Ethics and Values

Ethics are deciding what is right or more right in a given situation.

Five Ethical Principles
as defined by K.S. Kitchener

1. Respect autonomy (freedom to act & choose, & allowing the same for others)
2. Do no harm
3. Benefit others (do things to contribute to the greater good)
4. Be just
5. Be faithful (promise-keeping, loyalty, truthfulness)

Five Cornerstones of Ethical Behavior
as defined by F.A. Manske

1. Do what you say you will do
2. Never divulge information given in confidence to you
3. Accept responsibility for your mistakes
4. Never become involved in a lie
5. Avoid accepting gifts that compromise your ability to perform in the best interests of your organization

6 Pillars of Ethical Behavior
as defined by Michael Josephson

1. Trustworthiness (being worthy of trust)
2. Respect (treating everyone with respect)
3. Responsibility (being accountable for your actions and duties)
4. Fairness
5. Caring
6. Citizenship (acting as part of a larger community)

Hierarchy of "Bad Leadership Decisions"
as defined by Redding, 1985

• The clearly illegal
• The clearly immoral or unethical (violating human rights)
• The psychopathic; the insane (hence, dangerous)
• The incredibly stupid
• The insensitive (to human needs and feelings)
• The inefficient or impractical
• The irritating or annoying

Values are beliefs chosen freely from many options by which one lives life.

What is a value?
Raths, Harmin, and Simon, a series of criteria for values

• A value must be chosen freely
• A value is always chosen from among alternatives
• A value results from a choice made after thoughtful consideration of choices
• When we value something, it has a positive quality for us
• When we have a value, it shows up in every aspect of our living
• Values tend to have a persistence and assume a pattern in our lives

Checking Ethics and Values

• Are you respecting others' autonomy?
• Do you refrain from harming others (physically or psychologically)?
• Are you benefiting others?
• Are you being just?
• Are you being faithful to promises and commitments you have made?
• Are you acting responsibly?
• Do your actions and associations reflect your values?
• Do you consider the well-being of others?

Do you think of yourself as a member of the community, not as an isolated individual?

Bibliography:
Guy, M.E. (1990) Ethical Decision Making in Everyday Work Situations. New York: Quorum. pp. 18-19.
Jones, Susan and Nance Lucas. Interview with Michael Josephson. Concepts and Connections v.2 issue 3. 1994.
Kitchener, K.S. (1985) Ethical principles and decisions in student affairs. In H.J. Canon and R.D. Brown (Eds.), Applied ethics in student services (pp. 17-29). San Francisco: Josey-Bass Inc.
Manske, F.A. Jr. Secrets of effective leadership. Memphis TN: Leadership Education and Development, INC. 34-35.