28 Questions
What causes executives to overlook serious wrongdoings in their company?
It benefits them or the organization
What is a common bias in people's perception of their contributions?
They think they contribute more than they do
What is the main limitation of our ethical thinking?
It has limitations
What is the second system of ethical decision making developed by Joshua Greene?
Deliberative system
What is the strategy suggested by John Rawls to make more fair and just decisions?
Adapting the veil of ignorance
What is the main purpose of the Test of Making Something Public?
To ensure that one's actions can withstand public scrutiny
What is the primary benefit of the Test of Ventilation?
To expose one's proposed actions to diverse opinions and critiques
What is the primary driver of the 'Greed' factor in the Test of the Big Four?
The desire to acquire more for personal benefit
What is the primary consequence of the 'Speed' factor in the Test of the Big Four?
Cutting corners due to pressure of time
What is the primary motivation behind the 'Laziness' factor in the Test of the Big Four?
The tendency to take the easy course of action
What is the primary goal of the Test of Purified Idea?
To evaluate if an idea is acceptable because an authority figure says it's right
Which of the following is NOT a criterion for an ethical framework?
To be based on personal opinions
What is the primary goal of recognizing an ethical issue?
To identify potential ethical issues
Which of the following is NOT an ethical approach grounded in philosophical thinking?
Legal approach
What is the primary goal of the virtues approach to ethics?
To live up to one's best self
What is the term for the phenomenon where people intend to behave ethically, but are unable to do so due to various reasons?
Bounded ethicality
What is the primary driver of unethical behavior in organizations, according to studies?
Behavior of superiors
What cognitive bias is exemplified when a person cheats and assumes they won't get caught because they think they are good people?
Motivated blindness
What system of thinking is characterized by stoic and logical thinking, unemotionally weighing all options?
System 2 thinking
What is the term for when people assume others are more capable of making ethical decisions than they actually are?
Motivated blindness
Which cognitive bias is exemplified when a person judges the likelihood of an event based on how easy it is to remember?
Availability heuristic
What is the term for when a person makes an unfair assumption about another person based on their group membership?
Stereotyping bias
Which cognitive bias is exemplified when a person decides to cheat because they think others are cheating?
Ostrich effect
What is a key consideration when trying to effectively communicate your values to others?
Considering the needs, desires, and emotional investments of your audience
What is meant by 'dialogue' in the context of voicing your values?
A two-way communication that includes listening to others
What is the primary purpose of identifying 'reasons and rationalizations' in the workplace?
To uncover and address objections to your values
What is the main objective of creating 'time and space' in this curriculum?
To create opportunities for voicing your values in a supportive environment
What is essential to develop when encountering values conflicts in the workplace?
The ability to counter opposing arguments
Study Notes
Ethical Decision Making
- Executives may unconsciously overlook wrongdoings in their company if it benefits them or the organization.
- People often overestimate their contributions, which can lead to unethical behavior.
- Our ethical thinking has limitations, and improving ethical decision making requires deliberate, rational decisions that maximize value.
Two-System View of Ethical Decision Making
- According to Joshua Greene, there are two systems:
- Intuitive system: leads to impulsive decisions
- Deliberative system: leads to more ethical behavior
- Two strategies for engaging the deliberative system:
- Compare options, rather than looking at them one by one.
- Use the "veil of ignorance" approach, as suggested by John Rawls, to make more fair and just decisions.
Ethical Tests
- Test of Making Something Public (Disclosure Rule): consider how you would feel if others knew about your actions or decisions.
- Test of Ventilation: expose your proposed action to others and get their thoughts before acting.
- Test of Purified Idea: consider whether your idea is right because someone with authority says it is.
- Test of the Big Four: avoid decisions motivated by greed, speed, laziness, and haziness.
Ethical Framework
- An ethical framework should meet certain criteria, except for being dynamic.
- The goal of an ethical framework is to make more expedient and faster decisions.
Ethical Approaches
- Common good approach: focuses on making sure society benefits.
- Virtues approach: focuses on living up to one's best self.
- Rights approach: often associated with John Locke, focuses on individual rights.
Bounded Ethicality
- Bounded ethicality refers to the difficulty of making ethical decisions due to cognitive biases and other limitations.
Cognitive Biases
- Ostrich effect: avoiding bad news or uncomfortable situations.
- Outcome bias: judging decisions based on their outcome, rather than the process.
- Motivated blindness: behaving unethically out of self-interest.
- Stereotyping bias: making assumptions based on group characteristics.
- System 2 thinking: approaching problems with critical thinking and logic.
Voicing Values
- To effectively voice your values, consider the needs and desires of others, and reframe "voice" as "dialogue" to include listening.
- Use your most comfortable communication style, and be prepared to address "reasons and rationalizations" that may arise.
Evaluate your decisions and actions with the public disclosure test, a powerful tool to assess whether they can withstand scrutiny. Consider how you would feel if your choices were made public. This test helps you make ethical and confident decisions.
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