Managerial Ethics What is Ethics? Criteria for Ethical Decision Making Social Responsibility Corporate Actions Toward Social Demands Code of Ethics
Ethics The code of moral principles and values that govern the behaviors of a person or group with respect to what is right or wrong. Lies between the domains of codified law and free choice Based on shared principles and values Disagreements and dilemmas about proper behavior often occur.
Three Domains of Human Action Domain of Codified Law (Legal Standard) Ethics (Social Standard) Free Choice (Personal Standard) Amount of Explicit Control High Low
Ethical Dilemma A situation that arises when all alternative choices or behaviors have been deemed undesirable because of potentially negative ethical consequences, making it difficult to distinguish right from wrong.
Criteria for Ethical Decision Making Utilitarian Approach Individualism Approach Moral-Rights Approach Justice Approach
Utilitarian Approach Moral behaviors produce the greatest good for the greatest number.
Individualism Approach Acts are moral when they promote the individual's best long-term interests.
Moral-Rights Approach Human beings have fundamental rights that cannot be taken away by an individual's decision. 1. Free consent 2. Privacy 3. Conscience 4. Free speech 5. Due process 6. Life and safety.
Justice Approach Standards of equity, fairness, and impartiality. Distributive Justice Procedural Justice Compensatory Justice
Social Responsibility Management's obligation to make choices and take actions that will contribute to the welfare and interests of society as well as to the welfare and interests of the organization Being a good corporate citizen. 4 criteria: economic, legal, ethical, discretionary.
Economic Responsibilities Be Profitable
Legal Responsibilities Obey the Law
Ethical Responsibilities Do What is Right
Discretionary Responsibilities Contribute to Quality of Life
Corporate Actions Toward Social Demands Obstructive Defensive Accommodative Proactive
Obstructive Fight All the Way
Defensive Do Only What is Legally Required
Accommodative Accept Ethical Responsibility
Proactive Take Social Initiatives
Code of Ethics A formal statement of the company's values concerning ethics and social issues.