- Summative
https://saylordotorg.github.io/text_human-relations/s09-02-making-ethical-decisions.html
Decision Making Process:
Step 1: Identify the problem. Sometimes just realizing a particular situation is ethical can be the important first step. Occasionally in our organizations, we may feel that it’s just the “way of doing business” and not think to question the ethical nature.
Step 2: Identify the potential issues involved. Who could get hurt? What are the issues that could negatively impact people and/or the company? What is the worst-case scenario if we choose to do nothing?
Step 3: Review relevant ethical guidelines. Does the organization have policies and procedures in place to handle this situation? For example, if a client gives you a gift, there may be a rule in place as to whether you can accept gifts and if so, the value limit of the gift you can accept.
Step 4: Know relevant laws and regulations. If the company doesn’t necessarily have a rule against it, could it be looked at as illegal?
Step 5: Obtain consultation. Seek support from supervisors, coworkers, friends, and family, and especially seek advice from people who you feel are moral and ethical.
Step 6: Consider possible and probable courses of action. What are all of the possible solutions for solving the problem? Brainstorm a list of solutions—all solutions are options during this phase.
Step 7: List the consequences of the probable courses of action. What are both the positive and negative benefits of each proposed solution? Who can the decision affect?
Step 8: Decide on what appears to be the best course of action. With the facts we have and the analysis done, choosing the best course of action is the final step. There may not always be a “perfect” solution, but the best solution is the one that seems to create the most good and the least harm.
Prompt:
Ethics is a subject with a long history, but history is problematic. The history we have is told by a very select group of people, and the history we are able to access is limited to what each generation before ours decided was worthy of keeping. In early history, documentation could only be done by the wealthy and/or famous because the cost of resources was so high. In part due to systemic racism and sexism, it is also hard to find a diverse and equitable perspective on ethics in history. At the same time, it is important to demonstrate diversity and equitable representation in the authors and resources used in a class because students should see themselves in the work. What should an Ethics Professor do in this situation? How? Why? What makes you think so?
Cite your sources, please, and walk your reader through your ethical decision making process. What ethical lenses did you apply? What framework did you apply and why? What questions did you ask yourself and what answers arose? (no more than 350 words)
- Questions & Answers
Read the case. No more than 100 words for the answers
https://ethicsunwrapped.utexas.edu/case-study/pao-gender-bias
- Based on the information in the case study, if you were a juror would you have ruled in favor of Pao or Kleiner Perkins? Why? How might your own values or biases influence your decision?
- Many times when a person discloses or requests an investigation into the potential for gender discrimination, that person may experience difficulty finding a new job. Why do you suppose that is? In the face of such an outcome, should a person still come forward with such claims? Why or why note?
