Transcript 3.2 Ethical Dilemmas and Standards
Ethical Dilemmas and Standards
Ethical Dilemmas
• How do ethical dilemmas complicate the workplace?
An ethical dilemma occurs when choices offer potential for personal and/or organizational benefit but may be considered unethical.
• • • • • Ethical dilemmas include: Discrimination Sexual harassment Conflicts of interest Customer confidence Organizational resources
RATIONALIZATIONS FOR UNETHICAL CONDUCT
• “It’s not really illegal...” • “It’s in everyone’s best interests...” • “Nobody will ever find out…” • “The organization will protect me...” Source:
Saul W. Gellerman,
Harvard Business Review, 1986 Chapter 3 Management Fundamentals Schermerhorn & Wright 3
“DOUBLE-CHECK” FOR ETHICAL DECISIONS
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Question 1
“How will I feel about this if my family finds out?” •
Question 2
“How will I feel about this if it is printed in the local newspaper?” Chapter 3 Management Fundamentals Schermerhorn & Wright 4
Where do pressures for unethical acts come from?
Sometimes, perhaps too often Who hold a lot of power BOSSES Bosses may ask: • “support an inccorrect view” • “sign a false document” • “overlook a wrong doing” • “do business with my friends” Who depend on them for raises, promotions, etc.
Chapter 3 LOWER LEVELS Management Fundamentals Schermerhorn & Wright 5
Ethical Dilemmas
• Factors influencing ethical behavior include: The person – Family influences, religious values, personal standards, and personal needs • The organization – Supervisory behavior, policy statements and written rules, and peer group norms and behavior • The environment – Government laws and regulations, societal norms and values, and competition climate in an industry
Figure 3.3 Factors influencing ethical managerial behavior —the person, organization, and environment.
Management Fundamentals - Chapter 3 7
How can high ethical standards be maintained?
Checklist for dealing with ethical dilemmas Step 1. Recognize the ethical dilemma Step 2: Get the facts Step 3. Identify your options Step 4. Test each option: Is it legal? Is it right? Is it beneficial?
Step 5. Decide which option to follow Step 6. Double-check decision by asking the “spotlight” questions: “How would I feel if my family found out about my decision?” “How would I feel about this if my decision were printed in the local newspaper?” Management Fundamentals - Chapter 3 8 Step 7. Take action.
How can high ethical standards be maintained? Whistleblowers
Expose misdeeds of others to: • Preserve ethical standards • Protect against wasteful, harmful, or illegal acts
How can high ethical standards be maintained?
• • • • Laws protecting whistleblowers vary.
– – Reasons for not reporting: Believe no corrective action will be taken Fear that reports will not be kept confidential • • • Barriers to whistleblowing include: Strict chain of command Strong work group identities Ambiguous priorities • • Organizational methods for overcoming whistleblowing barriers: Ethics advisors Moral Quality Circles
How can high ethical standards be maintained?
• Top managers serve as ethical role models.
• All managers can influence the ethical behavior of people who work for and with them.
How can high ethical standards be maintained?
• Excessive pressure can foster unethical behavior.
• Managers should be realistic in setting performance goals for others.
How can high ethical standards be maintained?
Codes of ethics: • Official written guidelines on how to behave in situations susceptible to the creation of ethical dilemmas.
Areas often covered by codes of ethics: • Workforce diversity • Bribes and kickbacks • Political contributions • Honesty of books or records • Customer/supplier relationships • Confidentiality of corporate information
Code of Ethics Exercise
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In pairs, develop what you consider to be an appropriate Code of Ethics for teachers at DDSS. Develop 7-10 individual rules that would apply.
2.
Develop a formal classroom Code of Ethics that will apply to students at DDSS.
3.
Have one group member write out a final copy of both codes. You will present your answers to the class.
Ethical Dilemmas Exercise
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