Man 4701

Simple Truth

"Doing the right thing"

Normative perspective

(prescriptive) evaluation of the degrees to which the observed customs, attitudes and rules can be said to be ethical. what should be happening.

Resolving Ethical Dilemmas

1. Analyze the Consequences 2. Analyze the Actions 3. Make a Decision

Lawrence Kohlbergs Stages of Ethical Reasoning

1. Preconventional 2. Conventional 3. Postconventional

Making a Decision

1. What are the facts? 2. What can you guess about the facts you dont know? 3. What do the facts mean? 4. What does the problem look like through the eyes of the people involved? 5. What will happen if you choose one thing rather than another? 6. What do your feelings tell you? 7. WHAT will you think of yourself if you decide one thing or another? 8. Can you explain and justify your decision to other?

Value Conflicts

1.Lying is wrong 2.Stealing is wrong 3.Killing is wrong

Doing the Right Thing

1.Simple Truth 2.Personal character (personal integrity) 3.Rules of appropriate individual behavior. 4.Rules of appropriate behavior for a community or society.

Ethical Theories

1.Virtue Ethics 2. Ethics for a Greater Good 3. Universal Ethics

Code of Ethics

A company's written standards of ethical behavior that are designed to guide managers and employees in making the decisions and choices they face every day.

Virtue Ethics

A concept of living your life according to a commitment to the achievement of a clear ideal "what sort of person would i like to become? How do i go about becoming that person?" Greek Philosopher Aristotle

Culture

A particular set of attitudes, beliefs, and practices that charactarize a group of individuals.

Ethical Dilemmas

A situation in which there is no obvious right or wrong decision, but rather a right or right answer.

Society

A structured community of people bound together by similar traditions and customs.

Universal Ethics

Actions that are taken out of duty and obligation to a purely moral ideal rather than based on the needs of the situation since the universal principles are seen to apply to EVERYONE, EVERYWHERE, ALL THE TIME. German Philosopher Immanuel Kant

Joseph L. Badaracco Jr

Book Defining Moments captures this notion of living with an outcome in a discussion of "sleep-test ethics"

Golden Rule

Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

Utilitarianism

Ethical choices that offer the greatest good for the greatest number of people. David Hume

Ethics for a Greater Good

Focuses on the outcome of your actions rather than the apparent virtue of the actions themselves. Scottish Philosopher David Hume

Ethical Reasoning

Looking at the information available to us in resolving an ethical dilemma, and drawing conclusions based on that information in relation to our own ethical standards.

Preconventional

Lowest level of moral development. stage 1. Obedience and Punishment stage 2. Individualism, instrumentalism and exchange

Morality

Personal set of morals built up over your lifetime.

Who are stakeholder?

S.tockholders P.ublic I .ndustry C.ustomers E.mployees

Problems with Virtue Ethics

Societies can place different emphasis on different virtues. ex greeks valued wisdom, courage and justice. Christians Value Faith, hope and charity.

Stakeholders

Someone with a share or interest in a business enterprise.

Business Ethics

The application of ethical standards to business behavior.

Oxymoron

The combination of two contradictory terms

Problems with Utilitarianism

The idea that the ends justify the means. ex. Hitler and nazis trying to restore the Aryan race.

morals and values

a set of personal principles by which you aim to live your life.

Value system

a set of personal principles formalized into a code of behavior.

Personal Character/Integrity

demonstrated by someones behavior; looks at ethics from an external rather than an internal viewpoint.

Descriptive perspective

summation of the customs, attitudes and rules that are observed within a business. As suchm we are simply documenting what is happening.

Intrinsic Value

the quality by which a value is a good thing in itself and is pursued for its own sake, whether anything comes from that pursuit or not.ex. happiness, health, self-respect.

Instrumental Value

the quality by which the pursuit of one value is a good way to reach another value. ex.Money

Ethics

The manner by which try to live our lives according to a standard of right or wrong behavior.

Problems with Universal Ethics

The reverse of the weakness in ethics for the greater good. if all you focus on is aibiding by a universal principle no one is accountable for the consequences of the actions taken to abide by those principles.

Applied Ethics

The study of how ethical theories are put into practice.

Corporate Governance

The system by which business corporations are directed and controlled.

Ethical Relativism

The traditions of your society, your personal opinions and the circumstances of the present moment define your ethical principles. Implies some degree of flexibility with Grey areas.

Postconventional

highest level of ethical resaoning stage 5. Social contract legalistic orientation stage 6. Universal ethical principle orientation (comprehensive, consistent, cohesive)

Personal Value system

how you choose to respond to Value conflicts and the specific choices you make.

Conventional

person becomes aware of broader influences outside the family stage 3. good boy/ nice girl stage 4. Law and order orientation.