(PPT 9a) Ethics and Communication

Ethics and Communication
ADAPTED FROM: WICKS, A.C., ET.AL. (2010).

BUSINESS ETHICS: A MANAGERIAL
APPROACH. PRENTICE HALL PEARSON, PP.
1-8.
Stages of Moral Development
Potential Barriers to Ethical Decision Making
Why Consider Ethics in Business?
Public opinion seems to view ethics in business as

contradictory.
Becoming conscious of ethical issues helps people to
take inventory of their ethics and maintain integrity
in work life.
Ethics is related to the well being of those in the
workplace, the clients and society as a whole.
Three Traditions in Ethics
Philosophies of Ethics can be grouped into three

overreaching themes:
1. Actions: means people use to achieve goals.

2. Agents: people who are acting.
3. Ends: goals or outcomes of the actions.
Actions (Deontology)
Deontology focuses on the acceptability of actions,

irrespective of consequences.
Consideration is given to inherent binding standards
of human decency/respect, right/wrong.
Much of these are codified in religious texts.
Internal dilemmas arise when there are competing
standards of what is considered right.
External dilemmas arise when a good action can
cause a negative/bad outcome.
Agents (Character Ethics)
Character focuses on the traits of individuals.

Good character is measured through the possession
of virtues (i.e., fairness, courage, etc.).
Our pattern of conduct (what we do) defines us.
Adherence to our convictions proves the strength of
our character.
Integrity: clear conscience, defend who you are and
what you have done.
Internal dilemmas arise when virtues conflict based
on changing context or culture.
Ends (Consequentialism)
 Consequentialism focuses on the importance of

achieving goals/ends.
 The moral worth of actions is determined by the
consequences which result; actions are defensible if they
create more good than bad.
 When conflicts over actions occur, sometimes those who
privilege this view believe “the ends justify the means.”
 Utilitarianism: creating the most favorable balance of
benefit over harm:
 Ends must be morally defensible.
 Actions must create most favorable outcomes.
Consolidation of the Three Traditions
All three traditions must be considered together,

not in isolation:
 Actions: Is what I’m doing morally defensible on
its own, regardless of the consequences?
 Agents: What kind of person will I become if I do
this? What virtues will this cultivate?
 Ends: What are the ultimate consequences of my
actions? Are these ends defensible?
Avoiding Rationalizations
Rationalizing involves convincing yourself that a

self-serving decision is defensible.
In order to avoid rationalizing, you may test a
decision using three methods:
 The Publicity Test
 The Reversibility Test
 The Generalizability Test

The Publicity Test
For the publicity test, ask yourself:
Could I defend my choice if it were made

public?
The Reversibility Test
For the reversibility test, put yourself in the position

of the person who would be hurt by your decision.
If you were in their shoes, would you respect the
reasons for the decision?
Would you think the reasoning behind the decision
was fair, even if you were hurt by it?
The Generalizability Test
For the generalizability test, ask yourself if you can

consistently apply the same reasoning in similar
cases.
Conflict will likely arise unless a standard applies
across a range of cases.
Is the rationale which you adopt one that you wish
others would adopt?
The Ethical Decision Making Process
Issues of Ethics in Communication
There are several issues which relate to ethics and

communication:
 Freedom of speech
 Privacy
 Confidentiality
 Credit/Appropriation
 Honesty
 Courtesy
Kholberg’s Stages of Moral Development
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XUqT8IHCeLE
Ethics and Communication: Writing Activity
What different types of unethical communication

exist?
What sorts of issues relate to ethics and
communication in the workplace?
Do certain individuals have more of an ethical
obligation than others in the workplace and in
society?
What ethical issues have you faced in the workplace?
Which have related to communication?
References
Note: All of the information contained in these slides is

paraphrased or directly taken from Wicks’ Business Ethics
(2010) text. Page references for each slide are given below:
2. p. 40 9. p. 8
3. pp. 35 10. p. 15
4. pp. 3-4 11. p. 16
5. p. 5 12. p. 16
6. p. 6 13. p. 16
7. pp. 6-7 14. p. 18
8. pp. 7-8

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Ethics and Communication

ADAPTED FROM: WICKS, A.C., ET.AL. (2010).

Public opinion seems to view ethics in business as

Philosophies of Ethics can be grouped into three

1. Actions: means people use to achieve goals.

Deontology focuses on the acceptability of actions,

Character focuses on the traits of individuals.

 Consequentialism focuses on the importance of

All three traditions must be considered together,

Rationalizing involves convincing yourself that a

 The Reversibility Test

 The Generalizability Test

For the publicity test, ask yourself:

Could I defend my choice if it were made

For the reversibility test, put yourself in the position

For the generalizability test, ask yourself if you can

There are several issues which relate to ethics and

What different types of unethical communication

Note: All of the information contained in these slides is

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