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CRICOS No.00213J

ASSESSMENT 1: ETHICAL CASE STUDY

ASSESSMENT 1: ETHICAL CASE STUDY

CRICOS No.00213J

ASSESSMENT 1: ETHICAL CASE STUDY

1. Identifying the ethical issue and describing why it is a ethical dilemma

a. What is the ethical issue ? Right/Wrong, Good/Bad, Duty/Obligation, principles or values

b. Why is it an Ethical Dilemma ? The Should Question

ASSESSMENT 1: ETHICAL CASE STUDY

CRICOS No.00213J

2. Why a business context may make the ethical dilemma more difficult to resolve. • Organisational Norms • Conformity • Groupthink • Diffusion of Responsibility

ASSESSMENT 1: ETHICAL CASE STUDY

CRICOS No.00213J

It is a conflict between two morally right actions. This conflict is concerned with moral values or principles. The dilemma is that in doing something right you will also be doing something wrong at the same time. You have to choose to do one or the other (The should question, should I do option A or Option B). Examples of morals in conflict are: • Keeping a promise vs being honest (breaching a contract or confidentiality agreement or speaking out about the exploitation of staff or deception of customers) • Being loyal vs being caring (being loyal to your team and its goal to meet performance targets by cutting corners to get the job done vs taking the time and interest to look after customers to ensure their interests and well being are maximised) • Being brave vs being loyal (blowing the whistle on dishonest conduct vs keeping your head down and being a loyal member of your team) • Being trustworthy vs being honest (Being trusted by an IT subcontractor who shares information about weaknesses in their systems exposure to cyber security threats or data loss vs being honest with client about these weaknesses which you are legally and financially liable to address). Ethical dilemmas often involve multiple values. For example being loyal may also involve keeping a promise and being honest may also involve being brave in speaking out against wrong-doing. For your ECS focus on two central values in conflict.

There are several aspects of organisations that can have an impact on individual ethical behaviour: Organisational norms: Corporations often have mission statements and detailed objectives that employees are expected to work towards. In some situations the need to meet these objectives (such as high sales targets or profit figures) may conflict with an individual’s moral principles – Dollarmites accounts at the Commonwealth Bank Conformity: Recognition of an ethical dilemma but agree with the group because its safer and it’s what is expected. As an individual in the group you recognise the dilemma but may just toe the line to keep the peace and not rock the boat. For example a new director on a board may conform as a way to gain acceptance within the board even if they disagree or believe the board’s decision is wrong or does not match reality. Think about ‘Mean Girls’ the movie Groupthink: Pressure to follow the views of others’ can mean that alternative viewpoints are not considered and one’s own moral principles may be compromised. There is an instinctive impulse to conform so the group’s efforts, status and reputation is protected no matter what the cost is to others or individuals within the group. The cohesion and censual convergent nature of how a group work is so strong that there is no recognition of an ethical dilemma and the group feel strong and invulnerable to errors. Counterarguments are rationalised away and dissent or divergence is regarded as unnecessary (a distraction and waste of time as we know what to do and how to respond)

ASSESSMENT 1: ETHICAL CASE STUDY

CRICOS No.00213J

Diffusion of responsibility: The structure of large organisations can contribute to lack of individual moral responsibility – ‘that’s not my job, so I will not do anything about it’

ASSESSMENT 1: ETHICAL CASE STUDY1

CRICOS No.00213J

Week 3 Reading: Stewart N. (2009). Chapter 3: Virtue Ethics. In Ethics: An introduction to moral philosophy (pp. 54 – 76). Cambridge, Polity.

UTILITARIAN ETHICAL FRAMEWORK 3. What is the Decision Rule for Utilitarian Ethics ? Maximizing Overall Net Utility/ Happiness

•

This calculation considers overall net happiness. This means that changes in both pleasure and pain are included

•

This calculation considers overall net happiness. The number (or proportion) of people who experience increases or decreases in happiness is not relevant

a. Identify all the stakeholders who are affected by the decision / action

•

Each person’s increase/decrease in happiness is treated equally. No-one’s happiness is considered more important than anyone else’s

b. Develop the list of Consequences for those stakeholders (i.e. action v. inaction, harm v. benefit)

•

The calculation considers changes in happiness in both the short and long term

•

This is determined by predicting and analysing the consequences of different possible actions for everybody affected by those actions

•

If a proposed action will result in more positive consequences overall than the alternatives, then this action is the morally right choice

•

The agent is then morally obliged to take this action (it would be morally wrong to act in any other way)

c. Measure the pleasure and /or pain of each consequence for each stakeholder

d. Calculate overall pleasure or pain

e. Choose the action that leads to the greatest overall net utility

ASSESSMENT 1: ETHICAL CASE STUDY1

CRICOS No.00213J

The key steps in the process

KANTIAN ETHICAL FRAMEWORK

4. What is the Decision Rule for Kantian Ethics ? Moral duty to do the right thing

The key steps in the process 1.

Universality 1.

State the maxim for the scenario

2.

Universalise the maxim to apply to everyone in any situation

3.

Test the maxim by asking a)

a. Identify the maxim that pertains to the ethical issue

b. Test the maxim against UNIVERSAL ACCEPTABILITY (1st formulation)

Is there a contradiction in conception? If this maxim was applied would that make the whole point or fundamental principle meaningless – conception •

b)

Is there a contradiction in will? If this maxim was applied would you want to live in this world and would you ever fall ‘victim to it’ and not be able to deliberate and

•

contradiction in conception (is the maxim inconsistent or contradictory?) contradiction in will (would a rational person will this universal maxim?)

make your own choices? Respect 1.

How are people treated? Are they being used or exploited in a way that denies them the opportunity to make informed rational choices? If not, then there is a contradiction.

3.

c. Test the maxim against RESPECT (2nd formulation) • •

Are we respecting others choices ? Are we using them as a means to and ends?

Conclusion If there is a breach of universality (a or b) or respect (i.e. A contradiction) then the proposed

d. Does the maxim pass both tests?

action is unethical. Identify the ethical action and justify it using your analysis.

ASSESSMENT 1: ETHICAL CASE STUDY1

CRICOS No.00213J

2.

VIRTUE ETHICAL FRAMEWORK The key steps in the process 1.

Who is the actor and what is their key ‘business role’ in the scenario?

2.

What is the key purpose and performance indicators for that role (function…)?

3.

To flourish (succeed at performing at the highest capability and capacity), what would a person in that role need to do or be?

4.

A. Look at the virtues (or excellences or values) underpinning this success (or flourishing), what vices of theses virtues?

What is the Decision Rule for Virtue Ethics ? What would a virtuous person do in this BUSINESS role and in this situation?

1. Identify the person or ‘actor’, what is their business role? 2. What is the FUNCTION of the ‘actor’ in that role? 3. What are the VIRTUES associated with the FUNCTION of the actor? - Intellectual virtues - Character related or moral virtues

B. Which virtues and vices does the individual in the role display?

5. How can virtues be developed and vices be minimised or addressed? (How to get back to the golden mean if a vice is shown).

5. DEVELOPING THE VIRTUES - Intellectual virtues (Training & Education) - Character related or moral virtues (Practice, Habits, Modelling [mentor]) CRICOS No.00213J

C. Is there a gap between A and B?

4. VIRTUES Doctrine of the mean - The Golden Mean - Vices (Extremes)

VIRTUES – The Golden Mean • Aristotle did not provide any rules to guide our behaviour. However, he did provide the ‘doctrine of the mean’, that applies to most of the character-related virtues • According to the doctrine of mean each virtue/excellence represents an appropriate (emotional) response in a particular area that is an intermediate between two extremes The Golden Mean • One extreme is excessive, the other is deficient

What is the Decision Rule for Virtue Ethics ? What would a virtuous person do in this BUSINESS role and in this situation?

1. Identify the person or ‘actor’, what is their business role? 2. What is the FUNCTION of the ‘actor’ in that role?

• These two extremes are referred to as ‘vices’ 3. What are the VIRTUES associated with the FUNCTION of the actor? - Intellectual virtues - Character related or moral virtues

4. VIRTUES Doctrine of the mean - The Golden Mean - Vices (Extremes)

WORKSHOP 3: VIRTUE ETHICS

CRICOS No.00213J

Week 3 Reading Textbook: Chapter 2: Ethics: The big three theories [sections 2.3: pp. 50-57 inclusive).

What is the Decision Rule for Virtue Ethics ? What would a virtuous person do in this BUSINESS role and in this situation?

1. Identify the person or ‘actor’, what is their business role? 2. What is the FUNCTION of the ‘actor’ in that role? 3. What are the VIRTUES associated with the FUNCTION of the actor? - Intellectual virtues - Character related or moral virtues

4. VIRTUES Doctrine of the mean - The Golden Mean - Vices (Extremes)

WORKSHOP 3: VIRTUE ETHICS

CRICOS No.00213J

Week 3 Readings: Chapter 2: Ethics: The big three theories [sections 2.3: pp. 50-57 inclusive). Stewart N. (2009). Chapter 3: Virtue Ethics. In Ethics: An introduction to moral philosophy (pp. 54 – 76). Cambridge, Polity.

Developing the Virtues - How to get back to the golden mean if a vice is shown. • The ‘intellectual’ virtues, such as Knowledge, Craftsmanship and Wisdom are learned through education and training (e.g. the knowledge about business gained through a business degree) • The ‘character-related’ or ‘moral’ virtues, such as Courage, Justice and Generosity, are dispositions or character traits and so cannot simply be taught. These virtues are acquired by using them repeatedly (i.e. they become habits)

What is the Decision Rule for Virtue Ethics ? What would a virtuous person do in this BUSINESS role and in this situation?

1. Identify the person or ‘actor’, what is their business role? 2. What is the FUNCTION of the ‘actor’ in that role? 3. What are the VIRTUES associated with the FUNCTION of the actor? - Intellectual virtues - Character related or moral virtues

4. VIRTUES Doctrine of the mean - The Golden Mean - Vices (Extremes)

WORKSHOP 3: VIRTUE ETHICS

CRICOS No.00213J

5. DEVELOPING THE VIRTUES - Intellectual virtues (Training & Education) - Character related or moral virtues (Practice, Habits, Modelling [mentor])

What is the Decision Rule for Kantian Ethics ? Moral duty to do the right thing

1. Identify all the stakeholders who are affected by the decision / action

1. Identify the maxim that pertains to the ethical issue

2. Develop the list of Consequences for those stakeholders (i.e. action v. inaction, harm v. benefit)

2. Test the maxim against UNIVERSAL ACCEPTABILITY (1st formulation) •

contradiction in conception (is the maxim inconsistent or contradictory?) • contradiction in will (would a rational person will this universal maxim?)

3. Measure the pleasure and /or pain of each consequence for each stakeholder 3. Test the maxim against RESPECT (2nd formulation)

5. Choose the action that leads to the greatest aggregate pain/pleasure

• •

Are we respecting others choices ? Are we using them as a means to and ends?

4. Does the maxim pass both tests?

1. Identify the person or ‘actor’, what is their business role? 2. What is the FUNCTION of the ‘actor’ in that role?

3. What are the VIRTUES associated with the FUNCTION of the actor? - Intellectual virtues - Character related or moral virtues

4. VIRTUES Doctrine of the mean - The Golden Mean - Vices (Extremes)

5. DEVELOPING THE VIRTUES - Intellectual virtues (Training & Education) - Character related or moral virtues (Practice, Habits, Modelling [mentor])

WORKSHOP 1,2 & 3: OVERVIEW

CRICOS No.00213J

4. Calculate overall pleasure of pain

What is the Decision Rule for Virtue Ethics ? What would a virtuous person do in this BUSINESS role and in this situation?

What is the recommended course of action – What is the ethical thing to do?

How being in a business context may influence individuals decision Identify the ethical issues and describe why it is a ethical dilemma

What is the Decision Rule for Utilitarian Ethics ? Maximizing overall net utility/happiness...