Communication Ethics for Managers Chapter Three: Communication Ethics J.S. O’Rourke University of Notre Dame / USA

Copyright ©2013 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall3-2 Business Ethics “It is the application of what is good and right to that assortment of institutions, technologies, activities, and pursuits which we call business.” Manuel Velasquez Santa Clara University

Copyright ©2013 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall3-3 Business Ethics “Ethics” refers most often to a domain of inquiry, or discipline, in which matters of right and wrong, good and evil, virtue and vice, are systematically examined.

Copyright ©2013 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall3-4 Business Ethics “Morality,” by contrast is most often used to refer not to a discipline but to patterns of thought and action that are actually operative in everyday life. In this sense, morality is what the discipline of ethics is about. And so, business morality is what business ethics is about. K.E. Goodpaster

Copyright ©2013 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall3-5 Integrity in Business The Hudson Institute and Walker Information surveyed 3,000 workers across the U.S. about their experiences and attitudes. Less than half said they believe their senior leaders are people of high integrity.

Copyright ©2013 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall3-6 Integrity in Business In a recent poll, 53% of about 1,800 communications professionals said top management is an organization’s conscience. Their other responses, however, reveal that employers may be sending mixed messages. Source: BusinessWeek

Copyright ©2013 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall3-7 In My Organization... “Discussion of ethical / unethical conduct is encouraged” Agree: 46% Undecided: 28% Disagree: 26%

Copyright ©2013 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall3-8 In My Organization... “Unethical behavior that results in personal gain is reprimanded” Agree: 68% Undecided: 23% Disagree: 09%

Copyright ©2013 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall3-9 In My Organization... “Unethical behavior that results in corporate gain is reprimanded” Agree: 51% Undecided: 36% Disagree: 13%

Copyright ©2013 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall3-10 Three Levels of Inquiry The Individual The Organization The Economy

Copyright ©2013 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall3-11 Three Levels of Decision-Making A moral point-of-view An economic point-of-view A legal point-of-view

Copyright ©2013 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall3-12 Three Kinds of Moral Principles Utilitarianism Rights Justice

Copyright ©2013 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall3-13 The Nature of Moral Judgments Normative judgments: Conclusions involving values. Non-normative judgments Conclusions that are value-neutral.

Copyright ©2013 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall3-14 The Characteristics of Moral Principles They have serious consequences for human well-being. Their validity rests on the adequacy of the reasons used to support and justify them. They override self-interests. They are based on impartial considerations.

Copyright ©2013 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall3-15 Four Resources for Decision-Making Proposals: specific and action-oriented. Observations: specific and descriptive. Value Judgments: general and action- oriented. Assumptions: general and descriptive.

Copyright ©2013 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall3-16 Making Moral Judgments Moral Awareness Moral Imagination Moral Identification and Ordering Moral Evaluation

Copyright ©2013 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall3-17 Making Moral Judgments Tolerating moral disagreement and ambiguity. Integrating managerial and moral competence. A sense of moral obligation.

Copyright ©2013 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall3-18 Applying Ethical Standards to Communication Oral communication. Organizational policies. Correspondence. Rituals, ceremonies, and celebration. Slogans, symbols, corporate credos.

Copyright ©2013 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall3-19 Applying Ethical Standards to Communication Evaluations, promotions, and rewards. Interaction with other organizations. Interaction with the government, the press, and the public.

Copyright ©2013 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall3-20