Kim Woods Only (Signature assignment)

OLCU 601- Ethics, Democracy & Leadership

Ethical Framework ***Signature Assignment***

Length: Paper: 10 - 12 double-spaced pages

Due: Week 6 by Sunday Midnight

Value: 300 Points for 30% of the grade

Post: Week 6 Assignments Folder

Ethical Framework Paper Guidelines

Ethical Framework Definition An ethical framework is a decision-making model that outlines step-by-step processes for one’s ethical deliberation resulting in decisions. A framework for ethical decision-making addresses the “how” not the “what” of ethical decisions. It reflects the process of deliberation on ethical decision-making. It will be similar to a decision-making framework but must include specific ethical considerations. Ethical frameworks frequently take the form of a series of questions such as, “How would I want someone else to act in this situation?” “How would my behavior be judged by my mother/father/children?” “What is the greatest good in this situation?” “What values are represented by this decision?” In other words, the framework brings to light the ethical deliberative process one engaged in to make ethical decisions.

You will prepare and submit through Turnitin, a 10 - 12 page paper following APA guidelines.

Your paper will include four sections:

 Describe your ethical framework that illuminates your deliberative process.

 Describe a difficult ethical decision related to your personal or work life (Case Study Component)

 Apply your ethical framework (described above) to your case.

 Assess how you might apply a different or more complex decision-making process in the future to complex ethical issues.

The paper should include the following components:

1. Describe your ethical framework

Research and define ethical frameworks and their purposes. Use examples from the literature. Then,

thoroughly describe your own ethical framework based on what you have read. Describe any principles

you have included or rejected. How are your values represented in your framework? How did you

develop your framework? Clearly reference the ethical positions, principles, or other frameworks that

influenced your own framework.

2. Describe a difficult ethical decision related to your personal or work life.

Discuss an experience from your personal or work life that involved a difficult ethical decision. This case

study should be an ethical dilemma about which you personally have had to make a decision. It is not

acceptable to present a case you have encountered of someone else behaving unethically. Discuss the

circumstances surrounding difficult ethical choice for you. What pressures were exerted on you to

decide one way or another? What are the cultural influences on you and other players? Do changing

circumstances impact the decisions made? What assumptions were held by you at the time and/or were

held by others that impacted your decision? You must state clearly why the decision is difficult; and must

clearly state the conflict as you see it. What principles and values appeared to be in conflict?

3. Apply your ethical framework (described in #1 above) to your case.

Discuss your personal case based on your learnings this term and apply your ethical framework to the

case you have described in #2 above. What are the primary or most important issues or ethical dilemmas

presented in your case? How might your framework help you resolve these issues? What decision-

making criteria (principles and values) did you use at the time the incident described in your case

happened? How might you have resolved the issues presented in your case using your ethical

framework?

4. Assess how you might apply a different or more complex decision-making process in the future.

What are your conclusions or learning from your case study? Would you make the same decision again?

How would you apply your ethical framework in the future? How has your thinking about ethical decision-

making changed or developed? How will this framework change how you might approach complex

ethical decisions in the future?

Finally, make sure you follow this outline. Points will be taken off if you miss a section. Your paper will be

evaluated on the clarity of your thought process and reasoning. You must include a minimum of five

academic journals in your paper. The depth of your analysis is important as well as your demonstrated

knowledge of ethical principles and values. Your paper will not be judged on your decision or decisions.

Rubric for 601 Signature Assignment

Paper

Elements

Exemplary

Proficient Developing Emerging

Ethical

Theory and

Framework

75

Provides accurate

and clear definitions

and descriptions of

key ethical theories.

Comprehensively

and accurately

discusses ethical

frameworks

(decision-making

processes).

Comprehensively

identifies major

elements of ethical

decision-making.

63

Provides fairly

accurate

definitions and

descriptions of

some key ethical

theories.

Somewhat

comprehensively

and accurately

discusses ethical

decision making

processes.

Identifies some

major elements of

ethical decision-

making.

56

Provides somewhat

clear and concise

definitions and

descriptions of key

ethical theories.

Discussion of ethical

frameworks is

lacking some key

elements or is

unclear in some

areas.

45

Provides limited or unclear

definitions and/or

descriptions of ethical

theories. Weak ethical

framework definition and

application. Limited if any

discussion of ethical

decision-making.

Application

75

Accurately applies

ethical framework to

a personal case

study. Clearly

identifies the

conflicting values, or

principles inherent in

case. Demonstrates

depth of

understanding of

multiple viewpoints.

63

Fairly accurately

applies ethical

framework to case

study. Somewhat

identifies conflicts

of values or

principles within

the case.

Identifies few

alternate

viewpoints.

56

Somewhat applies

ethical framework to

case study. Does

not discuss multiple

viewpoints or

conflicts inherent in

case.

45

Limited if any application of

ethical framework to case.

Fails to identify competing

values, principles or conflicts

inherent in case.

Critical

Analysis

75

Comprehensively

and effectively

critiques various

approaches to ethical

decision-making.

Effectively uses

framework to draw

conclusions and

make

recommendations

about case

presented.

63

Fairly consistently

employs critical

analysis in

discussing

approaches to

ethical decision-

making. Uses

ethical framework

to draw some

conclusions and

make some

recommendations.

56

Somewhat employs

critical analysis in

discussing an

ethical framework

and/or assessing

the strengths and

improvement

needed in decision-

making. Weak

connection between

framework and

45

Limited if any critical analysis

in discussing ethical

framework and/or assessing

the strengths and

improvement needed in

decision-making. Limited if

any conclusions and

recommendations. No

support for use of ethical

framework.

Includes persuasive

arguments for the

use of an ethical

framework.

Identifies some

ways an ethical

framework is

useful.

ethical decision-

making. Lacking

solid conclusions

and/or

recommendations.

Sources

30

Uses 5 or more

scholarly sources to

support an ethical

framework.

Consistently uses

sources to connect

theory to application.

The work of others is

correctly cited.

27

Use 4 sources to

support an ethical

framework. Often

uses sources to

connect theory to

application. The

work of others is

correctly cited with

minor errors.

22

Use 3 sources to

support an ethical

framework.

Somewhat uses

sources to connect

theory to

application. The

work of others is

cited but with

numerous errors.

18

Use 2 or less sources to

support an ethical framework.

Limited if any use of sources

to connect theory to

application. The work of

others may not be cited

and/or with multiple errors.

Writing

Mechanics

45

The paper is logical,

well-written, and the

required length.

Spelling, grammar

and punctuation are

accurate. APA

formatting standards

are followed;

citations and

reference page is

correct.

39

The paper is

logical, well-

written, and is the

required length.

Minor errors in

spelling, grammar

and/or

punctuation. APA

standards are

followed with a few

minor errors.

34

The paper is

somewhat logical

and well-written;

may be 10% too

long or short. Some

errors in spelling,

grammar and/or

punctuation. APA

standards are

somewhat followed

but with numerous

errors.

27

The paper lacks clarity and

may be confusing; may be

15% too long or short.

Numerous errors in spelling,

grammar and/or punctuation.

Limited if any adherence to

APA standards.