ABSTRACT
How do you make a decision that may involve right and wrong and may affect your future career, positively or negatively? In Managing Business Ethics, Linda K. Trevino and Katherine Nelson outline an eight-step decision-making process based on a full evaluation of the circumstances:
Gather the facts. What are the details of the situation confronting you? What caused this situation to occur? All facts may not be available to you, but gather as much information as possible.
Define the ethical issues. Frame the situation in basic terms of truth, honesty, promise keeping, employee rights, and the rights of the company. Identify as many such ethical issues as possible. It is helpful to present the matter to someone you trust, such as a spouse or good friend. They may see issues that you might have missed.
Who are the affected parties? Identify everyone who might be affected by the situation, and try to see the situation through each person's eyes. The list might include other employees, management, suppliers, customers, and stockholders in the company. Try testing your potential decision by seeing how each party would react.
What are the consequences? Look at the consequences that are most likely to occur and at the most negative possible consequences. Which decision would accomplish the most good?
What are your obligations? Look at your obligations to your boss, employees, and others in terms of right and wrong, truth and integrity. If you think your boss is asking you to do something wrong, you will be better off raising the issue than ending up responsible for unethical behavior.
Will your character and integrity remain intact? The general rule is that if you would be embarrassed to tell your parents, spouse, or clergyman about your actions, or to see them described in the newspaper, then you need to reconsider.
47 Have you considered all the alternatives? Be creative in deciding your course of action. You may have more than two choices; there may be a third that has not occurred to you. If a customer or supplier wants to give you a gift, can you ask instead for a discount for your company?
Are you done? Last of all, check your gut! Does your proposed decision feel right? If it doesn't feel right, rethink your decision.
