Dr. Jim Weber Duquesne University April 26, 2012

The “LEFT TURN” versus “RIGHT TURN” of Ethics Taking a LEFT turn on red is prohibited, you must wait for the traffic light to change – you must ADHERE TO THE RULES Taking a RIGHT turn on red is permitted, you do not need to wait for the traffic light to change – YOU CAN ACT IF SAFE TO DO SO

 What is applied ethics? The application of rules or standards … to guide or judge … good or preferred individual or group … decisions or behavior.  Are ethical situations common at work? Ethical situations are common at work, present in nearly every basic or commonplace task performed by managers or employees.  What influences ethical decision making? Decision-maker, organization, context

The decision-maker  values, beliefs, experience, expertise, role responsibilities, reasoning skills The organization  culture, leadership, codes/policies, compensation systems, opportunity, performance appraisal, organizational systems, reporting mechanisms, significant others The context  magnitude of consequences, violation of policy, frequency of situation, proximity, probability, immediacy

 Recognition  Reasoning  Resolution

 What is a common workplace practice for you in your profession?  Does this practice give cause for ethical analysis or reflection?  If so, why? What ethical values or principles are relevant when trying to resolve the situation?

What ethical principles are found in your most common workplace practices?  Do your DUTY  Do NO HARM  Be FAIR and JUST  Respect others’ RIGHTS  Be HONEST and TRUSTWORTHY

The focus of your ethical reasoning might be:  Concern for yourself, avoidance of punishment  Concern for an immediate group (peers, workers) or for your organization  Concern for the customers, neighborhood, professional colleagues, industry  Concern for the law, professional standards  Concern for applying consistent principles, such as honesty, justice, rights

We all face troubling issues at work in our role as a professional. What situation or work practice “keeps you up at night” wrestling with the ethical question: What should I do?

 Organizational influences: ◦ culture, leadership, codes/policies, compensation systems, opportunity, performance appraisal, organizational systems, reporting mechanisms, significant others  What is the GREATEST organizational influence? Organizational culture / climate

Culture/climate is at the foundation of an ethical organization … then, the values or behavioral expectations need to be:  codified for employees …  reinforced through training…  integrated into appraisal assessment …  rewarded or punished … To result in an ethical organization.

Were your two or three expectations for today’s ethics training met? Will today’s training be useful tomorrow (or later today) when you return to work?