Ethical Decision-making Model Research Articles

Mindfulness, Moral Reasoning and Responsibility: Towards Virtue in Ethical Decision-Making

Ethical decision-making is a multi-faceted phenomenon, and our understanding of ethics rests on diverse perspectives. While considering how leaders ought to act, scholars have created integrated models of moral reasoning processes that encompass diverse influences on ethical choice. With this, there has been a call to continually develop an understanding of the micro-level factors that determine moral decisions. Both rationalist, such as moral processing, and non-rationalist factors, such as virtue and humanity, shape ethical decision-making. Focusing on the role of moral judgement and moral intent in moral reasoning, this study asks what bearings a trait of mindfulness and a sense of moral responsibility may have on this process. A survey measuring mindfulness, moral responsibility and moral judgement completed by 171 respondents was used for four hypotheses on moral judgement and intent in relation to moral responsibility and mindfulness. The results indicate that mindfulness predict moral responsibility but not moral judgement. Moral responsibility does not predict moral judgement, but moral judgement predicts moral intent. The findings give further insight into the outcomes of mindfulness and expand insights into the models of ethical decision-making. We offer suggestions for further research on the role of mindfulness and moral responsibility in ethical decision-making.

Ethical Implementation of ERP Systems and Organizational Readiness

This paper considers ethical dilemmas that managers confront during the decision-making process before implementing electronic resource planning (ERP) system at their organizations. The paper suggests an ethical decision-making model for resolving such dilemmas. The researchers explore managers’ abilities to make ethical decisions in conflict situations when organizational productivity could jeopardize employee job security. Hence, managers become socially responsible, while implementing the ERP system successfully. The paper uses normative ethics and Habermas (1984)’s communication rationality ideologies to reach an ethical decisions creating a win-win scenarios for both managers and employees leading to organizational readiness and more leadership and labor commitment.

A Lesson on Incivility: Application of an Ethical Decision-Making Model

Lateral and vertical violence and incivility are not always obvious and often can take the form of seemingly harmless gestures. The advanced practice provider is not immune from workplace violence. The insecurity, uncertainty, and helplessness one feels as a result of bullying are all-consuming. From this perspective, an exploration of lessons learned about lateral and vertical violence, its implications on patient care, the emotional well-being of the provider being harassed, and potential resolutions for those experiencing incivility are explored.

Validating an ethical decision-making model of assessment using authentic scenarios

An ethical decision-making model in assessment was newly developed using researcher-developed scenarios. In this article, the authors examined the usability of this newly-developed model by applying authentic scenarios involving ethical dilemmas proposed by classroom teachers. Thirty-three educators in a graduate-level online assessment course participated in the study to describe their overall ethical decision-making process with a real scenario that they or their colleagues experienced in classroom assessment. The current study provided evidence supporting the validation of the newly-developed ethical decision-making model using authentic scenarios. The model can be used for teacher professional development at the district level and in teacher education at the university level.

Towards conceptualizing ethical decision-making model in marketing

PurposeThis paper aims to present a synthesized conceptual model for ethical decision-making in marketing that accommodates both humanistic and religious aspects.Design/methodology/approachA religious–humanistic approach is adopted on synthesizing. “Ferrell and Gresham’s (1985) contingency framework for ethical decision-making in marketing” and “Al-Ghazali’s ethical philosophy” are considered to be the theoretical base for the synthesized model.FindingsAl-Ghazali’s ethical philosophy that stands for the religious dimension in this study was found appropriate for incorporating into the Ferrell and Gresham contingency framework for ethical decision-making in marketing. The approach (religious-humanistic) adopted for synthesizing the two aspects into one model was justified accordingly.Research limitations/implicationsA newly synthesized model is only conceptually validated. Statistical validity is required based on the variables included in the conceptual model. Future studies are recommended to attain the model fit.Practical implicationsThe scale and model developed in the study should help the marketing-department authorities to assess and evaluate ethical aspects of existing individuals in the organization and potential candidates under the selection stage for employment. The research output derived by way of using the newly synthesized conceptual model should be able to pave the way for more in-depth research on actual ethical practices of “marketing practitioners” in the organization. To some extent, understanding of ethical standing of employees should help in improving efficiency and reduce costs from unethical behaviour. This should be able to improve governance from the top- to the lower-level management.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors’ knowledge, no literature has conceptualized a model that accommodates both materialistic and religious aspects into a single model to explain ethical decision-making of individuals in organizations. This is an initial and a humble attempt to conceptualize a model that incorporates ethical philosophy in Islam, with special reference to Al-Ghazali’s ethical philosophy.

An Ethical Analysis of Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) Practices.

The high costs associated with pharmaceuticals and the accompanying stakeholders are being closely evaluated in the search for solutions. As a major stakeholder in the U.S. pharmaceutical market, the practices of pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) organizations have been under increased scrutiny. Examples of controversial practices have included incentives driving formulary status and prohibiting pharmacists from disclosing information on lower-cost prescription alternatives. Ethical investigations have been largely omitted within the debate on the responsibilities of these organizations in the health care system. Ethical analysis of organizational practices is justified based on the potential impact during health care delivery. The objective of this study was to analyze several specific PBM practices using multiple ethical decision-making models to determine their ethical nature. This study systematically applied multiple ethical decision-making models and codes of ethics to a variety of practices associated with PBM-related dilemmas encountered in the pharmaceutical environment. The assessed scenarios resulted in mixed outcomes. PBM practices were both ethical and unethical depending on the applied ethical model. Despite variation across applied models, some practices were predominately ethical or unethical. The point of sale rebates were consistently determined as ethical, whereas market consolidation, gag clauses, and fluctuation of pharmacy reimbursements were all predominantly determined as unethical. The application of using provider codes of ethics created additional comparison and also contained mixed findings. This study provided a unique assessment of PBM practices and provides context from a variety of ethical perspectives. To the knowledge of the authors, these perspectives have not been previously applied to PBM practices in the literature. The application of ethical decision-making models offers a unique context to current health care dilemmas. It is important to analyze health care dilemmas using ethics-based frameworks to contribute solutions addressing complexities and values of all stakeholders in the health care environment.

Bank customers’ decision-making process in choosing between ethical and conventional banking: a survey-based examination

Although the banking industry is increasingly focused on the issue of sustainability, the market share held by ethical banks remains small. This study applies models of ethical decision-making to investigate the reasons why customers choose conventional rather than ethical banks, and vice versa. Firstly, a model of bank customers’ ethical decision-making process in choosing between ethical and conventional banks is developed, based on multiple established models from the extant literature. Secondly, this theoretical model is evaluated using data from an online-survey and ‘partial least squares structural equation modelling’. This reveals that the primary factors discouraging potential customers from selecting an ethical rather than conventional bank are a lack of information, limited pressure of the social context, weak moral intensity, and a perception that ethical banks are economically disadvantageous. However, the good reputation of ethical banks, a high concern for the topic, and low levels of skepticism, all indicate a positive general opinion of ethical banks. These results suggest that more factual information and emotional charging of the topic of ethical banking would strengthen demand. In terms of theory, our analysis shows how general models of ethical decision-making can be tailored for use in specific contexts and suggests that the integration of multiple established ethical decision-making models is sensible. Furthermore, we suggest that reputation and economic benefit—which we include here as domain-specific extensions of established ethical decision-making models—are concepts to consider for a general context-independent extension of ethical decision-making models.

Information protection behaviors: morality and organizational criticality

PurposeOrganizational insiders play a critical role in protecting sensitive information. Prior research finds that moral beliefs influence compliance decisions. Yet, it is less clear what factors influence moral beliefs and the conditions under which those factors have stronger/weaker effects. Using an ethical decision-making model and value congruence theory, this study aims to investigate how moral intensity and organizational criticality influence moral beliefs and intentions to perform information protection behaviors.Design/methodology/approachThe hypotheses were tested using a scenario-based survey of 216 organizational insiders. Two of the scenarios depict low criticality information security protection behaviors and two depict high criticality behaviors.FindingsA major finding is that users rely more on perceived social consensus and magnitude of consequences when organizational criticality is low and on temporal immediacy and proximity when criticality is high. In addition, the moral intensity dimensions explain more variance in moral beliefs when organizational criticality is low.Research limitations/implicationsThe study is limited by its sample, which is organizational insiders at a mid-size university. It is also limited in that it only examined four of the six moral intensity dimensions.Practical implicationsThe findings can guide management about which moral intensity dimensions are more important to focus on when remediating tone at the top and other leadership weaknesses relating to information security.Originality/valueThis study adds value by investigating the separate dimensions of moral intensity on information protection behaviors. It also is the first to examine moral intensity under conditions of low and high organizational criticality.

The Application of Ethics within Social Work Supervision: A Selected Literature and Research Review

ABSTRACTSocial work supervision is a forum in which social workers and supervisors have the opportunity to explore ethics within their practice. It is also where social workers experience ongoing learning and development regarding ethics. This article is a selective review of social work supervision and ethics literature. Key areas identified are: 1) the role of supervision in the monitoring and development of ethical social work practice; 2) supervisors’ knowledge and application of codes of ethics, ethical theories, principles and ethical decision-making models; 3) ethical supervisory relationships, processes and practices. A lack of research evidence was identified regarding the application of ethics within supervision and in relation to the interactional process of ethical exploration, inquiry and dialogue within sessions. Considering this lack of evidence, we propose that ethics be integrated throughout the supervision process through the development of care ethics culture, ethical sensitivity and ethical dialogue. The article concludes with recommendations about bringing ethics to the forefront in supervision. Recommendations are also made concerning further research pertaining to the monitoring and development of ethical social work practice through supervision, supervisors’ ethics knowledge, the interactional process of ethical supervisory practice with supervisees and the influence of organisational culture upon ethics and supervision.

Factors Influencing Higher Education Teachers' Attitudes towards Unethical Use of Information Technology: A Review

In this article, we intend to review the factors that contribute to the non-ethical use of information technology by academics. The ultimate goal of this approach is to construct a possible explanatory model of teachers' unethical attitudes. As premises, we consider that such a model of factors must take into account several theoretical and empirical previous variables and achievements, such as: theories or models that explain the relationship between attitudes and behavior; models of ethical decision making; the environment and values of information and communication technologies (ICT); research that highlights the relationship between individual factors and ethical judgment versus ethical behavior; research that highlights the relationship between external factors and ethical judgment versus ethical behavior. Therefore, our presentation will take these support points into account in how content is structured.

Licensure Portability Through an Ethical Lens: Considering Multiple Stakeholders

Counselors have been licensed to practice in all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia since 2009, but licensure portability (the ability to transfer a license from one state to another) remains elusive, due in large part to variations in educational and training requirements between states. In this article, we extend the American Counseling Association and American Mental Health Counselors Association counseling codes of ethics beyond the counseling relationship to consider license portability along ethical dimensions at the macro level. We apply an ethical decision-making model to demonstrate how lack of portability may have ethical implications related to both counselors and clients. We submit several considerations for how the profession can conceptualize and address these issues through an ethical lens.

Understanding ethical purchasing behavior: Validation of an enhanced stage model of ethical behavior

This article uses a stage model of ethical decision-making to explain consumers’ inclination toward ethical product alternatives. The current paper enhances the stage-model approach by considering egoistic purchasing motives and gender as moderating variables. The current study shows that the effect of negative affect on ethical purchasing intention is mediated by ethical judgement and moral obligation. Interestingly, the mediation effect is more pronounced for male respondents. Furthermore, egoistic purchasing motives moderate the effects of the stage-model components on ethical judgment as well as on ethical purchasing intention. These moderation effects are boosted or altered if gender is considered as moderator. Based on the empirical results and considering study limitations, the paper presents practical implications and avenues for future research.

Professionalism in accounting: a five-factor model of ethical decision-making

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to develop a model of ethical decision-making that applies to accountants and the accounting profession.Design/methodology/approachThis model is an integration of five factors that influence ethical decision-making by accountants: professional codes of conduct; philosophical orientation; religious orientation; culturally derived values; and moral maturity.FindingsThis model is a synthesis of previous identified factors that influence ethical decision-making and incorporates them into a model that is specific to professional accountants.Research limitations/implicationsThe authors develop a set of propositions and explain how this model can be tested and its implications for both the accounting profession and the teaching of business ethics.Originality/valueThis model presents a new way of viewing ethical decision-making by accountants that is predicated on the importance of professional codes of conduct that influence both behaviour and decision-making. The external certification of professional accountants provides a layer of accountability not previously incorporated into ethical decision-making models.

ETHICAL CLIMATE INDEX: EVIDENCE OF VALIDITY OF THE BRAZILIAN VERSION

ABSTRACT Purpose: Ethical issues have been a growing concern in Brazilian organizations. One of the variables that have been studied in this field is the Ethical climate. Victor and Cullen’s (1988) measure is the one most applied to address this phenomenon. This scale has been criticized because its structure has not been empirically supported and the need for update measures has been highlighted. As an answer to this critique, Arnaud (2010) proposed the Ethical climate index - the ECI. This measure uses Rest’s (1984) model of ethical decision-making as a background. The main goal of this work was to develop a Brazilian version of the ECI. Originality/value: The ECI does not yet have a Brazilian version. Design/methodology/approach: The first study presents the translated measure, an exploratory and confirmatory study of the factorial structure on a sample of 1,306 employees. In Study 2 (sample of 3,087 employees), we performed first and second order confirmatory analyses of the structure found in Study 1 in a different sample. Findings: The original model showed better goodness of fit in both studies. Additionally, relationships with ethical leadership and abusive leadership were identified. Overall, findings suggest the scale presents good psychometrical properties, presenting itself as a good measure to evaluate ethical climate.

Ethical Decision-Making Models Across Mental Health Treatment: A Review and Expansion

Ethical Decision-Making Models Across Mental Health Treatment: A Review and Expansion

Negotiated ethical responsibility: Bruneian nurses' ethical concerns in nursing practice.

There has been wide interest shown in the manner in which ethical dimensions in nursing practice are approached and addressed. As a result, a number of ethical decision-making models have been developed to tackle these problems. However, this study argued that the ethical dimensions of nursing practice are still not clearly understood and responded to in Brunei. To explore how Bruneian nurses define ethical concerns they meet in everyday practice in the medical surgical wards of three Brunei hospitals. A qualitative study was employed. Interviews were conducted with 28 practising and administrative nurses of three hospitals. Interview data were analysed via a constant comparative method. The study's protocol was reviewed and approved by the Ethical Committee of the School of Health in Social Science at the University of Edinburgh and the Medical Health Research Ethics Committee of the Ministry of Health, Brunei. The nurses described three ethical dimensions in their practice, namely: 'nurse at work' which illustrates the ethical dimensions within the work environment; 'nurse and doctor' which elucidates the ethical dimensions in the nurse and doctor relationship; and 'nurse and patient' which further examines ethical aspects in patient care. Nurses responded to the ethical dimensions in the ward setting with the aim of avoiding the conflict and maintaining ward harmony. The data provide new insights into how nurses respond to ethical dimension in the ward settings where it puts strong emphasis on the nurses' understanding of responsibility placed upon them as professional nurses. With these findings, it is recommended that further support is needed for nurses to be aware of the ethical dimension in their practice and to respond to ethical concerns accordingly.

Family Medicine Ethics: An Integrative Approach.

The practice of modern medical ethics is largely acute, episodic, fragmented, problem-focused, and institution-centered. Family medicine, in contrast, is built upon a relationship-based model of care that is accessible, comprehensive, continuous, contextual, community-focused and patient-centered. "Doing ethics" in the day-to-day practice of family medicine is therefore different from doing ethics in many other fields of medicine, emphasizing different strengths and exemplifying different values. For family physicians, medical ethics is more than just problem solving. It requires reconciling ethical concepts with modern medicine and asking the principal medical ethics question-What, all things considered, should happen in this situation?-at every clinical encounter over the course of the patient-doctor relationship. We assert that family medicine ethics is an integral part of family physicians' day-to-day practice. We frame this approach with a four-step process modified from other ethical decision-making models: (1) Identify situational issues; (2) Identify involved stakeholders; (3) Gather objective and subjective data; and (4) Analyze issues and data to direct action and guide behavior. Next, we review several ethical theories commonly used for step four, highlighting the process of wide reflective equilibrium as a key integrative concept in family medicine. Finally, we suggest how to incorporate family medicine ethics in medical education and invite others to explore its use in teaching and practice.

Ethics in Telerehabilitation: Looking Ahead

Given the fast-paced growth of telerehabilitation, an updated integrated analysis of the ethical codes and ramifications for telerehabilitation practice is warranted. This article sensitizes rehabilitation counselors to ethical issues associated with providing telerehabilitation services and provides suggestions for safeguards and resources for addressing ethical challenges. Recent publications of the American Counseling Association (ACA, 2014), the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification (2017), and the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC, 2016a) highlight ethical issues such as privacy, security, informed consent, and social media guidelines. Suggestions for practitioners to address ethical challenges include acquiring compliant software, receiving training, setting clear boundaries with clients through an informed consent procedure, and using an ethical decision-making model.

A neo-institutional perspective on ethical decision-making

Drawing on neo-institutional theory, this study aims to discern the poorly understood ethical challenges confronted by senior executives in Indian multinational corporations and identify the strategies that they utilize to overcome them. We conducted in-depth interviews with 40 senior executives in Indian multinational corporations to illustrate these challenges and strategies. By embedding our research in contextually relevant characteristics that embody the Indian environment, we identify several institutional- and managerial-level challenges faced by executives. The institutional-level challenges are interpreted as regulative, normative and cognitive shortcomings. We recommend a concerted effort at the institutional and managerial levels by identifying relevant strategies for ethical decision-making. Moreover, we proffer a multi-level model of ethical decision-making and discuss our theoretical contributions and practical implications.

Why and when do consumers perform green behaviors? An examination of regulatory focus and ethical ideology

This research builds upon Hunt and Vitell's ethical decision-making model to examine consumers' engagement in green behaviors. Using survey data collected from Hong Kong and the United States and with structural equation modelling and bootstrap analyses, it shows that consumers' prevention focus and promotion focus positively affect their ethical idealism (βHK,US = 0.29, 0.19) and relativism (βHK,US = 0.15, 0.21), respectively. Furthermore, idealism positively influences consumers' corresponding ethical judgments (βHK,US = 0.18, 0.31) and decisions, and this influence is higher when the focal green behavior is high in moral intensity (βHK,US = 0.13, 0.12). Contrarily, ethical relativism has a negative impact on the same judgments (βHK,US = −0.11, −0.10) and decisions, and this impact is stronger when consumers' attention to social comparison information is low (βHK,US = 0.10, 0.11). This research contributes to the literature on green behaviors, regulatory focus and consumer ethics, and offers practical insights into promoting green behaviors among consumers.