#📓 #📚 #🟠 # Introduction: Ethical Perspectives and Practices ![[calendar-plus.svg]] <small>Nov 06, 2021</small> | ![[calendar-clock.svg]] <small>Jan 03, 2023</small> 🏷️ [[ethics]] **Authors:** [[S. May]] **Citation:** May, S. (2013). Introduction: Ethical Perspectives and Practices. In _Case studies in organizational communication: Ethical perspectives and practices_ (2nd Edition, pp. 1–31). Sage Publications. --- # Summary Introduction to the book *Case Studies in Organizational Communication.* The goals of this book are to: 1. Raise awareness of assumptions about organizations and organizational ethics - establish own views on organizational ethics. 2. Strengthen ethical reasoning and decision making - develop greater confidence in own decision making and better understand decisions of others. 3. Motivate to respond to, and proactively confront, [[moral dilemmas|ethical dilemmas]] you may face. Introduction explores primary ethical tensions common in many organizations and summarizes some of the primary ethical perspectives. Identifies "best practices" of ethical organizations with positive and negative examples of each. # Notes #### p. 1 - Ethical decision making and practice are difficult and challenging. Ethical decision-making at an organizational level is incredibly complex and can have profound impacts. *([note on p.1](zotero://open-pdf/library/items/76RIFAIE?page=1))* Ethical decision-making at a personal level requires us to consider what is right and wrong for ourselves, but also in relation to others. *([note on p.1](zotero://open-pdf/library/items/76RIFAIE?page=1))* #### p. 5 - Focus on organizational ethics has increased because it improves organizational performance and the bottom line, and because it's the right thing to do. *([note on p.5](zotero://open-pdf/library/items/76RIFAIE?page=5))* #### p. 7 - We can learn from past and enhance our ethical action in the future by examining and reflecting on [[moral dilemmas|ethical dilemmas]] faced by organizations and their members. *([note on p.7](zotero://open-pdf/library/items/76RIFAIE?page=7))* Organizations don't make decisions - people make decisions within the accepted norms and standards of organizations. *([note on p.7](zotero://open-pdf/library/items/76RIFAIE?page=7))* Ethical decisions shape how we see ourselves and how others see us. *([note on p.7](zotero://open-pdf/library/items/76RIFAIE?page=7))* #### p. 7 - Right/right dilemmas are much more challenging than right/wrong dilemmas *([note on p.7](zotero://open-pdf/library/items/76RIFAIE?page=7))* Examples of right/right dilemmas: - justice versus mercy - truth versus loyalty - individual versus community - short-term goods versus long-term goods *([note on p.7](zotero://open-pdf/library/items/76RIFAIE?page=7))* #### p. 8 - Usually we choose the action that best fits our own [[ethical perspectives|ethical perspective]] of the world [[Rushworth Kidder]] encouraged exploration of a [[trilemma solution]]. #### p. 8 - Important distinctions between 3 types of ethics - [[descriptive ethics]] - [[normative ethics]] - [[analytical ethics]] When discussing ethical issues it's important to distinguish the type of statement being made by asking: - Am I describing the ethical situation? - Am I presenting a point of view in response to the case? - Am I analytically arguing for a position or a point of view in contrast to others? *([note on p.9](zotero://open-pdf/library/items/76RIFAIE?page=9))* #### p. 11 - Differences between ethical perspectives can be described as [[ethical tensions]]. Ethical tensions are likely to either enable or constrain ethical action *([note on p.11](zotero://open-pdf/library/items/76RIFAIE?page=11))* - Two most relevant tensions are [[foundational-situational tension]] and [[individual-community tension]] *([note on p.11](zotero://open-pdf/library/items/76RIFAIE?page=11))* #### p. 21 - Some [[ethical practices]] are common to most ethical organizations ## My Questions & Thoughts --- # Other References TBR:: 🔖 How Good People Make Tough Choices: Resolving the Dilemmas of Ethical Living by Rushworth Kidder (1995) (GR)