4 Ethical Problem-Solving Techniques

• SECTIONS

• Introduction

• OBJECTIVES

• Apply these methods to • Introduction

• Analysis of issues in Ethical Problems

• Line Drawing

• Flow Charting

• Conflict Problems

• Apply these methods to hypothetical & real cases

• See how flow charting can be used to solve ethical problems, &

• Learn what bribery is & how to avoid it.

• Conflict Problems

• An Application of Problem- Solving Methods: Bribery/Acceptance of Gifts

how to avoid it.

• The 1st step in solving any ethical problem:

– to completely understand all of the issues involved

– frequently a solution to the problem becomes apparent

ANALYSIS OF ISSUES IN ETHICAL PROBLEMS

• The issues involved in understanding ethical problems can be split into 3 categories:

– Factual

– Conceptual

– Moral

• Understanding these issues helps:

– to put an ethical problem in the proper framework

– often point the way to a solution

Types of Issues in Ethical Problem Solving

• Factual issues •what is actually known about a case (what the facts are always clear)

•may be controversial•may be controversial • global warming is of great concern to society as we continue to emit greenhouse gases into the atmosphere

•resolved through research to establish the truth

•Conceptual issues •the meaning or applicability of an idea •In engineering ethics: •In engineering ethics:

• defining what constitutes a bribe as opposed to an acceptable gift • determining whether certain business information is proprietary

•resolved by agreeing on the meaning of terms & concepts •Like factual issues, conceptual issues are not always clear- cut & will often result in controversy as well

Types of Issues in Ethical Problem Solving

• Once the factual & conceptual issues have been resolved, all that remains is to determine which moral principle is applicable to the situation.

•Finally, moral issues are resolved by agreement as to •which moral principles are pertinent •how they should be applied

•Often, all that is required to solve a particular ethical problem is a deeper analysis of the issues involved according to the a deeper analysis of the issues involved according to the appropriate principles

•Once the issues are analyzed & agreement is reached on the applicable moral principles, it is clear what the resolution should be

• useful for situations in which

– the applicable moral principles are clear

– but there seems to be ‘gray area’ about which ethical principle applied

LINE DRAWING

applied

• to determine

– whether the problem is more like the positive or negative paradigm

– whether it is acceptable or unacceptable

• An advantage

– gives a visual picture of a situation

– allows you to readily see the consequences that flow from each decision

FLOW CHARTING

flow from each decision

• Different flow charts can be used to emphasize different aspects of the same problem

The key to effective use

• Essential

– to be as objective as possible

– to approach flow charting honestly

to be creative in determining

possible outcomes & scenarios

not to be shy about getting a negative answer & deciding to stop the project

• Frequently relates to problems with a choice between 2 conflicting moral values, each of which seems to be correct

CONFLICT PROBLEMS

• Can be solved in 3 ways:

– The easy choice: often, one is obviously more significant than the other & easy choice

– The “creative middle way”: a compromise that will work for everyone

– The hard choice: sometimes, you have to bite the bullet & make the best choice possible with the information available at the timebest choice possible with the information available at the time

• Frequently, you must rely on “gut feelings” for which path is the correct one

• One of the many gray areas of engineering ethics:

AN APPLICATION OF PROBLEM-SOLVING METHODS: BRIBERY / ACCEPTANCE OF GIFTS

ethics:

– the acceptance of gifts from vendors

– the offering of gifts to customers to secure business

• The difficulty:

Sometimes,

the distinction has to do with the value

of the gift

Always,

Ensure that

no matter • The difficulty:

– the potential for gifts to become bribes or to be perceived of as bribes

– There is a fine line between bribery & a

simple gift

Always,

it has to do with

the intent of the gift

no matter

how innocent

the gift may be,

the appearance of impropriety is

avoided

• Bribe:

– something, such as money or a favor, offered or given to someone in a position of trust in order to induce him to act dishonestly

AN APPLICATION OF PROBLEM-SOLVING METHODS: BRIBERY / ACCEPTANCE OF GIFTS

position of trust in order to induce him to act dishonestly

– something offered or serving to influence or persuade

• What are the ethical reasons for not tolerating bribery?

– bribery corrupts our free-market economic system & is anticompetitive • Bribery does not reward the most efficient producer

– bribery is a sellout to the rich– bribery is a sellout to the rich • Bribery corrupts justice & public policy

by allowing rich people to make all the rules.

– bribery treats people as commodities

that can be bought & sold

When Is a Gift a Bribe?

• Gifts

– nominal value, with a vendor’s logo & phone number on it, are really just an advertising tool

• Generally, there is no problem with accepting these types of items.

– Social interaction, such as eating together, often facilitates the type of close & successful interactions required by both sides

• However, when meals or gifts are no longer of low cost & the expense of these items are not shared equally, the the expense of these items are not shared equally, the possibility for abuse becomes large

During a sales visit, a sales representative offers you a coffee mug with his company’s name & logo on it. During a sales visit, a sales representative offers you a coffee mug with his company’s name & logo on it.

The value of the mug is $5. The value of the mug is $5.

Can you accept this item? Can you accept this item?

Examples of Gifts vs. Bribes

Does the answer to this question change if this item is a $350 crystal bowl

with the name of the company engraved on it?

Does the answer to this question change if this item is a $350 crystal bowl

with the name of the company engraved on it?

How about if there is no engraving on it?How about if there is no engraving on it?

Your meeting with a sales representative is running into the lunch hour.Your meeting with a sales representative is running into the lunch hour.

She invites you to go out for lunch.She invites you to go out for lunch.

You go to a fast-food restaurant & pay for your own lunch.You go to a fast-food restaurant & pay for your own lunch.

Is this proactive acceptable?Is this proactive acceptable?

Does the answer to this question change if you go to an expensive French restaurant?Does the answer to this question change if you go to an expensive French restaurant?

If she pays for lunch?If she pays for lunch?

• How can the analysis methods

described in this chapter be applied

to these examples?

Problem Solving

to these examples?

• by looking at the factual,

conceptual, & moral issues

– The facts will be obvious:

• who offered a gift, what its value was, & what its purpose was

– Conceptual issues will be somewhat more difficult:

• it must be determined whether the gift is of sufficient value to influence a decision or whether that influence is the intent of the gift

• Line drawing can be very effectively applied to the

Problem Solving

examples

• The subtle differences between the value of the gift, the timing of the gift, etc., are easily visualized using line drawing

• Often it will be clear what will result from the acceptance or offer of a gift

• How does one ensure that

accepting a gift

doesn’t cross the line into bribery?

Avoiding Bribery Problems

• The most important method

for determining this is to look at company policy

– Any deviation from this rule requires approval from appropriate supervisors

– Other companies realize the importance of social interactions in business transactions & allow their employees more discretion in determining what is proper

• In the absence of strict corporate guidelines, a preapproval from one’s management is the best guide to what is acceptable

Avoiding Bribery Problems

• In the absence of any corporate guidelines, another method for determining the acceptability of an