ethical decision making essay example

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Essay about Ethical Decision Making

Ethical decision-making is the process of choosing between various options, where the choices are guided by ethical principles and values. This essay explores the foundational rules of ethical decision-making, the possible and ideal ground rules, the implications of such decisions, and the application of a personal ethical framework to a difficult decision in my life. We will delve into the significance of ethics in decision-making processes and speculate on potential improvements for the future.

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What are the ground rules, what are the ethical implications of the decision, professional and public perception, legal and environmental consequences, integrity and self-worth, empathy as a guiding principle, the imperative of respect, pursuit of fairness and justice, ethical integrity in practice, applying a different decision-making process in the future, sample of an outline for essay on ethical decision making.

Ground rules in ethical decision-making are the basic principles that guide our actions and judgments. These principles form the moral bedrock upon which we build our choices, and they are essential in establishing a sense of trust and order within society. Honesty demands that we adhere to the truth and present information in a clear and unambiguous manner. Integrity compels us to maintain our moral convictions consistently, even when faced with personal or professional challenges. Fairness requires that we distribute benefits and burdens equitably, recognizing the inherent dignity and rights of all individuals. Respect is about acknowledging the worth of every person and their viewpoints, ensuring that we treat others as we would wish to be treated. Lastly, responsibility involves recognizing the impact of our actions on others and the environment, obliging us to take accountability for the outcomes we create.

Every decision has ethical implications that can significantly impact individuals, communities, and the environment. Ethical decisions can enhance or harm reputations, influence public perception, and either build or erode trust. They can also have legal consequences and affect one's sense of self-worth and integrity.

Every decision has ethical implications that can significantly impact individuals and communities. Ethical decisions have the potential to affirm personal rights and well-being or, conversely, compromise them. They shape not only immediate personal outcomes but also influence the broader social fabric. The ripple effects of these decisions can foster trust and social cohesion or lead to discord and a decline in communal trust.

In the professional sphere, the ethical implications of a decision can enhance or harm reputations. They shape public perception and have the potential to either build a reputation for integrity or erode it. This is particularly critical in an era where information is rapidly disseminated, and public opinion is swiftly formed.

Decisions carry legal consequences and have a direct bearing on one's adherence to societal rules and regulations. Moreover, they can have a profound environmental impact, contributing either to the sustainability of our planet or to ecological challenges.

At the core of the ethical implications is the concept of integrity. Decisions that are made with ethical consideration reinforce one's sense of self-worth and integrity. They contribute to an internal sense of moral alignment, which is integral to personal identity and self-esteem. Conversely, unethical decisions can lead to an internal moral conflict and undermine one's self-regard.

Central to my ethical stance is empathy, a deliberate practice that enables me to comprehend and consider the impact of my actions on others. It transcends emotional reaction, fostering a deeper connection with those around me and ensuring a compassionate approach to decision-making.

Respect is imperative in my code of ethics. Treating individuals with dignity, honoring their autonomy, and valuing their worth are acts of engagement that form the respectful approach I uphold in my interactions.

Fairness and justice are the scales on which I weigh my actions, seeking equity and righteousness beyond the confines of law. They demand personal accountability and a dedication to an equitable application of ethical standards.

In essence, my ethical framework is about integrity. It is a living philosophy, protective and introspective, requiring continuous self-honesty and an open-minded pursuit of knowledge. It shapes not just my decisions, but my aspiration to contribute positively to the world, affirming a commitment to growth and ethical living.

In anticipation of future ethical dilemmas, I'm resolved to augment my decision-making process by weaving in principles of virtue ethics to highlight moral character, alongside the practical wisdom of pragmatism. This enriched approach promises a more comprehensive consideration of the nuances of right action, fostering decisions that not only resolve dilemmas but also contribute to personal and societal moral growth.

A structured outline for an essay on ethical decision-making might include:

• Introduction to ethical decision-making
• Exploration of current and potential ground rules
• Discussion on ideal ethical ground rules
• Examination of the implications of ethical decisions
• Presentation of a personal ethical framework
• Reflection on a difficult ethical decision
• Application and assessment of the personal ethical framework
• Consideration of diverse decision-making processes
• Conclusion summarizing the key points

In conclusion, ethical decision-making is an essential aspect of human interaction and society. Establishing ground rules, understanding their implications, and applying a personal ethical framework are key to navigating complex moral landscapes. As we grow and learn, our ethical decision-making processes must also evolve, adopting a more inclusive and reflective approach to ensure decisions are fair, just, and beneficial for all involved.

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Ethical Decision Making Essay

• Author Kimberly Ball
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A good leader considers ethics the backbone of every decision made at a personal level. Such leaders project their values into the decisions they make, thus showing the world that those decisions made encompass their personal values. A person’s personality and identity are held together by their values. It also goes without say that one’s personal values and decision making are intimately connected. A right decision should be aligned with the personal beliefs and morality standards of the individual who makes them. Before making a decision, it is paramount that a person asks himself or herself several questions. Is the decision going to have long-term positive impacts or will it cause harm? Would it make the world a better place? Good leaders make decisions that uplift and encourage others, which don’t cause harm to people or the environment. An individual’s principles, values, and ethics drive the decisions they make as humans. More importantly, as we move up in the society, the decisions we make affect the social environment around us. The manner in which we decide to define our personal ethics both at a personal and organizational level significantly affects our present and the future of the people around us. Ethics can be defined as the moral principles that govern our daily operations depending on what people perceive as right or wrong.

Diversity substantially increases the ethics of decision making. Each person is brought up with a different set of values and worldviews. Therefore, different people tend to come up with differing decisions on what they consider and what they don’t consider ethical. For instance, an individual who values life equally would make decisions that are radically different from those of a person who believes human life is more superior to plant or animal life. Another example would be that of a utilitarian person. Such a person would make decisions for the good of everyone in the society as opposed to helping the few needy cases. The above examples indicate that the decision-making process can be a gray area, with different perceptions of what is right or wrong. Ethics may mean many different things to different people. For instance, for many people, their religious or spiritual beliefs form the basis of their decision making. For others, ethics may be based on their understanding of what is right or wrong. Therefore, it is important to constantly evaluate one’s principles and ethics and try as much as possible always to abide by them.

According to Thiel et al. (2012), personal, situational or environmental constraints can affect a leader’s ability to adequately interpret and come up with the best solution for an ethical dilemma. Personal limitations and schemas can help leaders demystify the complexities of their environment. On the flipside, this selective attention may lead to biased interpretations since the decision maker may overlook certain critical aspects of the situation at hand. Other personal characteristics such as low-ego, external locus of control and law field dependence may impede ethical decision making resulting in erroneous decisions that may be full of bias. Furthermore, researchers posit that personality characteristics such as narcissism can negatively affect ethical decision making.

People from different backgrounds have different norms and values which tend to influence how they make their decisions. These norms are usually embedded in their cultural values which determine what is right or wrong and the interpretation of complex situations. An individual who was instilled with the values of honesty and integrity when growing up will most likely follow ethical decision-making approaches when faced with a situation compared to a person whose background and upbringing did not stress the importance of such traits. More so, factors embedded in an individual’s personal ethics such as cognitive biases may impact the outcome of the decision-making process. Cognitive biases influence individuals to over rely on past experiences or expected outcomes while dismissing data or outcomes that are perceived as uncertain hence losing the bigger picture. Apart from cognitive biases, another influence on decision making is personal relevance. When people believe that a decision making process solely lies on them, they tend to take the wheel. Jones (2001) argues that people will tend to vote more readily when they believe that their opinion is aligned with that of the compact majority.

Making decisions in an organization occurs at all levels. Different approaches to decision making should be taken depending on the situation at hand. While the basic principles governing decision making are the same, many tools and techniques can be adopted by different organizations. One such a technique is referred to as self-reflection. When leaders are faced with a complex situation, they may infer to their personal experiences to address the situation effectively. Researchers argue that reflection on both personal and learned experiences significantly affect decision making. Some researchers belong to the school of thought that self-awareness or self-regulation tends to lessen personal influences on human behavior when making decisions. This technique of decision making is particularly useful when a leader is faced with a complex situation. The pressures associated with complex situations impede leaders’ ability to draw upon past experiences and self-reflect. Therefore, self-reflection can enhance a leader’s ability to make ethical decisions by drawing insight from past experiences. While reflecting on past experiences improves a leader’s ability to make ethical decisions, making informed predictions of the future by assessing the current situation also helps in solving complex situations. This technique is referred to as forecasting. Worthwhile to mention, self-reflection and forecasting are intertwined concepts since self-reflection is always a fundamental process to solving complex situations in the future. By forecasting, leaders can predict the consequences of their decisions and the associated implications in the future.

A decision matrix is a tool that is used to evaluate all the possible options of a decision. Under this method, a table is created with two columns, the first column representing all the available options and the second one representing all the factors that affect the respective options in the first table. Factors of more importance are then weighed, and a score is given to ascertain which option is ideal for the problem at hand. One of the simplest decision-making technique that has proved indispensable in solving ethical dilemmas is multi-voting. It begins with a round of voting whereby the members of the decision team cast their votes for the shortlisted options. The options with the highest number of cast votes are taken to the next round, and the process is repeated until the final decision is agreed upon. Another effective tool is the nominal group technique. Under this approach, the team divides itself into different groups and generates solutions to the complex situation. The participants further discuss the shortlisted options to narrow down on their choices. The groups then compare their options and vote on the best possible choice. The option that wins the most votes is accepted as the group’s decision.

A classic example of an infamous case that exemplifies poor and unethical decision making is the Ford Pinto case. This was a car model produced in the 90s that were notorious for its rear end collisions to cause a leak in fuel and burst into flames. At least twenty people lost their lives in such tragic incidences before the firm decided to recall all cars sold to solve the problem. A detailed look into this case revealed that at that time, Ford was under intense competition from rival car manufacturing firms such as Volkswagen. Therefore, the firm had rushed the car into production. In fact, engineers had brought to light the potential danger in the production process but the company officials decided to overlook the problem and proceed (Hoffman et al., 2014). This reveals the greed, callousness, and unethicality of the firm in matters that could mean the death of its customers. On the contrary, looking at the situation from a modern lens-one that sheds light on how cognitive biases distort ethical decision making- may help understand the reason why the firm decided to adopt the mentioned approach. By adopting an approach considered as rational in any business school curricula, the firm conducted a cost-benefit analysis and established that it would be cheaper to pay the lawsuits that to redesign the car entirely. The methodology followed depicted how they argued and reached their choice. The moral aspect of their choice was not in their equation. This approach took ethics out of the question thus increasing the chances of unethical behavior in business practice. Dissecting Pinto’s case decades after it occurred reveals a pattern that evidently continues to recur in organizations. Organizational and psychological factors swayed the company officials from the ethical dimension of the problem. However, the field of ethical decision making has substantially grown and managers in decision-making positions are nowadays in a better position to understand how their personal biases can generate skewed decisions and obscure the real problem from view.

A decision maker using the consequentialist decision-making approach would have assessed the consequences that would have affected the broadest number of people and groups and tailor their decision to reduce harm and ensure that their actions were directed towards the good of the consumers. A decision maker using the deontological approach would have decided not to move on with the production process and recall the car once the fault was identified. This is because the decision maker would base his or her argument based on a set of moral principles. Such an individual would argue for the halting of the production process unless the rights of the consumers using the faulty vehicles could be assured. All in all, the two approaches would have resulted in the recall of all the defective Pintos thus saving the lives of the customers thus avoiding a corporate scandal.

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Ethical Decision-Making Process

This importance of ethical decision-making essay focuses on the meaning and reflection of decision-making. Check out our sample to get some ideas for your ethical decision-making essay!

My Personal Ethical Framework

A difficult ethical decision related to my personal/work life, application of my ethical framework, applying a different decision-making process in the future, ethical decision-making essay: references.

Ethical decision-making is a major obligation for every human being. This is the case because whatever people do will definitely influence or affect the lives of their neighbors and friends. Three frameworks have been developed to guide people whenever engaging in ethical decision-making processes. The first approach is known as the consequentialist framework. The framework begins by outlining the outcomes that an individual should produce or strive to deliver (Ajunwa, Crawford, & Ford, 2016). This is the deliberative process that guides a person to focus on the best outcomes. The issue of focus goes further to identify the manner in which an action will affect other people. The ultimate goal of the framework is to engage in actions that can deliver desirable consequences.

The second model is the duty framework. The deliberative process of the model focuses on the obligations of an individual and actions that should be avoided. The framework is used to identify the obligations of the individual. The framework defines ethical conduct as the ability to do whatever is right. The individual is also encouraged to complete the duty in a timely manner. The third approach is the virtue framework that guides people to become ethical in nature. The deliberative process examines what an individual’s action will say about his or her character (Ajunwa et al., 2016). The ultimate focus is to discern specific values and traits that motivate other people. Ethical conduct, according to the framework, is doing the most agreeable thing depending on the targeted situation.

My ethical framework is informed by the virtue model. This is the case because my obligation has always been to become a good person. I have always wanted my actions to say more about my moral values and character. The framework guides me to embrace the best virtues that are admirable to every person (Pollard, 2015). Vices that might affect the welfare of other people are ignored. My main obligation is to empower and promote the experiences of my friends. That being the case, my ethical conduct is defined by the best actions and practices that are acceptable depending on the nature of the situation.

I have included a number of principles in my ethical framework in order to emerge successful. For instance, I always embrace the power of utilitarianism and the concept of common good. These principles guide me to make adequate decisions that can support my goals and empower others. The principle of beneficence guides me to do what is right always. The principle of non-maleficence is also included in my framework in order to ensure my actions are acceptable (Ajunwa et al., 2016). The principle of respect is also evident in my ethical model. The principles of ethics can therefore be embraced in order to guide a person’s actions.

My ethical framework features the best values that define my obligation as a human being. Some of them include integrity, trustworthiness, duty, responsibility, love, and empathy. Whenever focusing on specific decisions or actions, I always embrace these values in order to ensure the greatest form of happiness is realized (Johnson, 2016).

The other important thing is that my ethical framework has been informed by different personal and academic experiences. To begin with, the values of love and integrity gained from my religious faith have always guided my philosophy. The virtue framework studied in class has also made it easier for me to come up with a model that meets my ethical goals and obligations (Mort, Roberts, Pols, Domenech, & Moser, 2013).

My experiences at the place of work and in school have also encouraged me to act diligently depending on the existing situation (Pollard, 2015). The important thing is that I will always embrace new values, concepts, and ideas that have the potential to make me an ethical thinker who supports the welfare of the greatest number of people.

Human beings will always encounter numerous challenges whenever interacting with their friends and workmates. Individuals who have appropriate ethical decision-making frameworks will find it easier to come up with adequate decisions and support the welfare of their workmates. The ethical dilemma that encouraged me to come up with the most appropriate moral decision was experienced at my place of work (Mort et al., 2013). This dilemma emerged when one of my workmates informed me that he had stolen a laptop from the office. The manager in the department was unhappy with the malpractice and indicated clearly that the company was at risk of recording losses.

The company’s policy outlined clearly that every employee should act responsibility, handle office equipment appropriately, and avoid any misbehavior. Some of the malpractices outlined by the company include theft, vandalism, telling lies, sexual misconduct, and harassment (Pollard, 2015). Such measures have been implemented in order to ensure every employee acts ethically and focuses on the targeted goals.

The misbehavior recorded in my workplace was questionable because it was wrong to steal anything from the firm. This scenario presented an ethical dilemma because the employee had acted inappropriately (Mort et al., 2013). At the same time, it was my obligation to ensure the right procedures and practices were implemented in the office in order to support the company’s goals. I clearly understood that failing to report the matter to the head of the department could affect the performance and effectiveness of the company (Johnson, 2016). The decision to report the matter would have resulted in a disciplinary action against the employee. The worker would definitely be unhappy with me after reporting the malpractice to the relevant authorities in the company.

From this analysis, it is quite clear that my ethical values and principles could not allow me to do the wrong thing. At the same, I was expected by most of my workmates to disregard the whole issue in order to safeguard the employee’s job. Any form of theft at the place of work was also wrong and unacceptable (Dondorp & Lith, 2015). It is therefore agreeable that these pressures were influencing my decision-making process.

Several cultural influences would dictate my final decision. For instance, our cultural and religious values were against any form of theft or dishonesty (Mort et al., 2013). Most of the workers in the office also believed strongly that every individual was supposed to act in a diligent manner and embrace the most appropriate behaviors. It should also be observed that changing circumstances do not impact most of the decisions made in the working environment (Spector, 2016). This is the case because there is a clear policy that dictates the behaviors and actions undertaken by every worker.

Throughout the decision-making process, I came up with various assumptions in order to act in an ethical manner. For instance, I assumed that most of the individuals in the company would be against various malpractices such as stealing. I also assumed that it was my obligation to speak the truth and prevent similar misbehaviors from taking place in the company (Mort et al., 2013). Unfortunately, one of our workmates indicated clearly that it was inappropriate for us to disclose the issue to other manager. According to the individual, the move would have consequences such as punishment or dismissal (Dondorp & Lith, 2015).

This analysis shows conclusively that the ethical dilemma experienced in the working environment was complex or difficult in nature. This is the case because different stakeholders in the office presented diverse views about the issue. I was also expected to act diligently and uphold the policy of the company. The employee who had committed the offense would also be unhappy with my decision (Spector, 2016). Coming up with a final decision was something difficult because there was conflict of interest in the office.

The ethical dilemma also presents various values and principles that appear to be in conflict. For example, the principle of beneficence indicates clearly that human beings should do good always. The individuals in the working environment appeared to present diverse views and opinions. Several values were also evident in this ethical dilemma (Spector, 2016). For example, specific values such as duty, integrity, and honesty appeared to be challenged. That being the case, the issue should have been addressed using a powerful ethical framework in order to ensure the right thing was done.

Ethical dilemmas should be addressed using the most appropriate frameworks in order to maximize the outcomes of the affected individuals. The ethical framework described above can be used to deal with this dilemma. The important thing is outlining the primary issues or dilemmas presented in the case. To begin with, the case shows conclusively that an employee has ignored the policies implemented by the company.

This is the case because every employee in the organization is expected to act in a professional manner and take good care of its property and equipment (Dondorp & Lith, 2015). The second dilemma arises from the duty of every employee in the company. The workers should be on the frontline to support the missions and goals of the firm. They can do so by reporting every form of theft or vandalism.

The theft presented in the case is against specific principles and values such as beneficence, integrity, and duty. It is therefore necessary for the involved parties to focus on the best decision-making process that can address the issue (Mort et al., 2013). A proper understanding of the ethical issues and dilemmas can make it easier for the firm to deal with the case.

Several questions can therefore be used to guide my ethical framework and deal with this case. The first step is to answer this question: what actions should be taken in order to portray the best character? This approach will ensure the deliberative process or step of the ethical decision-making framework is completed successfully. The second issue is “the focus” (Spector, 2016, p. 1008). This means that the character traits and vices that motivate the workers in the organization are clearly analyzed. This knowledge will ensure the right decisions are made in order to deal with the issue.

The final step of the framework will be to identify and define the best ethical conduct. The most important thing will be to come up with the best ethical decision based on the nature of the dilemma or circumstance. This decision-making criterion was supported by some of the best principles and values. For instance, the beneficence principle will ensure the most appropriate action is taken (Dondorp & Lith, 2015). After experiencing the ethical dilemma, I chose to report the matter to the department leader or manager. This decision was taken seriously because it was in accordance with my ethical framework. The framework made it easier for me to deal with a major issue that was affecting the company.

It should also be indicated that my ethical framework would have been used to deliver a similar decision. With the use of the virtue framework, I would have focused on the best action or decision that defines my character (Dondorp & Lith, 2015).

My character is usually defined by moral actions and decisions that are guided by the utilitarian theory. That being the case, I would have reported the matter to the relevant authorities because theft was an unethical practice in the company. The approach would have discouraged more people in the working environment from committing similar offenses. The practice would have led to better practices and ensure the firm’s equipment and resources were safeguarded from theft.

This is the case because an “ethical decision and action should be in accordance with the philosophy of a person who is fully virtuous” (Dondorp & Lith, 2015, p. 5). This ethical decision-making process would have addressed the ethical dilemma and encouraged more people in the company to embrace the best practices.

This reflection has proved that the use of a powerful ethical decision-making framework can guide many people to deal with a wide range of dilemmas or conflicts. The ethical dilemma experienced in the workplace showed conclusively that an effective decision-making approach could deliver sustainable results (Dondorp & Lith, 2015). However, the framework used to deal with the dilemma revealed a number of diverse interests. Such challenges emerged because some of the individuals in the company were against the decision to report the matter to the relevant authorities (Johnson, 2016). Individuals can therefore embrace the use of different ethical decision-making methods to address specific dilemmas.

I strongly believe clearly that a different decision-making process can be used in the future to deliver positive results. The duty framework is a powerful model that can address various ethical dilemmas (Mort et al., 2013). The duty framework begins by identifying the deliberative process. The individual begins by highlighting the major obligations in the targeted situation or circumstance. The decision-maker will identify the things or activities that should be done or not (Dondorp & Lith, 2015). The individual will then go further to determine the facts of the case or scenario.

According to this framework, the ethical conduct entails “doing the right thing always” (Ajunwa et al., 2016, p. 478). The individual should also make sure every intended duty is completed in a timely manner. The guiding principle or motivation is performing the most appropriate or right action (Johnson, 2016). I can therefore embrace the use of the duty framework to deal with the presented ethical dilemma. By so doing, it would be easier for me to do what is right and ensure the needs of the greatest number of people are addressed. It would therefore be necessary for people to embrace “the use of different ethical decision-making frameworks in order to produce the most good and support the wellbeing of every citizen” (Mort et al., 2013, p. 441).

This case study has equipped me with useful insights and ideas that can support my ethical decision-making philosophy. I have understood that the first step towards making an ethical decision is to be aware of the deliberative process. The experience has encouraged me to embrace the role and importance of various moral principles. When such principles are followed during the decision-making process, the individual will find it easier to come up with the best ideas and actions that produce happiness (Mort et al., 2013).

The case study has also indicated clearly that every ethical dilemma will attract diverse views from different individuals or stakeholders. It is therefore necessary for every decision-maker to be aware of such conflicts. This knowledge will make it possible for the person to make the most appropriate decision that is in accordance with every ethical principle.

If I was required to address the presented ethical dilemma again, the agreeable fact is that I would come up with the same decision. This is the case because the decision made was guided by my ethical framework. The decision was also informed by a wide range of values and principles that can result in ethical actions (Johnson, 2016). The decision was embraced because it had the potential to address a vice that could threaten the performance of the company or make it impossible to achieve the targeted business goals.

I would follow the same procedure whenever making ethical decisions in the future. My ethical framework has been influenced by numerous experiences, principles, theoretical concepts, and values. The model also focuses on the best outcomes and actions that support my moral character. However, I will go further to identify new decision-making frameworks and theories in order to develop my model much further (Johnson, 2016). This initiative will make it easier for me to address a wide range of ethical problems. The strategy can be used to come up with evidence-based solutions that can fulfill the expectations of the greatest majority.

My thinking about ethical decision-making has developed significantly. The class materials have educated me about the best practices and theoretical approaches that can make it easier for me to make ethical decisions (Mort et al., 2013). I have understood why it is necessary for individuals to have a unique source of motivation or goal. This kind of motivation will always guide me whenever making ethical decisions.

My virtue decision-making framework will definitely make it easier for me to approach complex ethical dilemmas and situations as a professional manner. The framework has made it easier for me to understand that all ethical dilemmas (both simple and complex) should be approached based on the source of motivation (Johnson, 2016). Since my motivation is to do the right thing and develop my personal character, I will always be focusing on the most appropriate outcomes that can meet the needs of the greatest majority. This strategy will guide me to make complex ethical decisions in my future life.

Ajunwa, I., Crawford, K., & Ford, J. (2016). Health and big data: An ethical framework for health information collection by corporate wellness programs. Journal of Law, Medicine and Ethics, 44 (1), 474-480. Web.

Dondorp, W., & Lith, J. (2015). Dynamics of prenatal screening: New developments challenging the ethical framework. Bioethics, 29 (1), 2-6. Web.

Johnson, C. (2016). Organizational ethics: A practical approach (3rd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.

Mort, M., Roberts, C., Pols, J., Domenech, M., & Moser, I. (2013). Ethical implications of home telecare for older people: A framework derived from a multisited participative study. Health Expectations, 18 (1), 438-449. Web.

Pollard, C. (2015). What is the right thing to do: Use of a relational ethic framework to guide clinical decision-making . International Journal of Caring Sciences, 8 (2), 362-368. Web.

Spector, J. (2016). Ethics in educational technology: Towards a framework for ethical decision making in and for the discipline. Education Technology Research and Development, 64 (1), 1003-1011. Web.

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• Introduction to “A Framework for Ethical Decision-Making”
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• Ethics Resources
• Ethical Decision Making

Introduction to “A Framework for Ethical Decision-Making”

A tool to help people make better informed, more carefully considered decisions that will ultimately be more congruent with their own choices and values using a process that includes both pre-decision and post-decision steps.

The Markkula Center’s Ethical Decision-Making Framework is a tool designed to 1) help users see and identify a broader set of ethical issues than they would have without it, and 2) guide users through a process that includes both pre-decision and post-decision steps.

The goal of the Framework is to help people make better informed, more carefully considered decisions that will ultimately be more congruent with their own choices and values—decisions that they are less likely to regret later.

The Framework does not tell users what the right or most ethical thing to do is. While applying the Framework, the user is still the one who has to make a judgment call.

The Framework is therefore not an ethics algorithm; there is no such thing. The ethical analysis changes depending on a variety of factors including the types and numbers of stakeholders impacted by a decision, the relationships among stakeholders, the broader context in which the decision is embedded, the kinds of benefits and harms that flow from it, and the weight that one assigns to various ethical perspectives (rights, justice, common good, etc.).

The six ethical lenses briefly introduced in the Framework are very concise, broad-stroke descriptions of several ethical perspectives. The user is not asked to choose among them. Looking at a potential decision landscape through each of them in turn, a Framework user will see different ethical aspects highlighted. The lenses are therefore complementary in that they help Framework users see more of the ethical nuances of a situation. However, the lenses might also reveal ethical aspects that come into conflict with each other; when this happens, the balancing of those ethical considerations is up to the user.

The Framework is intended to be practical and accessible. For that reason, it does not go into depth on any of the ethical perspectives that it presents. However, the Markkula Center website includes complementary (and still concise) essays that expand the descriptions of each of the lenses. Of course, users interested in reading more about any of the ethical schools of thought can also find other much more extensive resources about them.

The Framework does not claim to include a full compendium of ethical perspectives spanning history and cultures. The tapestry of human thought about ethics is rich and varied. However, there are common threads that run through it, and the Framework focuses on those, again with the goal of serving as a useful aid that is relatively easy to apply.

The process described in the Framework is not linear; while it begins, for example, with the gathering of key facts and the identification of stakeholders, those steps might need to be repeated if the application of the ethical lenses reveals additional stakeholders and highlights the need for additional facts.

We have found that people who use the Framework repeatedly also build their ethical analysis “muscles”—developing habits of reasoning and response, and a growing comfort level with applying the lenses to challenging situations.

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7 Ways to Improve Your Ethical Decision-Making

• 03 Aug 2023

Effective decision-making is the cornerstone of any thriving business. According to a survey of 760 companies cited in the Harvard Business Review , decision effectiveness and financial results correlated at a 95 percent confidence level across countries, industries, and organization sizes.

Yet, making ethical decisions can be difficult in the workplace and often requires dealing with ambiguous situations.

If you want to become a more effective leader , here’s an overview of why ethical decision-making is important in business and how to be better at it.

Access your free e-book today.

The Importance of Ethical Decision-Making

Any management position involves decision-making .

“Even with formal systems in place, managers have a great deal of discretion in making decisions that affect employees,” says Harvard Business School Professor Nien-hê Hsieh in the online course Leadership, Ethics, and Corporate Accountability . “This is because many of the activities companies need to carry out are too complex to specify in advance.”

This is where ethical decision-making comes in. As a leader, your decisions influence your company’s culture, employees’ motivation and productivity, and business processes’ effectiveness.

It also impacts your organization’s reputation—in terms of how customers, partners, investors, and prospective employees perceive it—and long-term success.

With such a large portion of your company’s performance relying on your guidance, here are seven ways to improve your ethical decision-making.

1. Gain Clarity Around Personal Commitments

You may be familiar with the saying, “Know thyself.” The first step to including ethics in your decision-making process is defining your personal commitments.

To gain clarity around those, Hsieh recommends asking:

• What’s core to my identity? How do I perceive myself?
• What lines or boundaries will I not cross?
• What kind of life do I want to live?
• What type of leader do I want to be?

Once you better understand your core beliefs, values, and ideals, it’s easier to commit to ethical guidelines in the workplace. If you get stuck when making challenging decisions, revisit those questions for guidance.

2. Overcome Biases

A bias is a systematic, often unconscious inclination toward a belief, opinion, perspective, or decision. It influences how you perceive and interpret information, make judgments, and behave.

Bias is often based on:

• Personal experience
• Cultural background
• Social conditioning
• Individual preference

It exists in the workplace as well.

“Most of the time, people try to act fairly, but personal beliefs or attitudes—both conscious and subconscious—affect our ability to do so,” Hsieh says in Leadership, Ethics, and Corporate Accountability .

There are two types of bias:

• Explicit: A bias you’re aware of, such as ageism.
• Implicit: A bias that operates outside your awareness, such as cultural conditioning.

Whether explicit or implicit, you must overcome bias to make ethical, fair decisions.

Related: How to Overcome Stereotypes in Your Organization

3. Reflect on Past Decisions

The next step is reflecting on previous decisions.

“By understanding different kinds of bias and how they can show themselves in the workplace, we can reflect on past decisions, experiences, and emotions to help identify problem areas,” Hsieh says in the course.

Reflect on your decisions’ processes and the outcomes. Were they favorable? What would you do differently? Did bias affect them?

Through analyzing prior experiences, you can learn lessons that help guide your ethical decision-making.

4. Be Compassionate

Decisions requiring an ethical lens are often difficult, such as terminating an employee.

“Termination decisions are some of the hardest that managers will ever have to make,” Hsieh says in Leadership, Ethics, and Corporate Accountability . “These decisions affect real people with whom we often work every day and who are likely to depend on their job for their livelihood.”

Such decisions require a compassionate approach. Try imagining yourself in the other person’s shoes, and think about what you would want to hear. Doing so allows you to approach decision-making with more empathy.

5. Focus on Fairness

Being “fair” in the workplace is often ambiguous, but it’s vital to ethical decision-making.

“Fairness is not only an ethical response to power asymmetries in the work environment,” Hsieh says in Leadership, Ethics, and Corporate Accountability . “Fairness–and having a successful organizational culture–can benefit the organization economically and legally as well.”

It’s particularly important to consider fairness in the context of your employees. According to Leadership, Ethics, and Corporate Accountability , operationalizing fairness in employment relationships requires:

• Legitimate expectations: Expectations stemming from a promise or regular practice that employees can anticipate and rely on.
• Procedural fairness: Concern with whether decisions are made and carried out impartially, consistently, and transparently.
• Distributive fairness: The fair allocation of opportunities, benefits, and burdens based on employees’ efforts or contributions.

Keeping these aspects of fairness in mind can be the difference between a harmonious team and an employment lawsuit. When in doubt, ask yourself: “If I or someone I loved was at the receiving end of this decision, what would I consider ‘fair’?”

6. Take an Individualized Approach

Not every employee is the same. Your relationships with team members, managers, and organizational leaders differ based on factors like context and personality types.

“Given the personal nature of employment relationships, your judgment and actions in these areas will often require adjustment according to each specific situation,” Hsieh explains in Leadership, Ethics, and Corporate Accountability .

One way to achieve this is by tailoring your decision-making based on employees’ values and beliefs. For example, if a colleague expresses concerns about a project’s environmental impact, explore eco-friendly approaches that align with their values.

Another way you can customize your ethical decision-making is by accommodating employees’ cultural differences. Doing so can foster a more inclusive work environment and boost your team’s performance .

7. Accept Feedback

Ethical decision-making is susceptible to gray areas and often met with dissent, so it’s critical to be approachable and open to feedback .

The benefits of receiving feedback include:

• Learning from mistakes.
• Having more opportunities to exhibit compassion, fairness, and transparency.
• Identifying blind spots you weren’t aware of.
• Bringing your team into the decision-making process.

While such conversations can be uncomfortable, don’t avoid them. Accepting feedback will not only make you a more effective leader but also help your employees gain a voice in the workplace.

Ethical Decision-Making Is a Continuous Learning Process

Ethical decision-making doesn’t come with right or wrong answers—it’s a continuous learning process.

“There often is no right answer, only imperfect solutions to difficult problems,” Hsieh says. “But even without a single ‘right’ answer, making thoughtful, ethical decisions can make a major difference in the lives of your employees and colleagues.”

By taking an online course, such as Leadership, Ethics, and Corporate Accountability , you can develop the frameworks and tools to make effective decisions that benefit all aspects of your business.

Ready to improve your ethical decision-making? Enroll in Leadership, Ethics, and Corporate Accountability —one of our online leadership and management courses —and download our free e-book on how to become a more effective leader.

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Yuen, J. K., Reid, M. C., & Fetters, M. D. (2011). Hospital do-not-resuscitate orders: why they have failed and how to fix them. Journal of General Internal Medicine, 26(7), 791-797.

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Psychology , Pages: 2

The Ethical Decision-Making Process

Ethical decision-making is critical to the role of psychologists; however, ethical decision-making often requires consideration of competing concerns since it is not always clear which decisions have ethical implications (Banks et al., 2022). In this regard, ethical decision-making frameworks become vital as psychologists require a model to determine the methodology for tackling ethical dilemmas from the case studies they encounter. Therefore, having a clear understanding of the eight-step ethical decision-making model, ethical strategies, and alternative decision-making models and being able to determine culture and social orientations and multiple role relationship issues in particular case studies are essential steps in the ethical decision-making process.

The Eight-Step Ethical Decision-Making Model

The eight-step ethical decision-making model includes the following:

• Step 1: Identifying the problem
• Step 2: Gathering information on the issue
• Step 3: Identifying the people to be impacted by the decision
• Step 4: Identifying and evaluating alternatives
• Step 5: Applying ethical principles
• Step 6: Deciding on the best-fit option for the situation
• Step 7: Implementing the best alternative
• Step 8: Evaluating the outcomes and redesigning the alternative implemented

The eight-step ethical decision-making model can be applied to resolve the ethical conflict in Case 14-37 involving Bonnie Bruised, a student, and Professor Disclose, following the student’s relationship issues and assault from her boyfriend. Applying the model’s step, one can easily identify the problem. Bonnie Bruised reported the case to her Professor but is reluctant to report the same to the school’s security office and counselling center. The Professor has to choose whether to report the case themselves or handle it. In this case, the ethical conflict is that of confidentiality and privacy against beneficence. Step 2 will focus on collecting further information related to the case. The Professor can seek to determine whether the boyfriend is a student or an outsider, which can guide the next course of action. The third step is to identify the people affected by the case and the decisions made. In this case, Bonnie Bruised will be directly affected by the decisions made. The Professor also risks having a complicated relationship with the student. The fourth and fifth steps identify alternatives that can help resolve the ethical conflict and weigh them against the ethical principles in psychology. In this case, the Professor can decide which action is more beneficial in ensuring the safety of the student at the moment and in the long run. In the next steps, Professor Disclose can opt for the best-fit option he has, such as reporting the case to the institution, although it may violate the patient’s privacy and complicate their student-tutor relationship. However, the outcomes of the implemented alternative are more of a concern at the moment. The Professor can discuss with the student why the alternative selected is the best option to solve the situation. An advantage of using the eight-step ethical decision-making model is that the sequence of the model can be restructured based on the specificity of the decisions to be made (Neal, 2010).

Ethical Strategy

The eight-step model is the ethical strategy for Bonnie Bruised and Professor Disclose’s case. This decision-making model is preferred as it will first appreciate Bonnie Bruised and Professor Disclose and how each decision and action will affect them. This will enable the Professor to approach the situation in a way that respects the student’s privacy while ensuring they get the protection they deserve. The eight-step ethical decision-making model will also help address the situation through open communication, especially when discussing the alternatives to solve the ethical issue.

Alternative Decision-Making Model

An alternative model for making ethical decisions is the Virtue Model of decision-making. The virtue model approaches decision-making from a virtue ethics perspective. Applying virtues in decision-making requires the decision-maker to be honest, compassionate, a person of integrity, and with a sense of responsibility. This means that in professional settings, the ethical choice is made through moral reasoning, in which judgments are based on morals and intent, as well as the professional’s moral beliefs (Small & Lew, 2021). In this case, Professor Disclose will decide on Bonnie Bruised’s case from a virtue-based perspective and apply their professional moral beliefs and moral intent to report or not report the student’s case.

Statement of Culture and Social Orientations

Cultural and social orientations shape ethics and ethical decisions. In Bonnie Bruised’s case, it is important to consider her family and cultural background to understand why she is reluctant to report her situation to the right channels. Evidence shows that certain life experiences can prevent women from reporting assault (Slatton & Richard, 2020). On the other hand, past experiences of trauma can have long-term mental health effects (Rothman et al., 2019). Considering the student’s background and culture can help avoid cultural instances of biases and stereotyping. The ethical strategy employed in the case can resolve issues related to multicultural competence as it will approach decision-making in a way that is sensitive to the student’s culture, respects their decisions, and involves them in the decision-making process.

Statement of Multiple Role Relationship Issues

There are no identified instances of multiple-role relationships in Bonnie Bruised and Professor Disclose’s case. However, the development of the ethical strategy considers the potential ethical conflicts that may arise due to extra relationships developing between the student and the Professor or another individual. The strategy also adopts open communication and respect for the student’s rights and autonomy. Additionally, the ethical strategy aims to maintain the relationship between the student and Professor only in a professional capacity to avoid further ethical and legal complications.

Banks, G. C., Knapp, D. J., Lin, L., Sanders, C. S., & Grand, J. A. (2022). Ethical decision making in the 21st century: A useful framework for industrial-organizational psychologists. Industrial and Organizational Psychology , 15 (2), 220–235. https://doi.org/10.1017/iop.2021.143

Neal, T. M. S. (2010). Choosing the lesser of two evils: A framework for considering the ethics of competency-for-execution evaluations. Journal of Forensic Psychology Practice , 10 (2), 145–157. https://doi.org/10.1080/15228930903446724

Rothman, K., Georgia Salivar, E., Roddy, M. K., Hatch, S. G., & Doss, B. D. (2019). Sexual Assault Among Women in College: Immediate and Long-Term Associations With Mental Health, Psychosocial Functioning, and Romantic Relationships. Journal of Interpersonal Violence . https://doi.org/10.1177/0886260519870158

Slatton, B. C., & Richard, A. L. (2020). Black Women’s Experiences of sexual assault and Disclosure: Insights from the Margins. Sociology Compass , 14 (6), e12792. https://doi.org/10.1111/SOC4.12792

Small, C., & Lew, C. (2021). Mindfulness, Moral Reasoning, and Responsibility: Towards Virtue in Ethical Decision-Making. Journal of Business Ethics , 169 (1), 103–117. https://doi.org/10.1007/S10551-019-04272-Y/

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Prompt: In Milestone Four, you will create two decision-making models to assess your case study vignette’s ethical conflict and address multiple role relationships and culture and social orientation. This milestone will further refine the outline you worked on in Milestones Two and Three.

Specifically, the following critical elements must be addressed within the final project outline template:

• Eight-Step Ethical Decision-Making Model: List the eight-step ethical decision-making model. Apply the model to the ethical conflict in your chosen case study.
• Ethical Strategy: Develop an ethical strategy and explain how it could be applied to your chosen case’s ethical
• Alternative Decision-Making Model: Describe an alternative decision-making model, then apply the model to the ethical conflict in your chosen case study.
• Statement of Culture and Social Orientations: Explain how culture and social orientations have influenced the development of the proposed ethical strategy. Assess how the strategy addresses ethical problems associated with multicultural competence issues in your chosen case.
• Statement of Multiple Role Relationship Issues: Explain how considerations of multiple role relationship issues have influenced the development of the proposed ethical strategy and assess how strategy addresses ethical problems associated with multiple role relationship issues in your chosen case study.

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Essay 2: Personal Ethics and Decision Making

by cnr5112 | Nov 18, 2014

According to the New Oxford American Dictionary, ethics is defined as “moral principles that govern a person’s or group’s behavior.” Therefore, in an ideal world, ethics should play the ultimate role when making a decision. If ethics are the principles which guides one’s behavior then, ideally, all decisions should be made entirely based on ethics. Unfortunately, such is not always the case.

A few problems arise when one tries to make an ethical decision, especially as a leader. First, ethics may mean different things to different people. For example, my religious and spiritual beliefs are the foundation for what I deem ethical. However, for someone else, ethics might be based on laws or their own personal understanding of what is right or wrong. Generally, I do believe there are some behaviors that all can agree upon as being ethical or unethical. For example, most people understand that stealing from someone or murder is wrong. However, it is difficult, at times, to have similar ethical expectations of others as one does of themselves because of these differences in the understanding of ethics. Additionally, there are times when it might be easier for a leader to make an unethical decision for an immediate gain or to appease the wants of others. Examples of these include leaders who embezzle money or use other schemes to make money quickly or unlawfully.

For most leaders, making ethical decisions tends to be the goal. I firmly believe that more often than not, leaders do make ethical decisions for the betterment of their organization or business. There are cases when making an unethical decision might be easier, but the true character of a leader is tested when they are confronted with such a decision. Making the easier decision is not always the best decision for a leader’s personal sake or for the organization/business. Recognizing that not all decisions are ethical, one’s moral principles acts as a guide for their behavior and decision making. Therefore, ethics do (and should) play a major role in decision making.

As previously mentioned, my religious and spiritual beliefs shape my personal ethics. I grew up in a very Christian family (one grandfather was a pastor and the other is a deacon), so from a young age, I was instilled with a belief in God and His teachings, according to the Bible. As I get older, I am learning that a spiritual journey and relationship with God is one that is personal and cannot be easily taught or given by others. Therefore, I will admit that as I continue on my personal journey with God, my personal ethics are still being developed and shaped. Some behaviors that I may have thought were acceptable in the past, I no longer view the same. For example, I have a lot of passion for the organizations I am involved with, especially S.M.A.R.T, which is great as a leader. It is my passion which keeps me dedicated to the organization. However, because of this passion, when things are not going as I want them to, it might cause me to communicate in a way that is considered disrespectful to others. Either my tone, the loudness of my voice, or the things that I say have made others feel disrespected. Personally, I find disrespecting others to be unethical. Although I may not consciously decide to disrespect them, it is a result of my behavior. While, at one point, I made excuses for my “lashing out” but considering it my “burning passion for the organization,” I now realize that it is unacceptable. As a leader, and person, I should be always aim to be respectful of others, regardless of my own feelings. Moreover, I was able to recognize the impact that my behavior was having on other members of my executive board – they, too, began to think it was okay to conduct themselves in a similar manner.

My personal ethics include values such as: respect, honesty, caring, and fairness. When making a decision, I tend to consider these four values the most, in conjunction with how my decision might better the organization. The goal, for me, is to always aid in making an organization or someone else better. These four values tend to help me ensure that my decisions are well-rounded and ethical. I have already alluded to the role respect plays in my decision making. I consider how I might communicate a decision, or I consider other aspects of people’s lives and how this decision might impact them. I try to ensure that all of my decisions are respectful to others. I also aim to always be honest in my decision making. When I need help, I ask for it. I try to be as transparent as possible about any decision I have made and why. I am always willing to share my reasoning and am open to feedback from others. My compassionate side also comes out when making a decision. In most instances, I really try to consider the needs and circumstances of others. For example, S.M.A.R.T. can be a demanding organization, so when making decisions, I always consider the others aspects of our member’s lives and how my decisions could be more of a burden than a help to them. Lastly, I try to make sure my decisions are fair for everyone involved. If I want to inconvenience or be unfair to anyone, I would rather it be myself than someone else.

Communication is key in relation to personal ethics. As previously mentioned, ethical standards differ for different people. Therefore, I find it most difficult to try to understand the reasoning of others’ ethics, rather than communicating my own. I tend to be a very direct person. I get straight to the point, especially as a leader. Therefore, I simply share with others what I believe and value. I also communicate my personal ethics through my actions. If my decisions are made according to my ethical beliefs, then others should be able to recognize, through my behavior, what my personal morals are.

Overall, being an ethical decision maker is important to me. As a leader, I understand that I play a part in establishing what is considered right and wrong, based on my actions and decisions. My hope is to always be an example, and being ethical is the foundation of setting a good example for others. The old adage, “actions speak louder than words” rings true in relation to ethics. I aim to show people what my moral principles are based on my actions. At times, it can get difficult because I might let emotions cloud my judgment, but after all, doing the right thing for the sake of others is most important to me.

The Ethical Dilemma – How to Make the Right Decision Essay

Introduction, my ethical dilemma.

The issue of ethical dilemma is something human beings cannot let alone. It is evident that it remains part of their life. Someone finds himself in such a dilemma. Most of the time it is proper to make the right decision when in such a situation.

Personally, I believe the right decision always lies with your conscience. When in an ethical dilemma, making the right decision goes a long way in measuring someone’s ability to be responsible in future (Carter, C. & Clegg, S, pp 125).

Sometime last week I was faced with an ethical dilemma which made me choose between friendship and truth. I was at home watching movies with one of my schoolmates. Then a kitten jumped through the window and in to the house. I did not mind as am used to seeing it in our home most of the time.

It belonged to the next door neighbor. My friend got so excited and even held it in his palm. He kept on telling me how cute it was. He went to the extent of saying he will leave with it, I thought he was joking. In the evening, I decided to see him off. He begged me to allow him go home with the kitten and bring it back tomorrow.

I did not want to allow him do this, as I knew the first place our neighbor could come looking for her kitten was our home. We argued for a long time, and at last I allowed him to leave with it just to please him because he was my friend.

As we were walking down the road the kitten jumped off my friend’s palm straight into a truck’s path. It was knocked down and died on the spot. My friend begged me not to tell the owner what had happened. He even made me swear, and because he was my pal I accepted everything just not to hurt him.

When I went home that evening, I found my neighbor at my place. I was asked whether I had seen the kitten. I did not know what to say. If I told the truth, I was going to lose my friend. If i told a lie, I would save my friendship but I could not stand the guilt of lie to my parents. I also believed my neighbor needed to know what happened to her kitten. After a lot of thinking, i decided to tell the truth.

It is noteworthy that I acted in the right manner, as I could not tell a lie just to protect my friend. He acted unethically, and I should not do the same by protecting him. I find it so uncomfortable, when I have to swear not to do something then I end up not honoring my oath.

In this situation, I could not hide the truth when I knew clearly what consequences I was going to face. I knew I could still talk to my friend and tell him why I chose to stick to the truth. I could not allow my friend to manipulate me in to tainting my ethical integrity (Trevino, L & Nelson, K, pp 7).

I believe when someone is in an ethical predicament he is supposed to make a decision that will stand the taste of time. Making decisions just to suit that particular time, and external factors may not work appropriately.

When one makes such a decision he must be affected to some extent. If I could have protected my friend, I could always feel the guilty whenever in the presence of my neighbor. I also could have branded my self a dishonest person (Trevino, L & Nelson, K, pp 9).

Carter, Chris. & Clegg, Stewart. Business ethics as practice: representation, reflexivity and performance . Heltenham.UK. Edward Elgar Publishing, 2007 125

Trevino, Linda & Nelson, Katherine. Managing Business Ethics . New Jersey: John Wiley and Sons, 2010 7-10

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