Unit 4 Ethical Decision Making: A Compass for Decision-Making

Overview

Leadership cannot just go along to get along… Leadership must meet the moral challenge of the day. ~Jesse Jackson

In this unit, we will begin the process of examining Ethical Decision-Making as a dual process based on the premises that BOTH logic and emotion are essential to making good ethical choices. Johnson (2021) says “understanding how we make and follow through on ethical decisions is the first step to making better choices; taking a systematic approach is the second” (p. 342). Haidt (as cited in Johnson, 2021) says that people predominantly make decisions based on intuition rather than deliberation and often cannot explain why they feel something is right or wrong; this is known as moral dumbfounding

To truly understand what makes a situation ethical, it is crucial to have a real grasp on the definition of ethics and the role they play in today’s workplace. Ethics is the knowledge of whether learnt or implicit morals can govern an individual’s decision making.

Ethnocentrisms and stereotypes are incredibly damaging (Johnson, 2021). The term ethics from the Greek word “ethnos,” which means character. There is one school of thought that believes that ethics is both learned behaviour and innate behaviour; while others maintain ethics are not innate nor able to be taught. Ultimately, ethics is a moral philosophy that requires developing, defending, and giving future recommendations of good and bad behaviour.

As we work through this unit, always bare in mind the 5 Principles of Leadership Action Required to Create and Ethical Climate:

1. Formal Ethics Policies and Procedures – formal statements of ethical standards and policies, reporting mechanisms, disciplinary procedures, penalties for ethical violations.
   
2. Core Ideology – organization’s purpose, guiding principles, basic identity, and most important values have to have an ethical focus.
   
3. Integrity – can not be just plaques, posters or declarations…ethics has to be enacted through personal integrity.
   
4. Structural Reinforcement – organization’s structure and systems should encourage higher ethical performance and discourage unethical performance.
   
5. Process Focus – how goals are achieved is as important as achievement.

Before moving on to Topic 1, it is important that you understand the fundamental elements that form the foundation of Ethical Decision-Making. First, and foremost, it is imperative that you understand that there is a relationship between ethics, values, and leadership. As part of this relationship, it is also critical that you understand that how one makes ethical decisions is just as important as the content of what one believes is right and wrong. Furthermore, we must be aware that ethical dilemmas, more often than not, involve a choice between two “rights” - rather than a “right” and a “wrong.” Finally, as we will explore in the next sections, recent research has explored the interdependencies between effective leadership and particular value systems - this is important as it directly connects to the content covered in previous topics.

Learning Outcomes

When you have completed this unit, you should be able to:

• Discuss how leadership skills, and a commitment to high ethical standards, are needed to build the organizational capabilities needed for success and positive financial results.
  
• Describe how the decision-making process begins with the perception of a gap and ends with an action that will close or narrow the gap.
  
• Explain how making good decisions requires a number of systematic steps that reduce uncertainty and maximize the resources available while taking into account any limitations.

Topics

This unit is divided into the following topics:

1. Ethical Decision Making and Behavior
   
2. Moral Judgement
   
3. Decision Making Formats

Activity Checklist

Here is a checklist of learning activities you will benefit from in completing this unit. You may find it useful for planning your work:

Learning Activities

• Read & Reflect: Read Chapters 5 & 6 from your Meeting the Ethical Challenge of Leadership text.
  
• Read & Reflect:This article from The Journal of Management Inquiry, highlights practical experiences of balancing analytical and emotional aspects of decision-making.
  
• Read & Reflect: Read Chapter 4 from your Responsible Leadership text.
  
• Read & Reflect: This Learning Activity consists of two articles that are intended to challenge you to consider moral judgement from a variety of perspectives.
  
• Read & Reflect: This article is intended to supplement your understanding of the ideas discussed in Topic 3 - you will need to access this article through the library.
  
• Watch & Reflect: The focus of this video is on making better decisions as “decisions are what define us!”
• Learning Lab: The Learning Lab for this unit will consist of two group discussions. Visit the Learning Lab page and take a look at the guiding questions for these discussions.

• Gibbs Analysis Paper #1: The Assignment for this Unit will be you first Individual Paper which will require you to perform a Gibbs Analysis based on an article provided. Be sure to read through the directions carefully.

Resources

Here are the resources you will need to complete this unit.

• Johnson, C. E. (2021). Meeting the Ethical Challenge of Leadership: Casting Light or Shadow. 7th Ed, Sage Publication Inc. - ISBN: 9781544351643 (alk. paper)
  
• Maak, T.& Pless, N. M. (2006). Responsible Leadership. Routledge. - ISBN: 978-0-415-35581-0
  
• Other online resources will be provided in the unit.

4.1 Ethical Decision-Making and Behaviour

In our first topic for Unit 4, we examine some models for ethical decision-making. Many argue for a cognitive process in making decisions - that is one where the decision is based on logic reasoning. While it has been argued that objective, logical reasoning provides a sound basis for reaching a decision, it also ignore the significant and crucial role emotions and feelings play during a decision-making process.

Recent research indicates that BOTH logic and emotion are necessary considerations when making an ethical decision - we cannot make good, ethical decisions when we don’t employ our feelings.

The video below introduces us to this important topic before providing some important considerations that form the basis for ethical decision-making.

Learning Activity - Read and Reflect

We begin with our first reading from our Meeting the Ethical Challenge of Leadership: Casting Light or Shadow text. Read Chapters 5 & 6 and think about how it connects to some of the concepts and examples discussed in the video above.

Learning Activity - Read and Reflect

Next, we have an article from the Journal of Management Inquiry that provides some interesting insights from a Doctor functioning in an Emergency Room. The experiences and insights provided throughout the article highlight the need to balance the analytical elements of a decision with the need to attend to our intuitions and emotions so that the decision we make are rooted in an ethical practice. Click on the link below:

• The Critical Decision Vortex

4.2 Moral Judgement

As we explore ethical decision-making, it is also important to look at the important influence of moral judgement. Like many of the traits and behaviours we have analyzed (and will continue to explore!), one’s moral judgement is also something that develops over time. In this section we will look at how our moral’s evolve with personal growth, and how this will, ultimately, influence our decision making.

As leader’s, it becomes increasingly important that we encourage, model, and challenge those around us to embrace ethical decision-making processes as well. Central to this, however, is developing an awareness of our own ethical “blindspots” - while there are many areas of concern here, one of the most important (for leaders) is being aware of how our own self-interests can skew our perceptions.

The video below will also identify some of the qualities that define our moral character. Practicing, and cultivating, morality will be essential to giving a voice to values in our function as leaders.

Learning Activity - Read and Reflect

Take a moment to read through Chapter 4 in your Responsible Leadership text. Again, as you read through this chapter, try to think of experiences in your own life and how this content relates to our study in Unit 4.

Learning Activity - Read and Reflect

The following two articles provide interesting reads that are intended to challenge you to consider moral judgement from a variety of perspectives. In this unit, we investigated the hazards associated with moral “blindspots.” This readings may offer some insights as you begin to identify your own potential “blindspots” so that we can lead with a moral awareness.

• Utilitarianism
  
• Altruism: New Perspectives of Research

4.3 Decision-Making Formats

As Unit 4 comes to an end, this final section introduces to the notion of having a decision-making format. As you might have gathered, up until this point, many themes we have explored require some personal reflection so that we can develop some insights around who we are, what we value, and how we want to practice “leadership.” This personal reflection is critical. It is, however, imperative that we also implement, and practice, our own decision-making format.

In all facets of our life, problems often surprise us and require prompt, effective actions/decisions - this is also true for leaders! Have a prepared, well-practiced, systematic approach helps to efficiently, and productively make choices to navigate the challenges. Leaders rely on these models so that the focus can be on the decision, rather than the process.

In the video, for Topic 3, you will be introduced to some strategies, protocols, and methods that will help you develop your own approach to rely on. With attention and practice, we ensure we are making ethical decisions that align with the values we wish to champion. Take a look:

Learning Activity - Read and Reflect

In Topic 3 we studied the importance of decision-making structures to help guide us through the process of making ethical choices. The resource below provides supporting evidence:

Neck, C. P., & Moorhead, G. (1995). Groupthink remodeled: The importance of leadership, time pressure, and methodical decision-making procedures. Human Relations, 48(5), 537-557.

Note: This resource can be accessed by logging into the TWU Library catalogue.

Learning Activity - How to Make Better Decisions

The following video is from a lecture given by Dr. Joe Arvai. Dr. Arvai demonstrates the “science” of decision-making and how our decisions “define us.”

Watch: How to make better decisions | Dr. Joe Arvai | TEDxCalgary

Learning Lab

The Learning Lab for Unit 4 consists of activities that focus on expanding our awareness with respect to the content we learned in this unit. During our Learning Lab, we will focus on working through each activity. Your Facilitator will help guide you through each section.

Group Discussion - Part 1

In chapters 5 & 6 of your Meeting the Ethical Challenge of Leadership: Casting Light or Shadow text, you read about the Five Normative Leadership Theories. With the guidance of your facilitator, your task is to share your thoughts with the group. Use the following prompts to guide your preparation:

• Which of leadership theories did you find most helpful?
  
• Explain your “choice” by drawing upon your own personal experiences and observations of leaders.

Group Discussion - Part 2

Throughout this unit we explore the decision-making process. With the help of your Facilitator, you will be asked to share your process with a partner or the group. Consider the following as your prepare for this discussion:

• Describe the key steps in your individual decision-making process.
  
• Does this process give explicit attention to ethical consideration? Why or why not?

Assessment

GIBBS Analysis Paper #1

Your first Individual Assignment is due following Unit 4. For this assignment, you are expected to read an article, perform a GIBBS analysis, and write a reflective paper.

To Begin…

Download and read the following article from the Journal of Beliefs and Values:

• Ethical Foundation for Global Citizenship Education

Next…

After reading the article above, your task is to write a reflective paper that discusses the following:

Discuss Your Understanding of the Model Presented in the Article and How It Relates to Leadership

In this unit, we looked at the importance of balancing logic and emotion as they BOTH play a critical role in making ethical decisions. As a foundation for your reflection, you will also be using the Gibbs Reflective Cycle to discuss concepts in the article and relate them to how you personally deal with these types of situations. The Gibbs Reflective Cycle can be downloaded here:

• Gibbs Reflective Cycle

Provide example(s) to substantiate concepts from the Ethical Foundation for Global Citizenship Education paper - Discuss how your actions relate to the three levels in the paper.

It is expected that you final submission is 6-7 pages long (at least 1400 words).

In addition, please refer to the rubric below.

Grading Rubric - Click to expand

Criteria	Attempted	Minimal	Satisfactory	Excellent
Reflection Component	Reflective paper is limited to a description of the learning outcomes, with little or no personal reflection.	Reflective paper contains a limited personal reflection of the learning outcomes.	Reflective paper contains attempts to engage in personal reflection of the learning outcomes , and there is usually a moderate effort to discuss personal perceptions, assumptions, response/reaction, behaviour, thoughts and/or feelings.	Reflective paper consistently contains a strong effort to engage in personal reflection of the learning outcomes with a focus on the student’s own perceptions, assumptions, involvement, response/reaction, behaviour and/or thinking, and considerations of underlying reasons.
Application Component	Reflective paper contains little or no evidence of application of learning from the reflective process.	Reflective paper contains a minimal attempt at applying learning from the reflective process.	Reflective paper contains a moderate effort to apply learning in considering future implications.	Reflective paper consistently contains a strong effort to apply learning in considering what implications this has for the future (e.g., plans for personal knowledge acquisition, behaviour intention or change, personal improvement, etc.).
Mechanics	Poor grammar, punctuation, spelling and neatness.	Consistent evidence of grammatical or other writing errors.	Small number of minor grammatical or other writing errors.	Consistently uses correct grammar, spelling, and punctuation.
Citation	APA citation of 0-3 resources. Documentation is inaccurate.	APA citation of 4-5 resources that are documented accurately. Documentation has a few inaccuracies.	APA citation of 6-7 resources that are documented accurately.	APA citation of 8-10 resources (or more) that are documented accurately.

*This assignment is worth 15% of your overall grade for the course.

For more information, and to submit your assignment, scroll to the bottom of the page and click on the “Gibbs Analysis Reflection #1” dropbox.

Checking for Learning

Before moving on to the next unit, be sure you are able to:

• Discuss how leadership skills, and a commitment to high ethical standards, are needed to build the organizational capabilities needed for success and positive financial results.
  
• Describe how the decision-making process begins with the perception of a gap and ends with an action that will close or narrow the gap.
  
• Explain how making good decisions requires a number of systematic steps that reduce uncertainty and maximize the resources available while taking into account any limitations