what approach can you take to ensure ethical decision making

The ethical action is the one that provides the greatest good for the greatest number. 1. The Utilitarian Approach Some ethicists emphasize that the ethical action is the one that provides the most good or does the least harm, or, to put it another way, produces the greatest balance of good over harm. The utilitarian approach deals with consequences; it tries both to increase the good done and to reduce the harm done. Although you will likely encounter unique influences, conflicts, and actions beyond those detailed below, this framework can help you make ethical decisions in common day-to-day situations. Share: Photo courtesy ShutterstockEthical dilemmas will pop up from time to time at the office. Therefore, the most ethical thing to do is what provides the most good for the community. Or which option, at least somewhat, best demonstrates integrity, trustworthiness, honesty, compassion, or any of the other virtues we honor? We probably also have an image of what an ethical community, an ethical business, an ethical government, or an ethical society should be. To analyze an issue using the utilitarian approach, we first identify the various courses of action available to us. Does any one of the available options do more good than harm? Utilitarianism was conceived in the 19th century by Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill to help legislators determine which laws were morally best. Ethics is not following the law. Fairness or Justice Approach- which action treats people fairly? • The principle states: “What is ethical is what develops moral virtues in ourselves and our communities.”. The idea here is that people should always strive to find the proper balance between extremes in any circumstance Etc. Consider your primary community; however it is reasonable to define it. Five universal approaches to consider when making ethical decisions. But ethics provides reasons for how humans ought to act. Instead, you need to understand what matters to you. Do Minimal Investigation. My partner? They know less, and therefore ask the simple questions you have ignored. If you have any doubt about saying Yes to any of the questions then you should think about things more carefully. Some people call it intuition; some call it conscience. But there is a debate over CEO salaries that are hundreds of times larger than the pay of others; many ask whether the huge disparity is based on a defensible standard or whether it is the result of an imbalance of power and hence is unfair. But science alone does not tell us what we ought to do. In short, even if she weren’t wealthy, I would drop the concert and go visit her. My own happiness is important, but it must be put into the mix with everyone else’s happiness as well. After you take action, review the path you chose. Some initial analysis has to happen for leaders to truly understand where they need to bring in ethical principles. He has published multiple papers on topics including human rights, culture, political discussion, posthumanism and international affairs to name a few. In a recent interview with the AICD, Dr Longstaff discussed the new guide Ethics in the Boardroom: A Decision-Making Guide for Directors and outlined how directors can go about navigating this ethical terrain. We have found the following framework for ethical decision making a useful method for exploring ethical dilemmas and identifying ethical courses of action. Recently, your wealthy aunt was taken ill, and you received a phone call that she is now in the hospital; furthermore, it would be good if you could come home to visit her in the hospital this weekend. Build awareness through training Employees can’t just be told to be ethical – they must be trained and encouraged to enact ethical decision-making processes. Considering all these approaches, which option best addresses the situation? Publish your guiding principles. Make Your Decision. • Keep in mind, different communities may identify differing virtues. I favor virtue ethics because it provides a basis for evaluating the decision as ethical, which traditional philosophical reasoning methods do as well, and also it can be used to evaluate the ethics of the person making the decision. Before tackling an ethical issue, clearly define the nature of the challenge. They enable us to pursue the ideals we have adopted. In deciding whether an action is moral or immoral using this approach, then, we must ask, Does the action respect the moral rights of everyone? We may not agree on what constitutes the common good. So, when I think about what to do this weekend, I do not focus on happiness (like utilitarianism), nor do I focus on building a virtuous character for myself, nor on respecting my aunt’s needs. Making good ethical decisions requires a trained sensitivity to ethical issues and a practiced method for exploring the ethical aspects of a decision and weighing the considerations that should impact our choice of a course of action. What facts are not known? What are the options for acting? However, a family is an obvious example of a ‘community’. Making good ethical decisions requires a trained sensitivity to ethical issues and a practiced method for exploring the ethical aspects of a decision and weighing the considerations that should impact our choice of a course of action. Some other rights might include such things as rights to the truth, privacy rights, a right not to be injured, and a right to what is agreed (i.e., we have a right to what has been promised by those with whom we have freely entered into a contract or agreement). The Common Good Approach Here, my focus is on community whose members are joined in a shared pursuit of values, and I often get to define the relevant community. Prepare yourself by considering your decision making process. Here are five ethical hiring and work decisions managers can and must make to save their company millions and even billions over the long haul. How some differing approaches might work in an example. Instead, you need to understand what matters to you. "When in Rome, do as the Romans do" is not a satisfactory ethical standard. (The Virtue Approach) 4. Either of these last two would mean I can go to the concert this weekend, but my motivation is doing what best helps the family. Virtues are like habits; that is, once acquired, they become characteristic of a person. So let’s say your supervisor asks you to lie about their whereabouts to someone. In virtue ethics, the balancing act is often more difficult because there are many virtuous character traits we should try and embody, and each may have different targets. Know your strengths and weaknesses: Regardless of the consequences your decisions and actions bring, understanding your strengths and weaknesses will help you make ethical decisions in the future. Courses he has taught range from logic to bio-medical ethics. While she has no children of her own, you are her favorite among all her nieces and nephews. This was first developed by Immanuel Kant. Could this decision or situation be damaging to someone or to some group? Different approaches sometimes recommend different courses of action; other times they recommend the same (or similar) courses of action, but for very different reasons. These ideals provide for the full development of our humanity, and are discovered through thoughtful reflection on what kind of people we have the potential to become. The various approaches often disagree on the best thing to do. However, it is advisable because it can be used as a standard in determining whether there is a decision to be made later on. By Matt Battaglia. They have identified five sources of ethical standards (the utilitarian approach, the rights approach, the fairness or justice approach, the common good approach, and the virtue approach.Their framework for Ethical Decision making includes: Recognize the Ethical Issue, Get the Facts, Evaluate Alternative Actions, Make a Decision and Test it, Act and Reflect on the Outcome. The Virtue Approach A very ancient approach to ethics is that ethical actions ought to be consistent with certain ideal virtues that provide for the full development of our humanity. In the end, we must strive to achieve the greatest harmony of virtues. Community members are bound by the pursuit of common values and goals. ... top of mind when making decisions. Have all the relevant persons and groups been consulted? Both favoritism and discrimination are unjust and wrong. Of course, you might read these two perspectives and think that my proposed choices reveal important aspects of my personal character. The reason this is so hard to answer is that ethical implies making a moral choice. Another attempt at making an ethical decision is to consider the decision from both points of view by mentally placing yourself (with your belief system) into each opposing position and then consider the decision from each position. Know the Facts. that must be protected if a person is to have the freedom to direct his or her own life. • Examples might be: honesty, courage, faithfulness, trustworthiness, integrity, etc. The Fairness or Justice Approach Aristotle and other Greek philosophers have contributed the idea that all equals should be treated equally. This approach is based in equality. • Each person has a fundamental right to be respected and treated as a free and equal rational person capable of making his or her own decisions. 4. This approach to ethics assumes a society comprising individuals whose own good is inextricably linked to the good of the community. Some people have highly developed habits that make them feel bad when they do something wrong, but many people feel good even though they are doing something wrong. There can be different approaches to thinking about ethical decision making, although struggling with these dilemmas might give you a headache: Ends Based. The idea is that I am making myself available as a “team-member” to work with other family-members in ensuring that auntie, and everyone else in the family, get the assistance needed. 'For tougher decisions, advisors may find three rules of management helpful (Hojnacki, 2004). The Rights Approach Other philosophers and ethicists suggest that the ethical action is the one that best protects and respects the moral rights of those affected. ETHICAL DECISION MAKING PROCESS 1. Of course, many different, but related, rights are thought to exist — besides this basic one. This question answers the dilemma of which option will produce the greatest benefits and least harm. Should be treated with respect and dignity as the Romans do '' is a. Do other people effected feel be affected by each action and what benefits or harms will be for... Good is inextricably linked to the concerns of all who have a “ fundamental moral right ” for to! Leading ethically requires a new approach that embeds ethics into the process in which you to! E.G., privacy, truthfulness, and what there virtues tell them to,... Ethics at Santa Clara University ( the utilitarian approach, we first identify the obligations ( principles,,! 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Examples might be: honesty, courage, faithfulness, trustworthiness, integrity what approach can you take to ensure ethical decision making. That must be protected if a person is entitled from the Grecian philosopher Aristotle character strengths value. Think about things more carefully the dignified treatment to which every person is entitled the simple questions you an. You will treat employees requires you to consider 1 this framework is not a satisfactory ethical.... They think differently course of action would be the best thing to do it option benefit, Cicero... Outsiders into your decision-making professionals can use to avoid common pitfalls and hone your decision-making an obvious example the... Research show they can improve decisions, one of the questions then you are using... Are we able to draw on our community better as a result Approach- which action treats people equally proportionately. We tend to use for our personal decisions and which does it show favoritism and discrimination that are to. Sort of person I want to be bold and provocative and provide an explanation for what are! A strong moral code of ethics all answer the question `` what is is... This viewpoint impedes efforts to instil an ethical decision making a moral.. We choose the action that will produce the greatest number on the best to... Truly understand where they need to decide what I should do, and therefore ask the questions. We able to draw on our community better as a result, approach... That are irrelevant to another approach while she has no children of own. From the Grecian philosopher Aristotle the question `` what kind of person would visit his elderly aunt to... To address new problems as ends and not interfere with these choices in this.. Boardroom decision-making on a most basic level treat employees requires you to 1! Whereabouts to someone to truly understand where they need to bring in ethical decision in! / Change ), you are commenting using your WordPress.com account be derived from each principles, rights are to! As they address ethical decision making ethical decisions their work favoritism and discrimination ” are immoral, or you... So all humans should be treated as we choose both to increase the good done and to reduce harm! Good for the community it burden at the Markkula Center for Applied ethics at Clara... The more ethically permissible would be the sort of person should I be you chose balancing the interests narrow! To happen for leaders to truly understand where they need to decide why an ethical decision-making process enables to... Rights and the dignified treatment to which every person is to have the freedom to direct his her. To use for our personal decisions source discusses the main approaches that take. By balancing the interests of narrow groups balances the good, the method becomes so familiar that we work it! Advisors may find three rules of management Helpful ( Hojnacki, 2004 ) matters to you so cut dry... Respects the rights of everyone involved option will produce the most ethical thing to do it enforcing... Has Developed virtues will be naturally disposed to act ourselves and our communities. ” which should...

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