Some ethical scenarios seem easy to answer, but others are hidden or skewed by extenuating circumstances. Yet we all make decisions, or observe decisions being made by others, every day. Do you know where your own ethical line falls?

People earn doctoral degrees focused on the study of ethics; clearly, we’re not going to come to any conclusions in a 500-word brain-charger about ethics. What we hope to do is prompt you to identify your "ethics line", and provoke honest thinking and discussion about what your ethics are, what your organization's stated and demonstrated ethics are, and whether there is a potential ethics gap.

Ethics Discussion-Group Guide

Print out and use these questions to conduct frank discussions among colleagues or to examine your own ethics. Note that none of the questions have a right or wrong answer. If you’re answer is "sometimes," explain why to better calibrate your "line coordinates."

Before the discussion, be certain to make agreements about open-dialogue and confidentiality, ensuring more candid responses and a clear understanding of the purpose of the conversation. Because of the sensitivity of some "ethical dilemmas" discussion items, make sure that every participant is okay with a frank discussion that might challenge his or her personal beliefs. Agree to standards of positive discussion, such as "no personal attacks" and "speak respectfully." During the discussion, use the tenets of Dialogue to keep the conversation moving and to reveal true assumptions and intentions. After the discussion, agree on ideas and action items that arose from the discussion, and plot the course to make those ideas a reality!

The following questions stem from real-world news headlines and current-events position papers:

Do you think it’s ethical to…

• Sell your children into prostitution to pay for more grain to feed your family?
Yes
No
Sometimes

• Sell your children into prostitution to pay for a new television or stereo system?
Yes
No
Sometimes

• Work in the advertising or public-relations industry on projects that encourage people to value material goods, such as television sets and stereo systems, to such a high degree that it results in choices like the one featured above?
Yes
No
Sometimes

• Lay off employees after telling them that there would be no layoffs?
Yes
No
Sometimes

• Work on a political campaign in which "the spin" is engineered for positive public opinion, even though it differs from the candidate's intentions or true positions on the issues?
Yes
No
Sometimes

• Establish a community-relations department and fund-raising activities after receiving bad press?
Yes
No
Sometimes

• Establish a community-relations department and send out press releases for every activity, ensuring good press coverage?
Yes
No
Sometimes

• Be a cancer-treatment center who gets most of its funding from tobacco companies?
Yes
No
Sometimes

• Be a leader or manager who expects all employees to be less than truthful - or lie - "for the good of the company"?
Yes
No
Sometimes

• Describe your company culture as open and respectful, yet encourage cut-throat competition?
Yes
No
Sometimes

• Say one thing, and do another?
Yes
No
Sometimes

• Hold other people to standards that you yourself don't meet?
Yes
No
Sometimes

• Have ghostwriters draft company announcements that come from the CEO?
Yes
No
Sometimes

• Always agree with your supervisor, even when you have reservations or concerns?
Yes
No
Sometimes

• Work for a company whose internal practices are counter to your personal beliefs?
Yes
No
Sometimes

• Work for a company whose products and services run counter to your personal beliefs?
Yes
No
Sometimes

• Perpetuate bureaucracy because it works?
Yes
No
Sometimes

• Have one set of ethics for profit-making business organizations, and another set of ethics or moral-standards for individual behavior?
Yes
No
Sometimes

• Sue an individual or a company for an injury incurred or a situation that resulted from you just not paying attention to what you were doing?
Yes
No
Sometimes

• Maintain the status quo, even if you know that better is required?
Yes
No
Sometimes

What other questions would you add to this list to stimulate dialogue about ethical dilemmas, and the decisions individuals and groups make every day?

For more information on Ethics, visit our Ethics Portal.

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