...Ethics and ethical theories: a road map for teaching ethics in business schools Joan Fontrodona (IESE Business School, Spain), Manuel Guillén (University of Valencia, Spain), and Alfredo Rodríguez-Sedano (University of Navarre, Spain) Introduction A three-dimensional framework to explain ethical theories Ethical approaches of business firms Teaching ethics experiences using this framework Discussion of the teaching experiences Conclusions References 1 2 6 9 10 12 13 Introduction This paper tries to contribute, in some way, to the urgent need recently warned by Benedict XVI: “the university, for its part, must never lose sight of its particular calling to be a "universitas" in which the various disciplines, each in its own way, are seen as part of a greater unum. How urgent is the need to rediscover the unity of knowledge and to counter the tendency to fragmentation and lack of communicability that is all too often the case in our schools!”1 This seems to be a challenge for both, Catholic and non-Catholic universities. The purpose of this paper is to present a theoretical framework that helps to conceptualize ethics and to clarify the characteristics and limits of the different ethical theories. In other words, students without philosophical background will find here a synthetic “road map” of ethical approaches. This framework has been previously published in a book in Spain2. In this paper, authors will describe the model and discuss how it has been successfully tested...
Words: 6803 - Pages: 28
...definition of Ethics, * To discuss Principles of Ethical Conduct * To identify the Ideas organizing Principle of Ethics * To provide a systematic way of making ethical decision. * To encourage, motivate you to think about Ethical Decision you make. Meaning of Ethics Ethics: * Ethics provides a set of standards for behavior that helps us decide how we ought to act in a range of situations. In a sense, we can say that ethics is all about making choices, and about providing reasons why we should make these choices. moving from a primary focus on teaching employees to master the knowledge, skills, and job behaviors and apply them to the day-to-day activities (Making Choices: Ethical Decisions at the Frontier of Global Science) * Ethics refers to principles that define behavior as right, good and proper. Such principles do not always dictate a single "moral" course of action, but provide a means of evaluating and deciding among competing options. * The terms "ethics" and "values" are not interchangeable. Ethics is concerned with how a moral person should behave, whereas values are the inner judgments that determine how a person actually behaves. Values concern ethics when they pertain to beliefs about what is right and wrong. Most values, however, have nothing to do with ethics. For instance, the desire for health and wealth are values, but not ethical values. (www.josephsoninstitute.org) Concepts organizing Principle of Ethics 1. Autonomy...
Words: 1909 - Pages: 8
...Utilitarianism and virtue ethics both direct an individual’s moral decisions, but neither theory is perfect. Whilst utilitarianism focuses more on the consequences of our actions, virtue ethics focuses on the character of the person. In this essay, I will elaborate more on the core concepts of both utilitarianism and virtue ethics. Then, I will introduce a scenario that will be used to compare the two ethical frameworks side by side based on their suggestions. Finally, I will argue that between virtue ethics and utilitarianism in this scenario, even though they do not provide a morally perfect answer, utilitarianism has a more morally preferable answer than virtue ethics. Utilitarianism, also called by John Stuart Mill the “Greatest Happiness Principle” (Mill, p.77), states that “actions are right in proportion as they tend to promote happiness, wrong as they tend to produce the opposite of happiness” (Mill, p.77). According to this principle, the actions that provide the greatest amount of happiness overall are morally the right actions to take, no matter what the said action actually is, because happiness is “pleasure and the absence of pain” (Woody Lecture Notes, Nov.5). This is known as maximizing total net utility, utility meaning “a measure of whatever one takes to be intrinsically good or...
Words: 1313 - Pages: 6
...IDEA : 1 Ethical DecisionMaking Framework Guide & Worksheets 1 The IDEA: Ethical Decision-Making Framework builds upon the Toronto Central Community Care Access Centre Community Ethics Toolkit (2008), which was based on the work of Jonsen, Seigler, & Winslade (2002); the work of the Core Curriculum Working Group at the University of Toronto Joint Centre for Bioethics; and incorporates aspects of the accountability for reasonableness framework developed by Daniels and Sabin (2002) and adapted by Gibson, Martin, & Singer (2005). Introduction Ethics is about making “right” or “good” choices and the reasons that we give for our choices and actions. Ethics promotes reflective practice in the delivery of health care. Ethics addresses the question “What should we do and why?” Another way to describe ethics is as follows. It is about: • Deciding what we should do – what decisions are morally right or acceptable; • Explaining why we should do it – justifying our decision using language of values and principles; and • Describing how we should do it – outlining an appropriate process for enacting the decision. 2 Ethical issues arise every day in health care (See Appendix A). Everyone has a role to play in ensuring the ethical delivery of care, from bedside to boardroom. Trillium Health Centre is committed to providing quality compassionate care to the community it serves. Ethical principles and values are incorporated into the way that decisions are made and care is delivered...
Words: 3991 - Pages: 16
...Applying Ethical Frameworks Name Institute Applying Ethical Frameworks Yes, I would like to take action regarding the situation. Different ethical frameworks allow me to take action so that the justice could be maintained. I used ethical frameworks so that the justice, equality, utilitarianism and other things could be continued. I would not like to give favor to my colleague who is telling me that I should not take action and keep myself away from such action. If I accept his suggestion of ignoring it may lead the negative consequences in the future. I am taking action because I know that if today I ignore it and relaxed him it means I am not giving favor to ethics. The concept of utilitarianism is ignored if I do not take action. The concept of Consequentialism does not allow me not to take action against because its consequences would be very severe. Other ethical virtues such as retribution and honesty allow me to take actions regarding such situation. The emotional empiricism also permits me to take actions regarding such dilemma. In emotional empiricism if I don’t take action it will always disturb my gut feelings, not to take action when there is great problem relevant to ethics. The deontological framework of ethics also gives me permission that I should take action so that I could fulfill oath requirements (Donaldson's & Dunfee's, 1994). The duty includes such type of actions which lay under my job domain. It is also suggested that I am responsible for...
Words: 976 - Pages: 4
...* What are ethics? Ethics are standards of right and wrong, good and bad. Ethics are concerned with what one ought to do to fulfill one’s moral duty. There are two aspects to ethics: * Being able to determine what is right or wrong, good or bad. * Committing to doing what is right and good. * The latter aspect means that being ethical is more than understanding what the right thing is to do; it means that one must do ethical actions – one must “walk the talk.” * Why study ethics? One reason to study ethics is that ethics is inescapable. If you do not study ethics, chances are you will have no opportunity to carefully reflect on the values that shape your life, no chance to think about whether the values in your society are wise or foolish, no chance to expand awareness of the values of other persons. * Ethical framework? There is no one universally accepted way of deciding whether something is ethically acceptable or not. Instead there are several different ethical frameworks. * Right and duties: Rights define what people can expect as their due, so far as it is under the control of people or human society. * Maximizing the amount of good: this framework balance the benefits of an action against the risks and costs. It promotes the common good to help everyone have a fair share of the benefits in society, a community or a family. * Making decisions for yourself: this framework considers that people should make their own lives. Respecting people’s autonomy...
Words: 413 - Pages: 2
...as second class citizens are not whether some men may have treated some women badly, but to discover how the historical tradition has dealt with the role of women over the years. This sexual ethics proposal is to provide religious communities and society at large with the knowledge and framework needed to recognize and acknowledge past association of...
Words: 1169 - Pages: 5
...Business ethics can be described as different things everyone has their own thoughts on what business ethics are or should be, different parts of the world are also looking at things the same way Germany, South Africa, and the United States of America can be described as three totally different countries with different languages and totally different ways of life, so of course their business ethics are going to be different. Germany and Southern Africa have very different business ethics, a brief summary of Germany’s business ethics would be that Business Administration is different than business ethics and that business administration does not need business ethics. “Business ethics are not recommending the normal, principles and rules but, rather about anything and discussing them.” Using models of economics in ethics is important for setting the business ethics. Business ethics are considered a framework for the economy, and in order to have a framework there must be rules, but sometimes the rules overlap other rules and therefore making an imperfect framework. Analyze for moral problems is done in business ethics, “It is important for business ethics that different kinds of scientific statements require different criteria of verification.” “Integration of business ethics and business administration is necessary in Germany.” Germany has a record for being known to stick to moral ethics which result in good business ethics. The two German representatives of business administration...
Words: 1475 - Pages: 6
...of Marketing Ethics O.C. Ferrell, Ph.D. Professor of Marketing Creative Enterprise Scholar The Robert O. Anderson School And Graduate School of Management MSC05 3090 1 University of New Mexico Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001 Phone: (505) 277-3468 ocferrell@mgt.unm.edu Nature and Scope of Marketing Ethics INTRODUCTION Marketing ethics is viewed as important because of marketing’s interface with many diverse stakeholders. Marketing is a key functional area in the business organization that provides a visible interface with not only customers, but other stakeholders such as the media, investors, regulatory agencies, channel members, trade associations, as well as others. It is important when addressing marketing ethics to recognize that it should be examined from an individual, organizational, and societal perspective. Examining marketing ethics from a narrow issue perspective does not provide foundational background that provides a complete understanding of the domain of marketing ethics. The purpose of this chapter is to define, examine the nature and scope, identify issues, provide a decision-making framework, and trace the historical development of marketing ethics from a practice and academic perspective. DEFINITION OF MARKETING ETHICS Ethics has been termed the study and philosophy of human conduct, with an emphasis on the determination of right and wrong. For marketers, ethics in the workplace...
Words: 6661 - Pages: 27
...decision is based upon the make up of one’s morality. “It is a guide to behavior that all rational persons would put forward for governing the behavior of all moral agents” (Pozgar, 2013, p. 57). To better understand our individual morality, we were asked to complete a series of 36 questions that would determine our own ethical viewpoint and how we utilize it to come to a conclusion. According to Baird, there are four ethical frameworks that are utilized upon attempting to solve an ethical dilemma. These frameworks are based upon four core values: rationality, sensibility, autonomy, and equality. Each framework is compromised of two of these four values. (Baird, 2005) There were two different scenarios that were completed individually in which we had to make an ethical decision based upon our own ethical lens. We then came together as a group to make the same decision again, but this time the decision needed to be made unanimously. Many frameworks were represented as we worked through each scenario and choice to come to a clear consensus. These frameworks are analytic tools for understanding, explaining, and making a prediction or a decision about a given subject matter. Each ethical situation can be viewed differently with utilization of the different theories. Concluding whether a choice is either good or bad is a reflection of each individual’s ethical lens. (Baird, 2005) PLANE CRASH SCENARIO Individual Reflection When...
Words: 1647 - Pages: 7
...Running head: ETHICAL FRAMEWORKS IN PRACTICE Applying Ethical Frameworks in Practice Grand Canyon University May 9, 2012 Applying Ethical Frameworks in Practice Patient confidentiality is part of the Nursing Code of Ethics and it is a nurses’ duty to uphold confidentiality of patient information (American Nurses Association, 2012). However, there are certain situations in which a confidentiality breach is acceptable, such as when a patient voices harm to themselves or others and certain sexually transmitted diseases STDs). The following is a breakdown of the ethical implications of a breach of confidentiality, the ethical theory, the alternatives to breaching confidentiality using the framework of ethical decision making and the role of the ethics committees. Ethical Implications of a Breach of Confidentiality A confidentiality breach is when patient information is disclosed to a party that is not a direct part of the patients’ healthcare team without obtaining the appropriate patient consent (American Medical Association, 2012). It is important for the nurse to maintain confidentiality to gain the patients trust, except in situations that are required by law to be reported. When confidentiality is breached many ethical implications arise. Some of these implications are losing a patients’ trust and disclosing information to parties that is not required by law, which could cause harm to the patient. In the article “Bioethics on NBC’s ER:...
Words: 1246 - Pages: 5
...of Marketing Ethics O.C. Ferrell, Ph.D. Professor of Marketing Creative Enterprise Scholar The Robert O. Anderson School And Graduate School of Management MSC05 3090 1 University of New Mexico Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001 Phone: (505) 277-3468 ocferrell@mgt.unm.edu Nature and Scope of Marketing Ethics INTRODUCTION Marketing ethics is viewed as important because of marketing’s interface with many diverse stakeholders. Marketing is a key functional area in the business organization that provides a visible interface with not only customers, but other stakeholders such as the media, investors, regulatory agencies, channel members, trade associations, as well as others. It is important when addressing marketing ethics to recognize that it should be examined from an individual, organizational, and societal perspective. Examining marketing ethics from a narrow issue perspective does not provide foundational background that provides a complete understanding of the domain of marketing ethics. The purpose of this chapter is to define, examine the nature and scope, identify issues, provide a decision-making framework, and trace the historical development of marketing ethics from a practice and academic perspective. DEFINITION OF MARKETING ETHICS Ethics has been termed the study and philosophy of human conduct, with an emphasis on the determination of right and wrong. For marketers, ethics in the workplace...
Words: 6661 - Pages: 27
...Analysing moral issues in stakeholder relations Johanna Kujala Introduction Empirical research on business ethics has traditionally concentrated on examining managers' attitudes to\yard unethical behaviour (e.g. Izraeli 1988, Preble & Reichel 1988, Small 1992) or toward moral dilemmas presented in scenarios (e.g. Cohen et al. 1993, Cruz et al. 2000, Kujala 2000, Reidenbach et al. 1991). A lot of attention has also been given to case studies describing lifethreatening or demanding situations, corporate tragedies or human catastrophes (e.g. Beauchamp 1993, Hoffman 1984, Post 1986, Sethi & Stedlmeier 1991, Shrivastava 1987, and Velasquez 1992). Although all these issues are of utmost importance, they more or less deal with unusual situations and unexpected behaviour, and they can be argued to be beyond the scope of issues on which the managers feel they can exert influence (Waters et al. 1986). It seems that empirical research on ethics in business should be more interested in how managers see the "ordinary life"; the everyday managing situations where they have to face many issues that are moral in their nature (Hosmer 1996: 1, Stark 1993). In the context of studying moral issues in business, the stakeholder approach has gained increasing support in recent years (Van Luijk 2000). It has been found to be a suitable tool for analysing a company's relations with its environment and for dealing with moral issues raised in these relations (Nasi 1995,...
Words: 5220 - Pages: 21
...Reflective Observation In our survey for the ethics and moral values subject, we are trying to find out how ethical behaviors or values have change from their prior generations to current generations. Anna interviewed two people in her company, “Enbridge Pipeline Inc”, she chose an employee that has been there for 50 years (Employee A) and another employee that has been in the workforce for less than 5 years (Employee B). When we interview both employees regarding question #7 (refer to Appendix 1), we found ethical behavior or value has change quite dramatically over time. Employee A is an accountant and when he start working, there was certain procedures they need to follow but not as strict as the standards implement today. He remembers their procedure to reconcile certain account was just by looking at the ending balance to make sure there was no huge number was recorded then no reconciliations were required. Over time there was more requirements to reconcile certain accounts for external and internal audit. After the Sarbanes-Oxley Act implementation in 2002 due to Enron fiasco and many others, everyone was concentrated on reconciling all their accounts, providing an ethical procedures and ensuring all transactions have audit trail. To efficiently perform all those tasks, organization eventually switches from paper copy to electronic database, this help organization to produce effective, efficient, and ethical results. Employee B has been in the workforce less than 5 years...
Words: 1562 - Pages: 7
...of Marketing Ethics O.C. Ferrell, Ph.D. Professor of Marketing Creative Enterprise Scholar The Robert O. Anderson School And Graduate School of Management MSC05 3090 1 University of New Mexico Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001 Phone: (505) 277-3468 ocferrell@mgt.unm.edu Nature and Scope of Marketing Ethics INTRODUCTION Marketing ethics is viewed as important because of marketing’s interface with many diverse stakeholders. Marketing is a key functional area in the business organization that provides a visible interface with not only customers, but other stakeholders such as the media, investors, regulatory agencies, channel members, trade associations, as well as others. It is important when addressing marketing ethics to recognize that it should be examined from an individual, organizational, and societal perspective. Examining marketing ethics from a narrow issue perspective does not provide foundational background that provides a complete understanding of the domain of marketing ethics. The purpose of this chapter is to define, examine the nature and scope, identify issues, provide a decision-making framework, and trace the historical development of marketing ethics from a practice and academic perspective. DEFINITION OF MARKETING ETHICS Ethics has been termed the study and philosophy of human conduct, with an emphasis on the determination of right and wrong. For marketers, ethics in the workplace...
Words: 6661 - Pages: 27
