Mathison, "Three-step Ethical Decision-making Model for Business Students"
Notable for integrating ideals into the decision-making process
SOURCE FOR THE PROCEDURE
Mathison, David L. "Teaching an Ethical Decision Model That Skips the Philosophers and Works for Real Business Students." Proceedings. New Orleans: National Academy of Management, 1987: 1-9.
THE PROCEDURE ITSELF
- Identify the important issues involved in the case using obligations, ideals, or effects as a starting point.
- Consider restrictions on behavior, things we must do or avoid (obligations).
- Consider notions of excellence, the goal of which is to bring greater harmony to self or others (ideals).
- Consider the intended or unintended consequences of a business decision (effects).
- Decide where the main emphasis or focus should lie among the five or so issues generated in Step 1.
- Which is the major thrust of the case?
- Is it an obligation, an ideal or an effect?
- With the well-focused issue worked out in Step 2, apply the basic decision rules.
- When two or more obligations conflict, choose the more important one.
- When two or more ideals conflict, or when ideals conflict with obligations, choose the action which honors the higher ideal.
- When the effects are mixed, choose the action which produces the greatest good or least harm.
WALT'S CHECKLIST
The same checklist was applied to all procedures.
- This method is most useful when the DECISION-MAKER ...
- can tolerate ambiguity, complexity or conflict [step 3]
- has high initial sensitivity to relevant ethical "features" [step 1]
- has keen insight into human motivation [step 1c]
- has plenty of time for investigation and analysis
- is skilled in causal or consequential reasoning [step 1c]
- is skilled in conflict- or dilemma-resolution methods [step 3]
- is skilled in the application of general ethical principles to specific cases [step 3c]
- This method is most useful in a SITUATION ...
- that will change little over time
- This method is most useful when STAKEHOLDERS ...
- share ethical principles [step 3c]
- share values [steps 1b and 3b]
