Communication Ethics

for Managers
A Conceptual Framework for
Ethical Decision-Making in
Business
Copyright 2004: J. S. ORourke
University of Notre Dame
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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

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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.

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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
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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.

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Three Levels of Inquiry

The Individual

The Organization

The Economy

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Three Levels of
Decision-Making

A moral point-of-view

An economic point-of-view

A legal point-of-view

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Three Kinds of
Moral Principles

Utilitarianism

Rights

Justice

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The Nature of
Moral Judgments

Normative judgments:
Conclusions involving values.

Non-normative judgments
Conclusions that are value-neutral.

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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.
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Four Resources for Decision-
Making

Proposals: specific and action-oriented

Observations: specific and descriptive
Value Judgments: general and action-
oriented
Assumptions: general and descriptive

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Making Moral Judgments

Moral Awareness
Moral Imagination
Moral Identification and Ordering
Moral Evaluation

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Making Moral Judgments

Tolerating moral disagreement and

ambiguity
Integrating managerial and moral
competence
A sense of moral obligation

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Applying Ethical Standards to
Communication

Oral communication
Organizational policies
Correspondence
Rituals, ceremonies, and celebration
Slogans, symbols, corporate credos

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Applying Ethical Standards to
Communication

Evaluations, promotions, and rewards

Interaction with other organizations
Interaction with the government, the
press, and the public

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