MGMT 371: Ethics Learning Module

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MGMT 371 Ethics Learning Module

• What are ethics and why do we care about them?
• What influences ethical behavior?
• Are ethics culturally bound?
• Whats the difference between ethics and morals?
• Do morals vary by gender?
• What are the Magnificent Seven? Can they be
  taught?
• How can we promote an ethical climate?

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WHAT INFLUENCES ETHICAL BEHAVIOR?

• INFLUENCES
• Internal
• External
• Neutralizing/Enhancing factors
• MORAL INTELLIGENCE
• Mental capacity to determine how human
  principles should be applied to our values,
  goals, actions
• Moral compass

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A Model of Ethical Behavior in the Workplace

• Cultural Influences
• Family
• Education
• Religion
• Media/entertainment

Individual - Personality - Values - Moral
principles - History of reinforcement - Gender
RoleExpectations

• Organizational Influences
• Ethical codes
• Organizational culture
• Role models
• Perceived pressure for results
• Rewards/punishment system

Ethical behavior
Political/Legal/ Economic Influences
Figure A-1
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4 UNIVERSAL PRINCIPLES

• Integrity
• Responsibility
• Compassion
• Forgiveness
• Is it nature or nurture?

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Do Moral Principles Vary by Gender?
Men and Women tend to view moral problems and
situations differently

• Men
• Justice Perspective based on the ideal of
  reciprocal rights and driven by rules and
  regulations

• Women
• Care Perspective involves compassion and an ideal
  of attention and response to need

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Do We All View Ethics the Same Way?

• 4 CONTRASTING ETHICAL ORIENTATIONS
• Consequentialists
• Intentionalists
• Absolutists
• Relativists

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THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN

1. Dignity of human life
2. Autonomy
3. Honesty
4. Loyalty
5. Fairness
6. Humaneness
7. Common good

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How to create/improve the ethical climate of an
organization

1. Model ethical behavior
2. Screen pre-hire
3. Code of ethics that is enforced
4. Ethics training
5. Reinforce ethical behavior
6. Have people and/or systems that deal with ethics

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How to make ethical decisions

• Transparency Are you comfortable with making
  the decision public?
• Effect Have you considered all potential
  harmful/wrong effects?
• Fairness Would EVERYONE consider the decision
  fair?
• www.businessballs.com

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How are we doing?Natl. Bus. Ethics Survey
Results (2005)

• Written codes up 19 since 1994
• Ethics training up 32
• Vehicle for ethics advice, info up 15 since 2000
• Vehicle for reporting up 7 since 2003
• Discipline for violation of stds. Up 4 since
  2003
• Part of employee eval. Down 7
• since 2003

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How are we doing?Natl. Bus. Ethics Survey
Results (2005)

• Outcomes
• Little change in observed misconduct
• 2005 52 ees observed 1 36 observed 2 or more
• Willingness to report declined
• 2005 55 reported 2003 65 reported
• Little change in pressure to compromise stds.
• 2005 10 feel pressure always or fairly often

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How are we doing?Natl. Bus. Ethics Survey
Results (2005)

• Formal programs are better
• Culture matters!
• Top mgmt modeling is huge
• Co-worker influence matters
• When employees perceive others are held
  accountable, overall satisfaction increases 32
• Birth of the ethics industry!