Taking responsibility for making ethical decisions is a complex process, and can be a daunting task. Ultimately, it is a matter of choosing between competing ethical principles, while also weighing up the long-term and short-term consequences. The key is to be as informed as possible in order to make a well-informed decision.
There are three basic ways to do this. The first is to rely on experts. Aside from being a smart move, it is also the right one. The second is to consult with your peers. A third way is to consider your own beliefs and values, and how they relate to the ethical decision. In some instances, it may even be appropriate to consider the context in which the decision was made.
The best approach to making an ethical decision is to be as informed as possible. In many cases, people are not equipped with the proper information, which means that they are unable to justify risky borderline decisions. If a decision is made in ignorance, it could have adverse effects on the business, on the company, and on the world at large. Hence, an enlightened and educated person will be able to offer objective views, while still recognizing that it is up to the individual to decide on the correct course of action.
Aside from the three basic approaches mentioned above, there are several other methods for making ethical decisions. This paper will look at some of them, and explore their relevance in a project leadership context. The purpose of this paper is to provide a succinct, practical, and applicable framework for making ethical decisions.
The "golden rule" of making an ethical decision is to be as informed and intelligent as possible. There are many theories of how to achieve this. For example, a well-designed system of law, such as the US Civil Code, will not allow an organization to adopt a decision without a rationale. The law also may be slow to respond to new problems, so it is important to establish a precedent for a certain level of conduct.
Another method for making an ethical decision is to consider a more abstract concept. For instance, a good system of law will not be able to accommodate the unique situations in which individuals make decisions. This will, in turn, limit the value of the "majority" opinion. A more complicated method is to use a formal code of ethics, which will help the entire team develop a shared understanding of what is acceptable and unacceptable.
There are also other ways to make an ethical decision, and they are often not as obvious. In some instances, it is the combination of several of the previous approaches that is the most effective.
Using an ethical decision-making model to decide between competing ethical principles can provide a useful foundation for good business practices. However, it can also be dangerous. In a low-trust environment, for instance, a person may have to make a decision based on limited evidence. This is a risky proposition, and a company should be especially wary of hiring someone who is preoccupied with personal achievement.