Flowchart

Miller, "Questions to Aid Ethical Decision-making"

award Notable for its emphasis on the workplace, and for allowing competition between ethical systems

SOURCE FOR THE PROCEDURE

indentMiller, Will. "Ethics and Decision-making: A Set of Questions." 1996. http://plsc.uark.edu/book/books/ethics/guide.html (14 Jun. 1999). This approach is endorsed by the University of Arkansas Public Administration Program.

THE PROCEDURE ITSELF

Disclaimer
  1. What can the decision maker decide?
    1. What authority does the decision maker have?
    2. Which decisions can result from that authority?
    3. What options does he/she have?
    4. If the decision maker does not have the power to decide the policy, can he/she be a "spoiler"?
  2. What effects will the different decision options have ...
    1. on the different publics to be served?
    2. on the organization for which the decision maker works?
    3. on the decision maker him/herself?
  3. What ethical guides (codes or rules) can the decision maker use in making the "right" decision?
    1. Consider the following potential ethical guides.
      • Professional values or codes of ethics
      • Organizational values or codes of ethics
      • Personal values or codes of ethics (religious, community)
      • "Regime values" - The Constitution and Bill of Rights
    2. What does the law (administrative, civil, criminal) permit or restrict?
    3. How do these codes and values conflict or agree in guiding action in this case?
    4. In cases of ambiguity or disagreement, which codes take precedence?
  4. Are there competing ethical systems or values held by actors within the environment in which the decision is being made?
    1. How are decisions about ethics usually made in this environment?
      • Is there a dominant and subordinate value system?
      • Do these things get argued out publicly?
      • Does some power figure simply determine "what is right" for everyone?
    2. Consider the competing ethical systems.
      • In what ways are the competing ethical systems different?
      • What do they hold in common?
      • Are there sufficient grounds for a consensus concerning the ethical issue being considered?
  5. What "feels right"?
    1. What do your "guts" tell you?
    2. Are these feelings "right" because others who work around you believe them?
  6. To what extent does the workplace support ethical decision-making?
    1. Is the structure of the work-place conducive to ethical decision-making in this area?
    2. How might the structure be changed to "structurally facilitate" good ethical decisions in both the present issue and in the future?

WALT'S CHECKLIST

The same checklist was applied to all procedures.
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