Ethical Decision Making Case Study

STEPS OF THE ETHICAL DECISION MAKING PRACTICE
 Assemble the facts
 Define the ethical issues
 Identify the affected parties i.e., the stakeholders
 Identify the consequences
 Identify the obligations i.e., principles, rights, justice
 Consider your character and integrity
 Think creatively the about potential actions
 Check your gut
 Decide on the proper ethical action and be organized to deal with contrasting argument.

1) ASSEMBLE THE FACTS

 Don’t jump to conclusions without the data
 Questions to ask: what, where, when, who, how, and why.  However, data may be difficult to find because of the uncertainties often found around ethical issues
 Some facts are not available
 Assemble as many facts as possible before happening
 simplify what assumptions you are making!

2) DEFINE THE ETHICAL ISSUES

 Don’t bound to solutions without first identifying the ethical issues in the circumstances.
 Define the ethical base for the issue you want to focus on.
 There may be a multiple ethical issues - focus on one major one at a time.

3 )IDENTIFY THE AFFECTED PARTIES

 Identify all of the stakeholders
 Who all are the primary or direct stakeholders?
 Who all are the secondary or non direct stakeholders?
 Perspective taking :- make an effort to see things through the eyes of those persons affected.
 Why are they stakeholders for the concern?

4) IDENTIFY THE CONSEQUENCES

 Think about prospective positive and negative consequences for affected parties by the decision i.e., Focus on primary stakeholders to simplify analysis until you become comfortable with the process.
 What are the level of the consequences and the possibility that the consequences will happen.
 Shor...

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...mary parties involved in the situation.

8) CHECK YOUR GUT
 Even though the prior steps have argued for a highly rational process, it is always good to “check your gut.”
 Intuition is gaining credibility as a source for good decision making – knowing something is not “right.”
 Particularly applicable if you have a lot of experience in the area – expert decision-making.

9)DECIDE ON YOUR COURSE OF ACTION AND PREPARE RESPONSES TO THOSE WHO MAY OPPOSE YOUR POSITION

 Consider potential actions based on the consequences, obligations, and character approaches
 Do you come up with comparable answers from the different perspectives?
 Do the obligation and character help you “check”the consequentiality preferred action?
 How can you protect the rights of those involved (or your own character) while still maximizing the overall good for all of the stakeholders?