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Decision Making. Work-Related Stress

The Influence of Ethics on Decision Making

Isn't it true that hindsight is always 20-20? With the benefit of time, most people can clearly identify where they may have missed opportunities, lost a business deal or even simply made a bad decision. Indeed, decision-making is one of the fundamental principles of good business and the importance of ethics is the foundation of good decision-making.

Ethics are the highest standard that can guide decision- making. According to McDowell (1997):

Ethics is not about self interest or expediency. This breeds distrust, corruption and lack of human freedoms. Decisions made from this perspective encourage subservience and are built on self-righteousness. Ethical decisions are based on acceptance and valuing the humanness of others.

In fact, she continues, since each person's perception of reality is based on his or her experience, it is not until each person accepts the validity of other culture's customs and values that one can achieve the ability to frame a perspective of cooperation, acceptance, self esteem and the ability to take ownership of an outcome -- these are, in essence, the basis of ethical decision-making. McDowell (1997) says that it is impossible for shared decision-making to be effective and ethical without identifying the particular "maps of reality" of everyone involved. She says, "It is not the intent of this process to impose a particular set of rules or beliefs upon the members, but rather to synthesize the values of each group so a consensus can be reached. In this process, the sense of belonging and ownership is increased" (McDowell, 1997).

Based on McDowell's arguments then, it is reasonable to conclude that if each person's code of ethics is based on their individual experience, the importance of reaching a cooperative consensus -- an ethical decision -- is essential to good decision-making. Ethics -- one's compass to honesty, fairness, accountabi...

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Decision Making. Work-Related Stress. (1969, December 31). In LotsofEssays.com. Retrieved 11:26, March 28, 2024, from https://www.lotsofessays.com/viewpaper/1695985.html