AITP Dallas Presentation - Ethics in Leadership

P A T H T O F R E E D O M

ETHICSLEADERSHIPBUSINESSIT

Flying fish can make powerful, self-propelled leaps out of water into air, where their long, wing-like fins enable gliding flight for considerable distances above the water's surface. This uncommon ability is a natural defense mechanism to evade predators.

We will discuss how clarity with regards to ethical foundations can propel us out of dilemmas, by granting us freedom, which bypasses the shackles of acquiescence and confusion.

General Approach

1. Walk in with your own understanding of ethics in leadership, perhaps without having deconstructed its pieces

2. Explore collaboratively the foundational components of it

3. Walk away with a greater ability to analyze the ethical arguments and the ethical posture of leaders, in order to negotiate, influence, and lead

• Not as commonly implemented as one would think• Not as easy to execute without a price• Not always immediately profitable• Worthy of deep investigation, especially when faced with the

digital disruption & AI

Focus Areas

• Deep dive into the components of ethics• Who is a leader? Hireling or shepherd?• What are the tools of an ethical leader?• Why is it particularly important in IT today?• What is your personal formula for ethical behavior?• Scenarios in business• Scenarios in IT

DefinitionofethicsaccordingtoacademiaEthicsor moral philosophy is the branch of philosophy that involves systematizing, defending, and recommending concepts of right and wrong conduct.

The term ethicsderives from the Ancient Greek word ἠθικόςethikos, which is derived from the word ἦθος ethos (habit, "custom").

Historical Perspective (west)

• Utilitarian Approach• Rights Approach• Fairness or Justice Approach• Common Good Approach• Virtue Approach• Ethical Problem Solving

Approach

Popular definitions todayManuel Velasquez, Claire Andre, Thomas Shanks, S.J., and Michael J. MeyerSociologist Raymond Baumhart asked business people, "What does ethics mean to you?" Among their replies were the following:

Ø"Ethics has to do with what my feelings tell me is right or wrong.“

Ø"Ethics has to do with my religious beliefs.“

Ø"Being ethical is doing what the law requires.“

Ø"Ethics consists of the standards of behavior our society accepts.“

Ø"I don't know what the word means."

Popular definitions todayWikipedia:

ØEthical leadership is leadership that isdirected by respect for ethical beliefsand values and for the dignity and rightsof others. It is related to the conceptssuch as trust, honesty, consideration, charisma, and fairness.

Popular definitions todayWikipedia:

ØYour leadership ethics and valuesshould be visible because you live themin your actions every single day. Thisyields trust in the workplace.

The Components of the Framework

Framework of Reference

Values & Principles

Virtues

Example of how to reference components

Joe took a promotion in a company to whom he has been loyal for many years. The promotion package as Senior X was appealing and he liked the salary increase, which was comparable to fair market value. He looked forward to the new responsibilities, as well, since they were to strengthen his posture. Three months later, the company hires two new senior X just like his, rendering them a much higher salary and fewer responsibilities than his. No explanation is given for the disparity.

Framework of Reference

Values & Principles

Virtues

Theimportanceofknowingwhatframeworkyouarereferencing

• Cultural differences in a global market

• Examples of collisions:

• Pirated materials• Illegal downloads• Dissimilar appreciation for property• Where necessity overtakes rights and privileges

EthicalLeaders

Being a strong leader is different from being a popular leader, and being a popular leader is different from being a righteous leader; and the ethics of leadership in business requires that you make a choice about the kind of leader you want to become, exhibit, and follow.

The frameworkofreference The valuesystem Charactertoembrace it Couragetoexecuteit

Determinationandperseverance toendure

theconsequencesValidation

- The only thing a man owns is his reputation -What does courage look like?

Decision presents itself

Reference the framework

Prepare, anticipate, andexpect negativerepercussions

ifruling entities donotreference or applythe same

framework

Workthrough amental worse-casescenario, anddecide tocontinue referencing the

framework

Remove personal agendas,eveniftheyarebased on

positive outcomes

Remove thechoice ofeaseofaction, versus difficult path

Actaccording totheframework

Ethical behavior gets built from practicing a series of small instances, where the person confirms the validity of behaving in the chosen manner

Statuscheck…

• Are you able to identify your framework?• Are you able to clearly define the values within it?• Are you able to extract a prioritization mechanism based

on the framework and values?• Are you able to articulate it?• Are you able to communicate it in business?

Are you sounding like this?

…I just feel like it is the right thing to do……I believe that people would appreciate it if we went in this direction……I think it is fair to do it this way…

Is everyone that you are leading today speaking the same language,

or understanding yours?

Thestrengthofcommunicationinethics

Why is ethics particularly important in IT today?

• Insteadofreplacingmanuallabor,weareautomatingcognitivework• Secondordertechnologies,suchas:genomics,nanotechnology,androboticswilltakethecenterstage• Digitizationofeverything,privacyassurancegaps,cybersecuritymeasures,internetofthingssprawl,artificialintelligence• 4paradigmshifts:

• Fromthechiptothesystem• Fromapplications toarchitectures• Fromproductstoplatforms• Frombitstoatoms

Some ethical steps feel like this

Caught in the wave and forced to ride it?

Whennobodyiswatching…

Is there something out of order?

Leadershiporcharisma?Istherecharactergrowthseenintheindividualoradecayorethicalbehaviour,maskedunderneathanengagingdisposition?

Shepherdorhireling?Trueleadersemulateproperfollowingfirst,sothatthe

teamisprotectedbybehavingwithwisdomandprudence.

Engagingleadersappealstothemasses

Leaderutilizesemotion,populartrendsandcallsonhowtobenefitfrom

lookingat‘self’

followersbegintomisstheunspokenqualitiesofreliability,decency,truehonesty,integrity

trustcollideswithsenseofaweaboutleader

truthismissedandfollowersbeginto

complain

withtheeconomyoftrustshaken,the

currencyoftruthgainsvalue

Followersdecideonwhatismoreimportanttothem,basedontheirframeworkofreference

camouflage

ScenariosforDiscussion

Man sacrifices his health in order to make money.Then he sacrifices money in order to recuperate his health;And then he is so anxious about the future that he does not enjoy the presentThe result being that he neither lives in the present nor the future; He lives as if he were never going to die, and then dies having never really lived