Ethical Behavior

Paper Summary:

The paper defines what is and is not ethical behavior and explains five perspectives on the subject.The paper then discusses ethical values regarding decision making in the business environment and the importance of recognizing that what may be ethical in one community may be unethical in another. The paper notes that this makes the differences all the more important in different communities and countries because what is right and ethical in one sector may not be so in another.The paper also stresses the importance of conveying those beliefs in terms of what is considered ethical to others who will participate in that forum or setting.

Outline:
Introduction
Terms & Definitions
Theoretical Perspectives of 'Ethics'
Ethical Decision-Making
Values Relation to Decision-Making
Settings for Implementation of Tools
Summary and Conclusion

From the Paper:

"There is a dilemma between those who write on public policy and their assertions that "efficiency is not a morally adequate principle to inform decision-making." This statement is generally waved away by policy analysts who "usually ignore ethics" when making decisions, "in spite of strong arguments for their inclusion." Ethical analysis raising 'annoying' questions therefore bureaucracies avoid this type of critical view since the emphasis of he bureaucracy is placed on "...an emphasis on consensus and following orders. They are not debating societies, and they are not designed to encourage frank discussion and dissent." Six tools are held to be effective for building values into decision-making."

Sample of Sources Used:

• A Framework for Ethical Decision-Making (1988) Issues in Ethics, V. 1, N. 2 (Winter 1988). Markkula Center for Applied Ethics.
• Angell, EL et al (2007) Is 'inconsistency' in research ethics committee decision-making really a problem? An empirical investigation and reflection. Clinical Ethics 2007; 2: 92-99
• Trzyna, Ted (2001) Raising Annoying Questions: Why Values Should be Built into Decision-Making. California Institute of Public Affairs Publication No. 105, August 2001 California Institute of Public Affairs, Sacramento, California. www.interenvironment.org/cipa/raising.htm.
• World Ethic for Living Sustainably" (2003) Commission's Ethics Working Group, J. Ronald Engel (Engel 1993) ed. The "World Ethic" in Tryzna, Ted (2001) Raising Annoying Questions: Why Values Should be Built into Decision-Making. California Institute of Public Affairs Publication No. 105, August 2001 California Institute of Public Affairs, Sacramento, California. www.interenvironment.org/cipa/raising.htm.

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