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Unit 1

Understanding Ethics

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1.1 Describe the nature of ethics

Opening Discussion #1: What would you do?

Imagine you’ve been studying nonstop for your midterm tomorrow.

You’re still having problems understanding the material.
You stop by your teacher’s room during lunch to ask her a question.
She isn’t at her desk.
You spot the answer key to the test sticking out of a pile of books.

What do you do?

If you look at the answer key, you’ll be sure to get an A.
If you can copy it down, you’ll be able to help your friends get A’s, too.

But is that the right thing to do?

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What Are Ethics?

The basic principles that govern behavior
Help you choose right from wrong
Ethical people do what’s right, no matter what.

EI:123 Describe the nature of ethics

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Consequences of Unethical Behavior

Lost trust
Legal problems
A poor reputation
Setting a bad example

EI:123 Describe the nature of ethics

Have ever acted unethically and faced the consequences. If so, what happened?

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Have you ever acted unethically and faced the consequences?

Yes

No

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Ethical Principles

Integrity

Fairness

EI:123 Describe the nature of ethics

Trust

Accountability

Transparency

Respect

Rule of law

Viability

Ethical Principles

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Integrity

Acting with honesty in all situations
Doing the right thing even when no one else is watching, when it isn’t easy, or when it might not be in your best interest

EI:123 Describe the nature of ethics

Do you act the same way at home as you do when you are in front of someone?

Always Sometimes Rarely Never

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Trust

Behaving ethically also means being trustworthy in all your relationships.
With teachers
With coworkers
With friends
With family members
This involves doing what you say you will do (no matter what!) and telling the truth.

EI:123 Describe the nature of ethics

Who is someone you trust? What makes them trustworthy?

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Accountability

Accepting responsibility for decisions
Imagine what would happen if nobody was accountable for their actions.
You wouldn’t be able to count on anyone!

EI:123 Describe the nature of ethics

Do you consider yourself accountable? Why or why not?

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Transparency

Being truthful when you communicate
More than just avoiding lies
Speaking up about your feelings and communicating openly, even when it’s difficult

EI:123 Describe the nature of ethics

When was the last time you were transparent?

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Fairness

Treating others the way they’d like to be treated
Creating relationships that are equal

EI:123 Describe the nature of ethics

How can businesses apply fairness?

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Respect

Honoring the rights, freedoms, views, and property of others
Ethical people respect other people’s opinions.
They don’t start an argument or insult someone just because they don’t agree.
Showing respect means:

Listening to others when they speak
Not interrupting
Using basic manners (such as being polite, saying please and thank you, and maintaining proper eye contact)

EI:123 Describe the nature of ethics

On a scale of 1 to 5, how important do you think respect is when dealing in business?

1 2 3 4 5

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Rule of Law

Being ethical doesn’t just mean following the law.
You can technically follow the law and still be unethical!
However, part of being ethical means respecting the rules and laws of your city and country.

EI:123 Describe the nature of ethics

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Viability

Ensuring that your actions are helpful in the long term, not just the short term
The impact of your actions in the long term
How your actions affect others in the coming weeks, months, and years

EI:123 Describe the nature of ethics

Share a decision you made because you were thinking about the long-term effects of that decision.

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Alternative Closure:

Ashlyn and her team just finished presenting to the board of directors, and it went extremely well! After the presentation, one of the directors approached Ashlyn and told her that she did an excellent job. He told her that because of her hard work, he was going to recommend her for a promotion. Ashlyn was excited and proud, but she also felt guilty. The presentation was successful because of her whole team, not just her individual efforts. What should Ashlyn do? Should she accept the praise and what comes with it? Or should she make sure to give credit to her teammates, even if it costs her a promotion? (Ethical Principles Involved: Integrity, Transparency, Fairness, Respect)

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1.2 Explain reasons�for ethical dilemmas

There are many news stories of business corruption: (fraud, theft, lying)

Business people often face ethical dilemmas.
They have to choose between what’s right and personal/professional goals.
Everyone is faced with ethical dilemmas.

Have you ever broken a promise?

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What Is an Ethical Dilemma?

EI:124 Explain reasons for ethical dilemmas

It’s a difficult situation.
You have to choose between a wrong and a right choice.
If you pick the wrong choice, someone or something can be hurt.

Check out these examples of some real life ethical dilemmas, did any of these surprise you?

Real Life Ethical Dilemmas

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Common Causes of Ethical Dilemmas

Pressure from others
The desire to prove yourself
Conflicting values
Greed
Bad role models
A lack of consequences

EI:124 Explain reasons for ethical dilemmas

Which cause of ethical dilemmas is the most difficult to deal with and why?

🍐 This is a Pear Deck Text Slide

🍐 To edit the type of question, go back to the "Ask Students a Question" in the Pear Deck sidebar.

Common causes of ethical dilemmas

Pressure from others

When you are surrounded by people who behave unethically, you might be influenced to do the same things.

The desire to prove yourself

Your need to be accepted and liked can cause you to act unethically such as by exaggerating or lying about a situation to impress others.

Conflicting values

You may not feel it’s important to follow strict guidelines or rules that don’t align with your own values.

Greed

People’s desire for things they haven’t earned can cause them to lie, cheat, or steal.

Bad role models

When someone you look up to behaves unethically, it can cause you to follow their example.

A lack of consequences

When there’s no fear of negative consequences, you may be more tempted to act in unethical ways.

Discussion #2: Which cause of ethical dilemmas is the most difficult to deal with and why?

�

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How To Make Ethical Choices

Follow your principles at all times.
Develop integrity.
Think about the impact �of your actions.
Follow the law.
Be trustworthy.
Respect others.

EI:124 Explain reasons for ethical dilemmas

How does thinking about the impact of your actions on yourself and others help you make better choices?

🍐 This is a Pear Deck Text Slide
🍐 To edit the type of question, go back to the "Ask Students a Question" in the Pear Deck sidebar.
How to make ethical choices
Follow your principles at all times.
To practice integrity, you do your best at school, home, and work.
You tell the truth to your friends, parents, teachers, and coworkers.
Develop integrity.
You do the right thing, even when no one is watching.
Think about the impact of your actions.
You consider how your behavior will affect you, your friends, or your employer in the long run.
Discussion #3: How does thinking about the impact of your actions on yourself and others help you make better choices?
Follow the law.
You can avoid a great deal of unethical behavior by following the law.
Be trustworthy.
You keep your word by doing what you say you will do and avoid gossip.
Respect others.
Treat others well by being polite and using good manners.
Respect the property and rights of others.

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Activity:

Divide the class into groups of three or four students each, and assign a different reason for ethical dilemmas to each group or each student in a virtual class. Do not announce each group's assigned reason to the class; instead, each group's reason should remain a secret from the other groups.

Instruct each group or student to create and present a skit that illustrates an ethical dilemma caused by its assigned reason.

Select Groups to Present their skit to the class if face to face, if not they can post their skit in an audio or video format.

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1.3 Recognize and respond�to ethical dilemmas

Activity:

Discussion Question Post -

Think of an ethical dilemma that you have experienced at work, at school, or socially and then write a description of that ethical dilemma.

If you have never encountered an ethical dilemma, identify an ethical dilemma that someone you know has experienced.

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Characteristics of Ethical Dilemmas

There is a right and wrong choice.
Someone could be hurt.
Often they deal with what is legal.

EI:125 Recognize and respond to ethical dilemmas

What ethical dilemmas they have encountered in their lives.

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Responding With Ethical Principles

Use ethical principles to respond to ethical dilemmas.

Integrity
Trust
Accountability

EI:125 Recognize and respond to ethical dilemmas

Transparency
Fairness
Respect

You will be a better employee, friend, student, and family member.

Rule of law
Viability

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How To Respond to Ethical Dilemmas

Identify the dilemma.
Get the facts.
Figure out who’s affected.
Consider all of your potential actions.
Check your gut feeling.
Make and implement your decision.
Reflect on the outcome.

EI:125 Recognize and respond to ethical dilemmas

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1.3 Recognize and respond�to ethical dilemmas

Activity:

Discussion Question Post -

Think of an ethical dilemma that you have experienced at work, at school, or socially and then write a description of that ethical dilemma.

If you have never encountered an ethical dilemma, identify an ethical dilemma that someone you know has experienced.

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Characteristics of Ethical Dilemmas

There is a right and wrong choice.
Someone could be hurt.
Often they deal with what is legal.

EI:125 Recognize and respond to ethical dilemmas

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Responding With Ethical Principles

Use ethical principles to respond to ethical dilemmas.

Integrity
Trust
Accountability

EI:125 Recognize and respond to ethical dilemmas

Transparency
Fairness
Respect

You will be a better employee, friend, student, and family member.

Draw an image of something that comes to mind of someone YOU know that embodies these ethical principles

Rule of law
Viability

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How To Respond to Ethical Dilemmas

Identify the dilemma.
Get the facts.
Figure out who’s affected.

EI:125 Recognize and respond to ethical dilemmas

Share an ethical dilemma that affected a lot of other people

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Analyze

Which of the following common ethical dilemmas do you think impacts or effects the most amount of people?

Drag the circle to the one you think effects the most people

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Conducting Personal Business on Company Time

Taking Credit for Others' Work

Inappropriate and Harassing Behavior

Stealing on the Job

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Now explain WHY you think that option impacts the most amount of people:�

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How To Respond to Ethical Dilemmas

4. Consider all of your potential actions.

5. Check your gut feeling.

6. Make and implement your decision.

What is YOUR decision making process? How do you make decisions, ethical or otherwise?

EI:125 Recognize and respond to ethical dilemmas

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How To Respond to Ethical Dilemmas

7. Reflect on the outcome.

Why is it important to reflect on any decision you make?

EI:125 Recognize and respond to ethical dilemmas

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Connect to your own life:

What’s something interesting you learned today?

How could this information on ethical dilemmas be useful to you