Guy, "Guidelines for Making Ethical Decisions"
Notable because it is a specialization of a general method for rational decision-making
SOURCE FOR THE PROCEDURE
Guy, Mary E. "Guidelines for Making Ethical Decisions." Ethical Decision Making in Everyday Work Situations. Westport: Greenwood Press, 1990: 155-167.
This model is based on a general model for rational decision-making, which Guy
details
in simple form
and in a
slightly more complex version.
THE PROCEDURE ITSELF
- Define the problem.
- Acknowledge the context in which the problem arose in order to identify stakeholders involved.
- Identify the values that are at stake.
- Select the values that must be maximized.
- Choose the alternative that maximizes the essential values and minimizes as few as possible.
- Assure that the consequences of the decision will be ethical in regard to both its short-term and long-term consequences.
- Implement the decision.
WALT'S CHECKLIST
The same checklist was applied to all procedures.
- This method is most useful when the DECISION-MAKER ...
- has high initial sensitivity to relevant ethical "features" [step 1]
- has plenty of time for investigation and analysis [step 5]
- is skilled in causal or consequential reasoning [step 6]
- This method is most useful in a SITUATION ...
- that will change little over time
- This method is most useful when STAKEHOLDERS ...
- share values [steps 3, 4 and 5]
