ethical_decision_making_process.docx
Table 4-2 | Steps in Ethical Decision Making
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1. Clearly define the issue.
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2. Determine the facts of the situation.
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3. Determine who the stakeholders are, the values at stake, and the obligations and interests of each stakeholder.
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4. Determine what options are available and evaluate them.
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5. Decide what should be done.
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6. Justify the decision made by identifying reasons that support the decision.
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7. Implement the decision.
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8. Evaluate the outcome of the decision.
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9. Examine how to prevent the issue from recurring.
Table 4-3 | Guidance Questions for Ethical Decision Making
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Analogous
situations
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Do analogous situations exist?
How similar or different are they from the present situation?
What course of action was chosen?
What was the outcome?
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Legal
implications
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Does any option violate the law, a clear moral rule, or a provision of an ethics code?
Are there legal consequences to any option, such as arrest, conviction, or other punishment?
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Sensibility
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Which option makes the most sense?
Can you justify it as sensible to others whom you admire and respect?
Will the chosen option stand up to media scrutiny?
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Feelings
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Can you sleep at night without guilt when choosing this option?
Are you comfortable enough with the chosen option in the event that friends, relatives, coworkers,
supervisors, and the community become aware of it?
How would you feel if the Golden Rule applied and you were the subject or victim of the ethical
problem at issue?
Does the decision reflect accurately the type of person or organization you are or want to be?
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