ABSTRACT
The concept of an ethical organizational culture has emerged over time as the product of a moral inquiry that defines an institution as its essential unit of measure. Corporate social responsibility can be conceived as a self-regulating corporate behavior where the organization is accountable to a broader constituency of stakeholders including society in general. If ethical risks refer to the consequences of values held, alignment is still a likely objective. Risk managers/leaders are particularly tasked to address high stress/high impact future possibilities. Such events evoke strong emotions, whether considered at a remove or close up. And, critically, these possible futures almost invariably carry serious moral implications and consequences. Therefore, risk leadership has to be a Values Driven undertaking—or to reference this chapter’s title, a Moral Endeavor. This chapter explores the relationship of ethics and risk leadership, arguing as it does for a recognition that risk management and leadership fundamentally are moral exercises.
