MAKE ETHICAL

DECISIONS
ETHICS IN HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (DCE5633)

PREPARED BY GROUP 7

1. LOKMAN HAKIM BIN ABDUL RAHMAN (GS56184)

2. SUHAYA BINTI YAAKUB (GS55193)
3. LIYAXIN (GS55946)
4. AZREEN ZAIFIZATUL ALIA BINTI ANUAR (GS56026)
5. LIJINGLU (GS57407)
6. NOR DALILA BINTI NOORDIN (GS58361)
 OUTLINE
01 INTRODUCTION TO 05 APPROACHES TO
ETHICAL DECISION ETHICAL DECISION
MAKING MAKING

02 THE SIX PILLARS OF 06 FACTORS THAT MAY

CHARACTER INFLUENCE ON
ETHICS SITUATION
A FRAMEWORK FOR
03 MAKING ETHICAL 07 THE CHALLENGE TO
DECISIONS MAKE AN ETHICAL
DECISION
04 THE ETHICAL DECISION
MAKING PROCESS 08 CONCLUSION
INTRODUCTION
What is an Ethical Dilemma?
What is Decision Making?
What is Ethical Decision Making?
 ETHICAL DILEMMA
Ethical dilemma refers to a situation  They usually have more than
that often involves complex and one alternative available.
conflicting principles of ethical  The alternatives are regularly in
behavior because no clear guideline is conflict, so the decision maker is
available on how to act and respond to in a dilemma which alternative to
a specific problem (Kitchener, 1984). choose

 The ability to find the optimal

It is important for an individual to solution in such situations is
recognize the presence of ethical critical to everyone.
dilemma, since it acts as catalyst for  Ethical dilemmas are extremely
the entire decision-making process complicated challenges that
(Hunt & Vasquez-Parraga, 1993) cannot be easily solved
DECISION MAKING
Decision making means - the process of deciding about something
1 important, especially in a group of people or in an organization
Source : Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary

Decision-making guidelines can help us make better ethical choices.

Taking a systematic approach - define the problem, gather information,
2 apply ethical standards and values, identify and evaluate alternative
courses of action, and follow through on their choices.

Brown (2006) stated decision making when deriving solutions to

3 problems with ethical components

As the backbone of the management because without taking the right decision at
4 right time, nothing can be performed. Successful and effective decision making
makes profit to the organization and ineffective ones make losses.
ETHICAL DECISION MAKING
Ethical decision making define as a decision that is both
legal and morally acceptable to the larger community
whereas an unethical decision may be regarded as either
illegal or morally unacceptable to the larger community.

(Source : Jones, 1991)

Behavior ethics as referring to individual behavior that is

subject to or judged according to generally accepted
moral norms of behavior.
(Source : Trevino et.al, 2006)

Making good ethical decisions requires a trained

sensitivity to ethical issues and a practiced method for
exploring the ethical aspects of decision and weighing the
considerations that should impact our choice of a course
of action.
 THE SIX PILLARS OF CHARACTER
TRUSTWORTHINESS RESPECT RESPONSIBILITY

• Be honest – in • Civility, Courtesy and • Accountability – an

communication and Decency - Treat others accountable person is not
conduct is playing by rules with respect, follow the a victim and doesn’t shift
• Integrity – acts according golden rule blame or claim credit for
to her beliefs, not • Be tolerant and accept the work of others
according to expediency. differences • Pursuit of Excellence -
• Be reliable – Avoid bad- • Dignity and Autonomy - Diligence, Perseverance
faith excuses, avoid Allow all individuals, and continual
unwise commitments and including maturing Improvement
avoid unclear children, to have a say in • Self-Restraint exercise
commitments the decisions that affect self-control, restraining
• Be loyal - stand by your them. passions and appetites
family, friends and country.
 THE SIX PILLARS OF CHARACTER
FAIRNESS CARING CITIZENSHIP

• A balanced standard of justice • The heart of ethics, • Civic virtues and duties
without reference to one’s and ethical decision that prescribe how we
own biases or interests. making. ought to behave as part
• Process is crucial in settling • The highest form of of a community.
disputes, both to reach the caring is the honest • Volunteers and stays
fairest results and to minimize expression of informed on the issues
complaints. benevolence, or of the day, the better to
• Impartiality – Decisions altruism. execute our duties and
should be made without privileges as a member
favoritism or prejudice of a self governing
• Equity - An individual, democratic society.
company or society should
correct mistakes, promptly
and voluntarily
A FRAMEWORK FOR MAKING
ETHICAL DECISIONS
Making good ethical decisions requires a
trained sensitivity to ethical issues and a
practiced method for exploring the ethical  The Consequentialist
aspects of a decision and weighing the Framework
considerations that should impact our
choice of a course of action.  The Duty Framework
The more novel and difficult the ethical
choice we face, the more we need to rely
on discussion and dialogue with others  The Virtue Framework
about the dilemma. Only by careful
exploration of the problem, aided by the
insights and different perspectives of
 Applying the frameworks to
others, can we make good ethical choices
in such situations. cases
 1. THE CONSEQUENTIALIST FRAMEWORK
Motivation
Aim is to produce the most good.
Advantages
Focusing on the results of an action is a
Definition of Ethical Conduct pragmatic approach.
Ethical conduct is the action that will 1. Some of them may benefit from the
achieve the best consequences action, while others may not;
2. it is not always possible to predict the
consequences of an action, so some
actions that are expected to produce
Deliberative process
good consequences might actually end
What kind of outcomes should I up harming people. 
produce (or try to produce)?
Disdvantages
Focus
people sometimes react negatively to the use
Directs attention to the future effects of an
of compromise which is an inherent part of this
action, for all people who will be directly or
approach, and they recoil from the implication
indirectly affected by the action.
that the end justifies the means.
2. THE DUTY FRAMEWORK
Deliberative process
What are my obligations in this situation,
Definition of Ethical Conduct
and what are the things I should never
Ethical conduct involves always doing the
do? right thing: never failing to do one's duty
Motivation
Aim is to perform the right action
. Advantages
1. Creating a system of rules that has
consistent expectations of all people;
2. Focuses on following moral rules or duty
Focus
regardless of outcome.
Directs attention to the duties
that exist prior to the situation
Disadvantages
and determines obligations
1. It can appear cold and impersonal;
2. It. also does not provide a way to
determine which duty we should follow if
we are presented with a situation in which
two or more duties conflict
.
3. THE VIRTUE FRAMEWORK
Deliberative process Focus Motivation
Attempts to discern
What kind of person
character traits (virtues
should I be (or try to be), Aim is to develop one’s
and vices) that are, or character
and what will my actions
could be, motivating the
show about my
people involved in the
character? Disdvantages
situation.
1. To makes it more difficult to
resolve disputes;
Definition of Ethical Conduct Advantages 2. It is not particularly good
1. Takes into account all parts at helping someone to
of human experience and decide what actions to take
Ethical conduct is in a given situation or
whatever a fully virtuous their role in ethical
deliberation; determine the rules that
person would do in the 2. Emphasizes the would guide one’s actions;
circumstances. importance of role models 3. It can sometimes merely
and education to ethical reinforce current cultural
behavior norms as the standard of
ethical behavior.
4. APPLYING THE FRAMEWORKS TO CASES
When using the frameworks to make ethical
judgments about specific cases, it will be useful
to follow the process below.

1. Recognizing an Ethical Issue;

2. Consider the Parties Involved;

3. Gather all of the Relevant Information;

4. Formulate Actions and Consider Alternatives;

5. Make a Decision and Consider It;

6. Act;

7. Reflect on the Outcome;

THE ETHICAL DECISION MAKING
PROCESS
 Act or
implement

7 Steps in Evaluate
the
ethical decision information
Make a
decision
making process Collect
relevant
information Consider
alternatives

Identify the
ethical Review the
Seven-step guide to ethical- problem Actions
decision making (Davis, M.
(1999) Ethics and the university,
New York Routledge, p. 166-167.
1. IDENTIFY THE ETHICAL PROBLEM
The decision maker must be able to determine :
If there is a possible violation
of an important ethical
principle, society law, or
organizational standard or
policy

If there are potential consequences that

should be sought or avoided that
emanate from an action being
considered to resolve the problem
2. COLLECT THE RELEVANT INFORMATION
100%
A consequential focus
The decision maker
90%
would prompt the
should seek to80%
gather
decision maker to
as much information
70%
attempt to measure
as possible about
60%
the type, degree, and
which rights are being
50%
amount of harm being
40%
forsaken and to what
30%
inflicted or that will be
degree
20%
inflicted on others

Example: 10%

0%
“there’s something about this decision that makes me uncomfortable” or “do I
have a conflict of interest?”.
3. EVALUATE THE INFORMATION
Once the information The decision maker
has been collected, the might use one of the
decision maker must predominant ethics
apply some type of theories
standard or - Utilitarianism

assessment criterion to - Rights

evaluate the situation - Justice

4. CONSIDER ALTERNATIVES
Confronting another person’s action

Seeking a higher authority

Stepping in and changing the direction of what is happening

Be imaginative,
try to avoid “dilemma”; not to “yes” or “not” but whom to go, what to say
5. MAKE A DECISION
The decision maker should seek the
action alternatives that is supported
by the evaluation criteria used in
Step 3

A decision maker selects a course

action that is supported by all the
ethics theories or other evaluation
criteria used in the decision
making process
6. ACT OR IMPLEMENT
The decision maker, if truly seeking
ETHICAL ACT to resolve the problem being
DECISION OR
MAKING
PROCESS
IMPLEMENT considered, must take action.

Once the action alternatives have

been identified in Step 4 and the
optimal response is selected in Step
5, the action is taken in Step 6
 7. REVIEW THE ACTION
Once the action been If the optimal resolution to the

taken and results are problem is not achieved, the

known, the decision decision maker may need to

maker should review modify the actions being

the consequences of taken or return to the

the action beginning of the decision

making process

a) Are there any cautions you can take as an individual (and announce your policy on
question, job change, etc.) ?
b) Is there any way to have more support next time ?
c) Is there any way to change the organization (for example, suggest policy change at next
departmental meeting) ?
5 APPROACHES TO ETHICAL DECISION
MAKING
 UTILITARIAN APPROACH
 Utilitarianism was conceived in
 It assesses an action in
the 19th century by Jeremy
Bentham and John Stuart Mill to terms of its
help legislators determine which
laws were morally best. Both
Bentham and Mill suggested that
1 2 consequences
outcomes.The ethical
or

corporate action is the

ethical actions are those that one that produces the
provide the greatest balance of greatest good and
good over evil. does the least harm for
• Identify the various courses of
all who are affected --
action available to us.
• Ask who will be affected by
customers, employees,
each action and what benefits shareholders, the
or harms will be derived from community, and the
each. environment.
• Choose the action that will
produce the greatest benefits
and the least harm.
 RIGHTS APPROACH
• This approach to ethics has its roots in the philosophy of the 18th-
century thinker Immanuel Kant and others like him, who focused
on the individual's right to choose for herself or himself.
• According to these philosophers, what makes human beings
different from mere things is that people have dignity based on
their ability to choose freely what they will do with their lives, and
they have a fundamental moral right to have these choices
respected.

• People are not objects to be manipulated; it is a

violation of human dignity to use people in ways
they do not freely choose.
• The Rights Approach focuses on respect for
human dignity. 
FAIRNESS/JUSTICE APPROACH

The fairness or justice The Fairness

approach to ethics has its Approach focuses on the
roots in the teachings of the fair and equitable
ancient Greek philosopher distribution of good and
Aristotle, who said that harm, and/or the social
"equals should be treated benefits and social costs,
equally and unequals across the spectrum of
unequally.” society.
COMMON GOOD APPROACH
The common good is a notion that originated more than
2,000 years ago in the writings of Plato, Aristotle, and
Cicero. In this approach, we focus on ensuring that the
social policies, social systems, institutions, and
environments on which we depend are beneficial to all.
Examples of goods common to all include affordable
health care, effective public safety, peace among
nations, a just legal system, and an unpolluted
environment.
• Reflect on broad questions concerning the kind of
society we want to become and how we are to
achieve that society.
• Appeals to the common good urge us to view
ourselves as members of the same community,.
While respecting and valuing the freedom of
individuals to pursue their own goals, the common-
good approach challenges us also to recognize and
further those goals we share in common.
 VIRTUE APPROACH
The virtue approach to ethics Your Text Here
assumes that there are Easy to change
Honesty,
colors, photos courage, "What kind of person
certain ideals toward which
compassion,
and Text. generosity, will I become if I do
we should strive, which
fidelity, integrity, fairness, self- this?" or "Is this action
provide for the 20141
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control, and prudence are all consistent with my
development of our
examples of virtues. acting at my best?"
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Your Text Here
Easy to change
These ideals
colors,are discovered
photos Ethical actions ought to
and Text.
through thoughtful reflection be consistent with certain
on what kind of people we ideal virtues that provide
have the potential to for the full development of
become. our humanity.
SOLVING ETHICAL PROBLEMS
FACTORS THAT MAY INFLUENCE
ON ETHICS SITUATION
FACTORS THAT MAY INFLUENCE DECISION
MAKING ON ETHICS SITUATIONS

The decisions we make

may be affected by
various influences that
we are not always fully
aware of

ANALYSIS
 GUIDELINES TO ACHIEVE OBJECTIVITY

AWARE ACCOUNT DRAW UNDERSTAND

Become aware Take into Draw a more
of any factor account any Better
complete
or factors that such factors in understand the
picture of the
seem to affect a conscious importance we
consequences
our way of and rational seem to attach
that may arise
thinking or of way when to certain
from the
seeing the analyzing or outcomes
potential
facts of the deciding decisions
situation
TWO MAJOR TYPES OF INFLUENCES
INTERNAL INFLUENCES EXTERNAL INFLUENCES

Previous Economic &

Experience
Political Aspects

Gravity of Situation
Personal & Urgency of
Values Decision

Organisational,
Personal Institutional, and
Circumstances Social Aspects
(Source : Malloy, Ross & Zackus, 2000)
 TWO MAJOR TYPES OF INFLUENCES
INTERNAL INFLUENCES

PERSONAL VALUES PERSONAL

PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE
CIRCUMSTANCES

• Past experience with a • Family Education • Employment

similar issue • Academic training • Level of action
• Results, positive or • Religion belief • Ambitions and
negative, of previous • Age and level of plans
decisions in similar maturity • Reputation
situation • Factor linked to • Relations with
ethnicity or culture others

(Source : Malloy, Ross & Zackus, 2000)

TWO MAJOR TYPES OF INFLUENCES
EXTERNAL INFLUENCES

ECONOMIC & GRAVITY OF SITUATION ORGANISATIONAL,

POLITICAL ASPECTS & URGENCY OF INSTITUTIONAL &
DECISION SOCIAL ASPECTS

• Economic or • Relations and links

• Urgency of decision
financial impact of with official bodies,
• Individuals directly
decision individuals,
• Potential impact on affected
communities
• Number of
political or human • Relevant standards
rights individuals directly
or social conventions
affected

(Source : Malloy, Ross & Zackus, 2000)

 QUOTES
ON ETHICS
THE CHALLENGE TO MAKE AN
ETHICAL DECISION
CHALLENGES TO ETHICAL DECISION MAKING
The process of identifying and choosing
alternative courses of action to meet the Decision Making
demands of a situation. (Kreitner, 1966)

The pace of decision making is accelerating: managers

report making more decisions and having less time to
make them.
Trends in Decision Making • Complex streams of decisions
• Sources of decision complexity
• Perceptual and behavioral decision traps
DEALING WITH COMPLEX STREAMS OF DECISIONS
Multiple criteria

Dealing with intangibles

Long-term implications

Inter-disciplinary Input

Pooled decision making

Risk and uncertainty

Unintended
consequences
 DECISION MAKING MODELS

Classical / Rational Behavioral /

Decision Models Administrative
01 02 Decision Models
Attempts to explain how
managers can at least attempt to Can be used by
be more rational and logical in managers to develop a
their approach to decisions. better understanding of
their inherent biases
and limitations
 GUIDELINE FOR MAKING DECISION MORE EFFECTIVE
Comprise of staff Include information
Apart from
members as well and control systems
distribution of
The responsibilities as outsiders in a that make
workload at all
Managers at all of decision-making limited capacity. communication
levels, there must
levels must have must exist at all The main easier for managers.
be an effective
adequate decision- levels in reasonable communication responsibility of The management at
making powers. proportions. If the these units is to all levels should use
system as well.
They must also be top level of provide intelligent these systems to get
Co-ordination
answerable to a management keeps between all levels and creative logistical support for
centralized more powers with expertise in decision-making.
makes work
authority at the top. itself, its workload easier, efficient decision-making.
This makes increases. This, in Decision
and consistent.
decision-making turn, makes it less Support
Advisory
quick as well as efficient. Systems
Effective Units
effective.
Communication
Distribution
Multiple of Workload
Decentralized
Centres
 TECHNIQUES FOR IMPROVING DECISION MAKING

Nominal Group Technique

Brainstorming – (NGT) - problem outlined,
idea generation for presentation of solution in
decision making. written form, discussion over
written solutions, and final
decision

Delphi Technique - Consensus Mapping -

decision made on the basis of
decision made on the basis of
the report presented by the
questionnaire filled by the
representative of each group
respondents
after
 WAYS TO IMPROVE DECISION MAKING
Be aware of biases and try to limit their impact

Combine rational analysis with Don’t assume that your

intuition to increase decision specific decision style is
making effectiveness appropriate to every situation

Enhance personal creativity

Analyze the situation and
by looking for solutions or
adjust your decision making
seeing problems in new
style to fit the situation
ways, and using analogies
 SHARING SESSION
Lt Col Azhar Mohamad RMAF (R)
Retired Royal Malaysia Air Force Aviator

 Current Position
Director of Business Development BAE Systems International Limited United Kingdom.

 Academic Background
Master in Business and Administration From Anglia Ruskin University, United Kingdom
(2017)
Diploma in Military Strategy from War College (France)
Diploma in Strategic and Defence Studies of University Malaya (UM)
Currently continuing his study in Islamic studies at Open University Malaysia.

 Service Background
Joined Royal Military College at 16 years old and was promoted to Lieutenant
Colonel in 2015 as Executive Officer of No. 15 Squadron in 2005 and commanded Air
Force College Flying Training Center 2006

 Experiences
32 years with Royal Malaysian Air Force as a fighter pilot. Awarded the A2 Category
Qualified Flying Instructor by Central Flying School United Kingdom.
 CONCLUSION
An organized and systematic decision-making
process usually leads to better decisions. Without a
well-defined process, you risk making decisions that
are based on insufficient information and analysis.
Many variables affect the final impact of your
decision. However, if you establish strong
foundations for decision making, generate good
alternatives, evaluate these alternatives rigorously,
and then check your decision-making process, you
will improve the quality of your decisions.
Thank You,

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