Ethical Dilemma

Ethics

plural but sing or plural in constr :the plural but sing or plural in constr :the discipline dealing with what is good and discipline dealing with what is good and bad and with moral duty and obligation2 bad and with moral duty and obligation2 a: a set of moral principles : a theory or a: a set of moral principles : a theory or system of moral valuessystem of moral values

Dilemma:

an argument presenting two or more an argument presenting two or more equally conclusive alternatives against an equally conclusive alternatives against an opponent opponent

OR OR

a problem involving a difficult choicea problem involving a difficult choice

Ethical Dilemma is:

NOTNOT a choice between right and wrong a choice between right and wrong ISIS a choice between two things that could a choice between two things that could

both equally be rightboth equally be right A situation that, although offering potential A situation that, although offering potential

benefits, is unethical.benefits, is unethical.

For Example Deciding whether to lie about harboring a Deciding whether to lie about harboring a

criminal in your home who committed a double criminal in your home who committed a double homicide.homicide.

THIS IS NOT A ETHICAL DILEMMA – THIS IS NOT A ETHICAL DILEMMA – WHY?WHY?

Deciding, in Nazi Germany, to lie about Deciding, in Nazi Germany, to lie about harboring Jews in your home knowing they would harboring Jews in your home knowing they would be killed if you turned them in.be killed if you turned them in.

THIS IS A ETHICAL DILEMMA – WHY?THIS IS A ETHICAL DILEMMA – WHY?

Example:

““When a used car salesman tells you, ‘This is When a used car salesman tells you, ‘This is the car for you,’ you fully expect the salesman the car for you,’ you fully expect the salesman

to be motivated primarily by self-interest: to be motivated primarily by self-interest:

he wants to sell you the car to put a few he wants to sell you the car to put a few dollars in his pocket.”dollars in his pocket.”

““But when an audiologist tells you, ‘This is But when an audiologist tells you, ‘This is the hearing aid for you,’ you assume that the hearing aid for you,’ you assume that recommendation stems from the recommendation stems from the audiologist’s independent judgment that audiologist’s independent judgment that this particular hearing aid would be best for this particular hearing aid would be best for you.”you.”

““The used car salesman is a businessman; the The used car salesman is a businessman; the audiologist is a ‘professional.’ Professionals audiologist is a ‘professional.’ Professionals distinguish themselves from ‘mere’ businessmen or distinguish themselves from ‘mere’ businessmen or tradesman by holding themselves to a higher standard tradesman by holding themselves to a higher standard than self-interest.”than self-interest.”

““Because professionals ‘profess’ to hold the client’s Because professionals ‘profess’ to hold the client’s or patient’s interest paramount, clients or patients seek or patient’s interest paramount, clients or patients seek out professionals and repose their confidence in them out professionals and repose their confidence in them in order to find the added measure of safety and in order to find the added measure of safety and comfort inherent in such relationships.”comfort inherent in such relationships.”

Characteristic of ethical dilemmaChoice between equally undesirable alternativeChoice between equally undesirable alternativeDifferent courses of action possible Different courses of action possible Involves valid judgments about action or consequencesInvolves valid judgments about action or consequencesData will not help resolve issueData will not help resolve issueDifferent sources (psychology, theology) offer resolutionDifferent sources (psychology, theology) offer resolutionUnfavorable outcomes will resultUnfavorable outcomes will resultChoices have for effecting on person, relationship and Choices have for effecting on person, relationship and

society society Resources which must be allocated are finite or limitedResources which must be allocated are finite or limitedCan be resolved not solvedCan be resolved not solvedThere is no “right” or “wrongThere is no “right” or “wrong

Solving an Ethical Dilemma

When making a decision we must consider:• The people and things that will be affected, not onlyourselves.• The values that deal with the problem and itssolution.• The means used and the goals we want toaccomplish.

Therefore, in every moralact there must be: ConscienceConscience of the reasons for doing it (Why do I do this of the reasons for doing it (Why do I do this

action?).action?). • • ConscienceConscience of the intentions (What for?). of the intentions (What for?). • • ConscienceConscience of the means (How am I going to do it?). of the means (How am I going to do it?). • • Conscience Conscience of the possible outcomes (What do I wish to of the possible outcomes (What do I wish to

accomplish?).accomplish?). • • ConscienceConscience of the results (What happened in reality?) of the results (What happened in reality?)

and the consequences (Were there any negative effects?).and the consequences (Were there any negative effects?).

Checklist for dealing with ethical dilemmas

Step 1. Recognize the ethical dilemma. Step 1. Recognize the ethical dilemma. Step 2. Get the facts. Step 2. Get the facts. Step 3. Identify your options. Step 3. Identify your options. Step 4. Test each option: Is it legal? Is it right? Is it Step 4. Test each option: Is it legal? Is it right? Is it

beneficial? beneficial? Step 5. Decide which option to follow. Step 5. Decide which option to follow. Step 6. Ask the “Spotlight Questions”: To double check Step 6. Ask the “Spotlight Questions”: To double check

your decision. your decision. ““How would I feel if my family found out about my decision?” How would I feel if my family found out about my decision?” ““How would I feel if the local newspaper printed my decision?” How would I feel if the local newspaper printed my decision?”

Step 7. Take actionStep 7. Take action

Ethics and WorkThe Wall Street Journal reports: The Wall Street Journal reports:

• • 36% 36% of workers calling in sick are lying. of workers calling in sick are lying.

• • 35%35% keep quiet about co-worker misconduct. keep quiet about co-worker misconduct.

• • 12%12% of job resumes contain falsehoods. of job resumes contain falsehoods.

• • ManagersManagers are more likely than other workers are more likely than other workers to report wrongdoing. to report wrongdoing.

• • Managers with Managers with 0–30–3 years experience feel most years experience feel most pressure to violate personal ethics. pressure to violate personal ethics.

Ethical philosophy There are three different ethical philosophies that There are three different ethical philosophies that

individuals follow under different situations in an individuals follow under different situations in an organizational set-up.organizational set-up.

These are- utilitarianism, individual rights, and These are- utilitarianism, individual rights, and justice.justice.

Organizations attempt to ensure that their Organizations attempt to ensure that their employees behave employees behave ethically by using control ethically by using control systemssystems

The individual rightsThe individual rights philosophy deals philosophy deals with safeguarding the rights of individuals, with safeguarding the rights of individuals, such as the right to be informed, right to such as the right to be informed, right to free speech, right to free consent, the right free speech, right to free consent, the right to privacy, and the right to due process.to privacy, and the right to due process.

UtilitarianismUtilitarianism recommends that a course of recommends that a course of action that achieves the greatest good for action that achieves the greatest good for the greatest number of people is ethicalthe greatest number of people is ethical

JJusticeustice requires that the rules of the requires that the rules of the organization be enforced fairly and organization be enforced fairly and impartially. Individuals should be impartially. Individuals should be accountable only for factors which are accountable only for factors which are under their control.under their control.

UtilitarianismUtilitarianism is the most commonly is the most commonly followed ethical philosophyfollowed ethical philosophy

Ethical behavior

Decision history

Reinforcement/Reward systems

OrganizationalPosition related

factors

Ethical philosophy&

Decision ideology

Individual factors External Environmental factors

EthicalDecisionMaking

Whistleblowers

Persons who expose organizational Persons who expose organizational misdeeds in order to preserve ethical misdeeds in order to preserve ethical standards and protect against wasteful, standards and protect against wasteful, harmful, or illegal acts.harmful, or illegal acts.

Many whistleblowers were / are fired for Many whistleblowers were / are fired for their actions.their actions.

State and federal laws now offer some State and federal laws now offer some protectionprotection

We have an increasing number of dilemmas due to erosion of valuesMainly because:Mainly because: Dominance of economic considerations in the materialistic Dominance of economic considerations in the materialistic

worldworld Exposure to much ethnic multi cultural and plural society Exposure to much ethnic multi cultural and plural society

depicted in satellitedepicted in satellite Religion has been politicized and loss of faithReligion has been politicized and loss of faith Increased influence of western thoughts on younger Increased influence of western thoughts on younger

generationsgenerations Relative ease of cutting cornersRelative ease of cutting corners Difficulty in thinking about consequences of alternate coursesDifficulty in thinking about consequences of alternate courses Different from rashness or stubbornness.Different from rashness or stubbornness.

The final test as to whether an The final test as to whether an action is ethical or not are answers action is ethical or not are answers to the following questionsto the following questions1.1. If the answers are all negative, then the If the answers are all negative, then the

chances are you are being ethical.chances are you are being ethical.

2.2. Is it in conflict with values deep religious Is it in conflict with values deep religious beliefs?beliefs?

3.3. Does it hurt my conscience?Does it hurt my conscience?

4.4. Do I feel guilty?Do I feel guilty?

5.5. Will I feel bad to admit in public?Will I feel bad to admit in public?

“Character doesn’t stay at home

A code of moral standards of conduct for A code of moral standards of conduct for

what is “good” and “right” as opposed to what is “good” and “right” as opposed to

what is “bad” or “wrong”.what is “bad” or “wrong”.

when we go to work”

"If you refuse to fight this righteous war "If you refuse to fight this righteous war then, shirking your duty and loosing your then, shirking your duty and loosing your reputation, you will incur sin. Nay, people reputation, you will incur sin. Nay, people will also pour undying infamy on you; will also pour undying infamy on you; infamy brought on a man enjoying popular infamy brought on a man enjoying popular esteem is worse than death.“esteem is worse than death.“

Lord KrishnaLord Krishna

Quoting from Bhagavad Gita

Karmanyeva adhikaraste maphaleshu kadachana Karmanyeva adhikaraste maphaleshu kadachana makarma phala heturbhu mate sangotswa karmani makarma phala heturbhu mate sangotswa karmani

When we are dealing with management and When we are dealing with management and human action we cannot take absolute positions human action we cannot take absolute positions on passions like greed and intolerance on passions like greed and intolerance

Ethics only can save youEthics only can save you