The Ethics Check Questions

1. Is it legal?

   Will I be violating either civil law or campus policy?

2. Is it balanced?

   Is the decision going to be fair or will it heavily favor one party over another in the short or the long term?

3. How will it make me feel about myself?

   Will it make me proud?

   Would I feel good if my decision was published in the newspaper?

   Would I feel good if my family knew about it?

Five Ethical Principles

1. Respect Autonomy -It is assumed that individuals have the right to decide how they live their lives, as long as their actions do not interfere with the welfare of others. One therefore has the right to act as a free agent and has the freedom of thought and choice.
2. Do No Harm -The obligation to avoid inflicting either physical or psychological harm on others and to avoid actions that risk harming others may be a primary ethical principle especially in helping professions.
3. Benefit Others -There is an obligation to improve and enhance the welfare of others, even where such enhancements may inconvenience or limit the freedom of the person offering assistance. Helping professions presume the welfare of the consumer is primary when other considerations are equal.
4. Be Just -To be just in dealing with others assumes equal treatment of all, to afford each individual their due portion, to be fair. It presumes reciprocity, impartiality, and equality.
5. Be Faithful -One should keep promises, tell the truth, be loyal, and maintain respect and civility in human discourse. Only in so far as we sustain faithfulness can we expect to be seen as being trustworthy.

Sources: "Ethical principles and decisions in student affairs," by Karen S. Kitchner (from Applied Ethics In Student Services ).

1. Purpose -The mission of our organization is communicated from the top. Our organization is guided by the values, hopes, and a vision that helps us to determine what is acceptable and unacceptable behavior.
2. Pride -We feel proud of ourselves and our organizations. We know that when we feel this way, we can resist temptations to behave unethically.
3. Patience -We believe that holding to our ethical values will lead us to success in the long term. This involves maintaining a balance between obtaining results and caring how we achieve these results.
4. Persistence -We have a commitment to live by ethical principles. WE are committed to our commitment. We make sure our actions are consistent with our purpose.
5. Perspective -Our leaders and members take time to pause and reflect, take stock of where we are, evaluate where we are going and determine how we are going to get there.

Source: The Power of Ethical Management , by Kenneth Blanchard and Norman Vincent Peale.

1. Lying or in any way misrepresenting the facts about the activities I direct.
2. Blaming others for my personal mistakes.
3. Divulging personal or confidential information to others.
4. Permitting, or failing to report, violations of any federal, state, or municipal laws or regulations.
5. Protecting substandard performers from corrective discipline or termination.
6. Condoning or failing to report the theft or misuse of school property.
7. Supressing greivances and complaints.
8. Covering up accidents and failing to report health and safety hazards.
9. Ignoring or violating the professors commitments to students.
10. Passing on others ideas as my own.

Source: Ethics In Business: A Guide For Managers , by Robert B. Maddux and Dorothy Madux.

Criteria for Personal Ethical Choices

1. Are you being responsible? Making a responsible choice?
2. What are the probable consequences of your choice?
3. If you were on the receiving end, would these consequences be acceptable?
4. Is this a special situation? Or are you pretending it is?
5. Can you discuss the problem with the affected parties before you make your decision?
6. Would you want your employees to make the same decision?
7. Would your mother approve of your choice?
8. Would you be proud of your kids making the same choice?
9. Would you have any difficulty explaining it on 60 Minutes ?
10. Would it be okay if others did the same to you?
11. Did you do what you said you would do?
12. Are you being honest with yourself about the real issue?

Source: Effectiveness Institute (Redmond, WA).

Ethical Decision-Making Process

• Recognition of ethical conflict or dilemma
• Decision to confront dilemma
  • No
    • Begin to ignore conflict in hopes that it will resolve itself
    • Stop
  • Yes
    • Understand your personal feelings and values in relation to the dilemma
    • Analyze guiding principles (ethical, principles) which relate to the dilemma
    • Develop possible alternatives
    • Analyze consequences of alternatives to individuals, institution, profession
    • Select a reasonable course of action
    • Proceed
• Decide whether you are committed to this action
  • No
    • Suspend action based on unfeasibility
    • Stop
  • Yes
    • Implement plan
    • Assessment of resolution
    • Proceed
• Decide whether conflict is resolved
  • No
    • Go back to prior stages
  • Yes
    • Stop

Source: Unknown.