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three approaches to ethical decision making

Terms in this set (31)

first approach
conventional approach ( societal norm approach)
conventional approach
based on how common, everyday society (avg. people) view today's business ethics
-relies on use of common sense and wide sense of whats ethical
2 key branches of ethics
descriptive and normative
descriptive ethics
describing, characterizing and studying the morality of people/orgs/society
-focuses on "WHAT IS" the set of ethical standards in a business, org. or specific company/manager
danger of descriptive ethics
people think if everyone is doing it then it must be acceptable
normative ethics
seeks to develop basic moral principles that are intended to guide behavior/actions/decisions
-focuses on "WHAT SHOULD BE" in terms of business practices --> want to establish standards by which business practices are guided
second approach
principles approach (moral guideline focus)
principles approach
based on use of ethical principles/guidelines to justify direct behavior/actions/practices
*generated by moral philosophers
ethics principle
ethical concept that will assist you when faced with ethical dilemma
2 types of ethical theories
teleological and deontological
teleological theories
focuses on CONSEQUENCES/RESULTS of the actions they produce
utilitarianism
*major principle in teleological category
-take action that results in greater good for the greatest number of people
-consequence based
deontological theories
focuses on DUTIES
-manager had DUTY to tell the truth when doing business
kant's categorial imperialism
*deontological
one should act only on rules that you would be willing to see everyone follow
-duty based
rights/justice
*deontological
-everyone has rights and should be treated fairly
-duty based
virtue ethics
rooted in thinking of Plato and Aristotle
-focuses on individual becoming imbued with virtues (honesty, fairness, trustworthy, truth)
-emphasizes "BEING"
-aretaic
aretaic theories
3rd less-known category of ethics
-created by Aristotle
John Rawls
main beliefs:
1. everyone should be treated equal
2. public should raise well-being of worst of individuals
third approach
ethical test approach ( applied guideline focus)
ethical test approach
-more practical; don't require in-depth moral thinking
-based on short questions/"tests" to guide ethical decision making
*7 tests
common sense test
"does this action make sense?"
aka "smell test": if it stinks don't do it
test of one's best self
"is this decisions compatible with my concept of myself at my best?"
test of going public
*aka disclosure rule
-"how would i feel if others knew I was doing this?"
best ethical test...
going public
test of ventilation
-"expose" your proposed action to tithes and get their thoughts before acting
test of purified idea
just because superiors say action is okay, doesn't mean it is ethical/right
most common ethical error
think it is okay bc superior approves
test of big 4
4 characteristics of decision that may lead you astray or toward wrong course of action
big 4 characteristics
greed, speed, laziness, haziness ( act w/o clear idea of whats going on)
gag test
"gag" at thought of carrying out action
example of ethical tests
GM, Ford, Volkswagen
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