Ethical Decision Making: Earning Public Trust Sally Rhys, MS, SPHR, CCEP International Public...

Ethical Decision Making:

Earning Public Trust

Sally Rhys, MS, SPHR, CCEPInternational Public Management Association: Human ResourcesWestern Region ConferenceApril 28, 2011

Sally Rhys, Focus on Business Ethics, 4/28/2011

Diego’s Dilemma

Sally Rhys, Focus on Business Ethics, 4/28/2011

Ethical Dilemma

Right vs Right

Sally Rhys, Focus on Business Ethics, 4/28/2011

The Four Dilemmas

Sally Rhys, Focus on Business Ethics, 4/28/2011

#1

Truth Loyaltyvs

Sally Rhys, Focus on Business Ethics, 4/28/2011

#2

Short Term

Long Term

vs

Sally Rhys, Focus on Business Ethics, 4/28/2011

#3

Individual Communityvs

Sally Rhys, Focus on Business Ethics, 4/28/2011

#4

Justice Mercyvs

Sally Rhys, Focus on Business Ethics, 4/28/2011

The Four Dilemmas

Truth versus Loyalty

Short Term versus Long Term

Individual versus Community

Justice versus Mercy From How Good People Make Tough Choices by Rushworth Kidder

Sally Rhys, Focus on Business Ethics, 4/28/2011

Three Moral Frameworks

Sally Rhys, Focus on Business Ethics, 4/28/2011

Ends Based Thinking

“The greatest good for the greatest number.”

Sally Rhys, Focus on Business Ethics, 4/28/2011

Rule Based Thinking

A suitable rule for everyone else to follow in similar situations.

Sally Rhys, Focus on Business Ethics, 4/28/2011

Care Based Thinking

The Golden Rule: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”

Sally Rhys, Focus on Business Ethics, 4/28/2011

The Three Moral Frameworks

Ends Based

Rule Based

Care Based

Sally Rhys, Focus on Business Ethics, 4/28/2011

Decision Making Models

Sally Rhys, Focus on Business Ethics, 4/28/2011

#1: Santa Clara University

1. Recognize the situation as an ethical issue

2. Get the facts

3. Evaluate alternative actions

4. Make a decision and test it

5. Act and reflect on the outcomes

From Markkula Center for Applied Ethics

Sally Rhys, Focus on Business Ethics, 4/28/2011

#2: The Four ImperativesLegal: Societies’ Agreements

Pragmatic: Good for Business

Perceptual: Need for Support

Personal:Individual Value

From Moral Leadership in Business by LaRue T. Hosmer and Navran Associates

Sally Rhys, Focus on Business Ethics, 4/28/2011

Four Imperatives cont’d

Legal Imperative: Is this action according to laws? Is it in accordance with commonly accepted rights

of others? Pragmatic Imperative:

Is this action likely to make good business sense? Is this action going to support more efficient

production?From Moral Leadership in Business by LaRue T. Hosmer and Navran Associates

Sally Rhys, Focus on Business Ethics, 4/28/2011

Four Imperatives cont’d

Perceptual Imperative: Would I be proud to see this reported on national

TV? Will this action build a sense of community?

Personal Imperative: Is this congruent with my values? Would I condone this activity in others?

From Moral Leadership in Business by LaRue T. Hosmer and Navran Associates

Sally Rhys, Focus on Business Ethics, 4/28/2011

!!! Fatal Flaw!!!

Sally Rhys, Focus on Business Ethics, 4/28/2011

#3: Person-Situation Interactionist

Stage of Cognitive

Development

Individual Moderators

SituationalModerators

Ability toApplyPreviousModels

Sally Rhys, Focus on Business Ethics, 4/28/2011

Stages of Cognitive Development

1&2: Concerned with concrete consequences

3&4: Concerned with what is “right”

5&6: Right is determined by universal values or principles

Sally Rhys, Focus on Business Ethics, 4/28/2011

Personality: Individual Differences

Sense of Self Self management, e.g. resist impulses, follow own

convictions

The Situation Follow the crowd: Degree of dependence on context vs

internal moral compass to guide actions

Self determining Master of own fate: Degree of belief that outcomes are due

to self rather than fate/luck/destiny

Sally Rhys, Focus on Business Ethics, 4/28/2011

Situational Variables

Job Context Good behaviors noticed? Bad behaviors punished? Pressure due to time, budget, resources?

Organizational Culture Norms Role models Obedience to authority Responsibility for consequences

Sally Rhys, Focus on Business Ethics, 4/28/2011

Oregon State Guidelines

Sally Rhys, Focus on Business Ethics, 4/28/2011

Washington State Guidelines

Sally Rhys, Focus on Business Ethics, 4/28/2011

California State Guidelines

Sally Rhys, Focus on Business Ethics, 4/28/2011

IMPA-HR: Principles and Values Statement

…highest standards of professional competence and personal conduct

…respect the dignity of all individuals …uphold all federal, state, and local laws..to

instill in the public a sense of confidence and trust about the conduct of my employer

..avoid a conflict of interest …not compromise, for personal gain.., my

integrity

Sally Rhys, Focus on Business Ethics, 4/28/2011

Case Study

Find a case study at your table Find a decision making model at your table Apply assigned model to case study:

debate to force higher contributions Think about process, not so much outcome

Santa Clara Four Imperatives

Prepare to share key insights about the model

Sally Rhys, Focus on Business Ethics, 4/28/2011

Report out

What did you learn by using the model?

What is the impact on different stakeholders?

Could you personally live with the decision?

Sally Rhys, Focus on Business Ethics, 4/28/2011

In the moment…

Sally Rhys, Focus on Business Ethics, 4/28/2011

Publicity TestWould I want this on the front page of a major newspaper?

Sally Rhys, Focus on Business Ethics, 4/28/2011

Fairness Test

Would I treat my best friend this way?

Sally Rhys, Focus on Business Ethics, 4/28/2011

Universality Test

Would I recommend others go in the same direction?

Sally Rhys, Focus on Business Ethics, 4/28/2011

What would you do if you were Diego?

Sally Rhys, Focus on Business Ethics, 4/28/2011

Ethical Leadership

Sally Rhys, Focus on Business Ethics, 4/28/2011

Resources How Good People Make Tough Choices, Rushworth

Kidder Moral Leadership in Business, LaRue T. Hosmer www.scu.edu/ethics/practicing/decision Ethical Decision Making in Organizations: A Person-

Situation Interactionist Model, Linda K. Trevino, Academy of Management Review, 1986

Defining Moments, Joseph L. Badaracco, Jr Me!

Sally Rhys, Focus on Business Ethics, 4/28/2011

Thank you!

Sally Rhys, MS, CCEP, SPHR

www.FocusonBusinessEthics.com

Sally@FocusonBusinessEthics.com

971-678-0489

Have ethics. Will travel.