Ethics in Decision Making

Ethics in Decision Making

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The key facts which that should be considered before making a decision as the person who discovered the iPod should be: As the person who discovers the iPod, one should ask themselves consider how the iPod ended up on the desk, it might be someone left it there intentionally to test their integrity, or someone actually forgot about it on the desk. The person should also ask themselves whether their actions could cause any legal issues. Taking the iPod might actually be considered as stealing. It is also important to question whether their decision is in conflict with the ethical values set. The core values based on institution, for instance love, honesty, integrity maybe put in jeopardy when the person takes the iPod. Taking the iPod would therefore be ethically criticized using that context. Another fact which needs to be determined here how the decision the person makes is going to affect the other people. In this iPod context here, the original owner might be very distressed and anxious due to the iPod getting lost. It might be carrying most of their favorite songs hence the importance to consider other people emotions and how their decision affects them. The person should also consider other alternatives, before making their decision. The other alternatives here can, seeking for the original owner of the iPod, taking the iPod to the lost and found Department sending ,messages and involving friends on an issue of a lost iPod. The person should also consider the effect the decision has and compares it to the other alternatives. This is in order to get the best decision. Keeping the iPod might have legal consequences but looking for the original owner might cause within the institution, that honesty is being up held. This act can even attract more students to join the institution. After the decision against the alternatives, the person will be able to make a proper decision. (Ferrell & Fraedrich, 2015).

There is no context in any decision making, where ethics wouldn’t be considered. The ethics applied here include; integrity, fairness and justice, protecting the common good. Various groups should be involved while making this decision, for instance, the owner of the iPod, fellow classmates and friends. The outcome reflects the decision made at the end. Several parties here are at stake for the outcome which comes with the decision made. The person who discovered the iPod is at stake since, his decision reflects on the integrity of the institution student and him/her as an individual. A good decision here will have a better outcome for the institution as the light shed towards it will be positive. The original owner of the iPod will be at stake here as the decision made the person who discovered the iPod holds the mandate whether she/he will get back their iPod. All the stakeholders here at stake. (Trevino, 1986).

The alternatives available here could be to consider the owner of the iPod. The iPod might be the most valuable thing for the person, giving it back will be doing well to the society. Keeping the iPod maybe another way. The person may consider that nobody saw the picking the iPod, therefore, keeping it for their personal benefits would be considered. This might have both ethical and legal consequences as if, by any chance the owner decides to trace back the iPod, the person will be charged with theft. (Jones, 1991).

When tasked with a decision which feels hard to come into an agreement, it is important to consult to gain assistance. The person can seek for assistance from their friends, lost and found department, they might place banners on walls asking for anyone who has a lost an iPod. Also the person can go an extra mile and seek information on the previous class in order to trace back the owner. (Bazerman &Moore, 2008).

References

Ferrell, O. C., & Fraedrich, J. (2015). Business ethics: Ethical decision making & cases. Nelson Education.

Bazerman, M. H., & Moore, D. A. (2008). Judgment in managerial decision making.

Trevino, L. K. (1986). Ethical decision making in organizations: A person-situation interactionist model. Academy of management Review, 11(3), 601-617.

Jones, T. M. (1991). Ethical decision making by individuals in organizations: An issue-contingent model. Academy of management review, 16(2), 366-395.