3 Prescriptive Approach To Decision Making
University of Technology, Jamaica
School of Business Administration
Business Ethics
Semester 1, 2013 - 2014
Ethical Decision-making
Issue: how to resolve ethical dilemmas – two “right” values in conflict; choosing between equally unpleasant alternatives – e.g. truth and loyalty: telling the truth to a friend about a company’s intention can be construed as disloyalty to the company?
Moral Philosophy: the principles and rules that are used to decide what is right or wrong; a moral philosophy states an ideal perspective that most people accept
Prescriptive approach to decision making:
Consequentialist/Teleological: (consequences) the morality of behaviour is evaluated on the basis of its consequences; behaviour or conduct is morally right if it produces some desired result – pleasure, promotion, profit; as such, the ends justify the means
Utilitarianism: concerned for the greatest good for the greatest number; decisions are usually made on the basis of a cost benefit analysis. Efforts are made to look at the consequences for all possible alternatives before a decision is made
Construction of a new road through your community: utilitarian rationale argues whether the benefits to the community – increased development and employment, reduced traffic, fewer accidents) outweigh the harm to a few property holders – noise pollution
Challenge: can all the facts be obtained to make proper evaluation, projection and risk?
Rights of the minority can be sacrificed for the benefit of the majority
Deontological: (duties, obligations, principles) bases action/behaviour on the principle of equal rights, and respect for all persons; the focus is on the rights of individuals and the intentions that are associated with behaviour
Rights of individuals: (integrity) freedom of conscience, consent, privacy, speech and due process
But what rule, principle or right to follow, when for example the right of the investor to profit conflict with the environmental rights of a community to
School of Business Administration
Business Ethics
Semester 1, 2013 - 2014
Ethical Decision-making
Issue: how to resolve ethical dilemmas – two “right” values in conflict; choosing between equally unpleasant alternatives – e.g. truth and loyalty: telling the truth to a friend about a company’s intention can be construed as disloyalty to the company?
Moral Philosophy: the principles and rules that are used to decide what is right or wrong; a moral philosophy states an ideal perspective that most people accept
Prescriptive approach to decision making:
Consequentialist/Teleological: (consequences) the morality of behaviour is evaluated on the basis of its consequences; behaviour or conduct is morally right if it produces some desired result – pleasure, promotion, profit; as such, the ends justify the means
Utilitarianism: concerned for the greatest good for the greatest number; decisions are usually made on the basis of a cost benefit analysis. Efforts are made to look at the consequences for all possible alternatives before a decision is made
Construction of a new road through your community: utilitarian rationale argues whether the benefits to the community – increased development and employment, reduced traffic, fewer accidents) outweigh the harm to a few property holders – noise pollution
Challenge: can all the facts be obtained to make proper evaluation, projection and risk?
Rights of the minority can be sacrificed for the benefit of the majority
Deontological: (duties, obligations, principles) bases action/behaviour on the principle of equal rights, and respect for all persons; the focus is on the rights of individuals and the intentions that are associated with behaviour
Rights of individuals: (integrity) freedom of conscience, consent, privacy, speech and due process
But what rule, principle or right to follow, when for example the right of the investor to profit conflict with the environmental rights of a community to