Common Morality

Which is the body of rules covering ordinary ethical problems i.e. rules that we live by most of the time. Examples include:

•    promise keeping
•    non malevolence
•    mutual aid
•    respect for persons and
•    respect for property

Below is a list of twelve questions for examining the ethics of a business decision.

•    Have you defined the problem accurately?
•    How would you define the problem if you stood on the other side of the fence?
•    How did this situation arise in the first place?
•    To who/what do you give your loyalty as an individual member of the organization?
•    What is your intention in making this decision?
•    How does this intention compare with the probable results?
•    Whom could your decision harm?
•    Can you discuss the problem with the affected party before you make your decision?
•    Will the decision remain valid for a long time?
•    Could you disclose your decision without fear to your superiors, family, board of Directors and society?
•    What is the symbolic potential of your action if understood or misunderstood?
•    Under what conditions would you allow exceptions to your stand?

Companies should try their utmost to institutionalize the process of ethical decision making, so that each decision builds upon the decision that preceded it. There are several ways of doing this,

•    Having codes of conduct
•    Forming ethical committees.
•    Using ombudsmen
•    Using ethics training or judicial boards and using social audits.