drink and take drugs vs societal effects]



Analysis of Issues in Ethical Problems• Factual

– What is actually known about a case• May be unclear and controversial

• Conceptual– Meaning or application of an idea

• What constitutes a bribe vs. a gift?• Moral

– Usually obvious when factual and conceptual issue resolved• If the gift was a bribe, then it clearly was unethical



Overcoming Controversy• Reaching Some Acceptable Agreement through

Compromise– Factual

• Factual issues can often be resolved with research to determine the truth

– Conceptual• Agreement on the meaning of terms and concepts

– Not always possible - best level playing field– Moral

• Agreement on which moral principles are pertinent and how they should be applied



Ethical Problem-Solving Methods• Six Steps to a Responsible Decision

– Adapted from the University of Michigan Engineering Governance and ethics Web Page



Six Steps to a Responsible Decision

1. Goals– Summarize the goals of your project in one or two sentences,

ideally around 40-60 words.

2. Players (stakeholders)– List all the players who are affected by or have an interest in

your project– Rank each one as a major/average/minor player

• provide a brief explanation (one or two sentences) of how each player is affected or their interest in your project



Six Steps (cont.)

3. Facts and Standards– Collect information on the engineering facts as well as the

engineering safety and regulatory standards that have bearing on the decisions you will be making on this project

4. Ethical Dilemmas– Before you begin and as you continue to work on your project,

draw up a comprehensive list of ethical dilemmas you will confront



Six Steps (cont.)

5. Solutions– Explain how and why you propose to resolve the ethical

dilemmas identified in Step Four

6. Double-check– Review your most controversial decisions from the perspective

of players who's interests your were not able to satisfy, an appropriate engineering society ethical code, and the reaction of friends, family, and project advisor



Professional Codes of Governance and Ethics• Professional society charters typically include a code of

Governance and ethics– Provides a framework for ethical judgment– Some codes are enforceable

• Medicine and Law– Codes of engineering societies

• Generally unenforceable• May help bolster an individual’s position when confronting an

ethical issue imposed by a superior• Few engineers aware of the codes



National Society of Professional EngineersCode of Governance and ethics and pledge

“As a Professional Engineer, I dedicate my professional knowledge and skill to the advancement and betterment of human welfare.

I pledge:• To give the utmost of performance;• To participate in none but honest enterprise;• To live and work according to the laws of man and the highest standards of

professional conduct;• To place service before profit, the honor and standing of the profession

before personal advantage, and the public welfare above all other considerations.

In humility and with need for Divine Guidance, I make this pledge.”

Adopted by National Society of Professional Engineers, June 1954



The Role of Codes in Law

• Can a professional society and its code help you?– Support of professional society gives credence to ethical cases

in court– Validates the engineer’s concerns but may not keep the

engineer’s job



Some Study Questions• The basis for choosing a particular way for implementing a decision is not

governed merely by considerations of conventional logic or rationality. Decisions are also likely to involve considerations of justice and fairness as perceived by various stakeholders and by considerations of personal Governance and ethics or morality as perceived by different persons.

• Making decisions is by and large what project managers do. How well (or effectively) they make such decisions will be based on the criteria of behavioural history, situational beliefs, personnel and ethical values, social and occupational norms, personality, and environmental constraints.

• If we wish to encourage ethical risk taking, we must be prepared to accept and recognise that people will fail from time-to-time. Having absolute success without experiencing failure is almost impossible in business.

Governance and Ethics (within decision making) Standards in Action Governance and Ethics (within decision making)

Documents

ethics governance

ethics people

ethics duties

virtue governance

right governance

definition of ethics

definitions of governance

ethics moral rights