Ethics

September 21, 2020

 MODULE 2
This module is focused on moral dilemmas
specifically on its definition, situations cases
where moral dilemmas are present, and it's
three (3) levels namely: individual,
organizational, and structural.
 MODULE 2
In the three levels of moral dilemma, common
ethical issues in the organization will be
highlighted, several factors that an individual is
facing such as peer pressure, personal financial
position, and economic and social status which cause
dilemma to an individual and the concepts to
consider in the individual moral dilemma.
WHAT ARE
MORAL
DILEMMAS?
Learning Objectives
After studying this module, you should be able to:
1. Define moral dilemmas and set out situations.
2. Explain the three levels of moral dilemmas.
3.Discuss several factors affecting the organization,
structure and individual.
WHAT ARE
MORAL
DILEMMAS?
 moral dilemma
or ethical dilemma
• a situation in which a decision maker must
give preference to one moral principle over
another.
• a situation whereby a person has to make a
decision among competing alternatives, which is
the right (ethical) alternative, and which is the
best?
 moral dilemma
or ethical dilemma
• making an option to one moral value
over the other
•A situation where moral values are
equally significant
THREE LEVELS OF MORAL DILEMMAS

1. Organizational ethical or moral dilemma

2. Individual moral dilemma
3. Structural moral dilemma
 Organizational ethical or
moral dilemma
As discussed by Lamberto et. Al(2013), an
organizational ethical dilemma refers to a situation
that causes an organization to respond negatively or
positively to an ethical issue that affects staff,
shareholders, and society, as well as corporate ethics
and customers.
It includes also the leaders' ethical actions in
preserving financial reporting integrity.
 Organizational ethical
or moral dilemma
Based on the article of Michigan
State University online.com (2020) and
small business chron.com (2019), there are
common ethical issues in the organization
such as:
 Common Ethical Issues in the
Organization
• Unethical leadership/bad leadership behavior.
• Toxic workplace culture.
• Discrimination and harassment/ peril of employee
favoritism.
• Unrealistic and conflicting goals.
• Use of the organization’s technology, social media use,
technology, and privacy concerns.
• Business travel ethics.
 Individual moral dilemma
As mentioned by Smith (2018),
individual ethical or moral dilemma
pertains to a situation where individuals
confront with a number of factors such as
peer pressure, personal financial position, an
economic and social status which may
influence all individual ethical standards.
 Individual moral dilemma
A human being should bear in mind that
living in this world is not easy.
Human beings must not be confused nor
ambiguous and put himself or herself in a
dilemma where he doesn't know what to do
and decide to what is good and what is right.
 Structural Moral Dilemma
The structural moral dilemma is that
selecting a proper system of responsibilities
and relationships, which is a continuing
universal challenge.
There are five concepts in the structural
moral dilemma to consider namely:
Structural Moral Dilemma

a. Differentiation vs. Integration

b. Gap vs overlap
c. Lack of clarity vs. Lack of creativity
d. Excessive autonomy vs.
Excessive interdependence
Differentiation vs. Integration

The conflict between the distribution of

jobs and the organization of numerous activities
generates a classic dilemma. The more
complicated a task structure, the more difficult
it is to sustain a centered, tightly coupled
organization.
Differentiation vs. Integration

When complexity grows, the company

needs more complicated and expensive
management techniques. Laws, regulations,
and directives need to be balanced by
lateral approaches.
 Gap vs. Overlap
When the main tasks are not explicitly defined,
the critical job will slip through gaps. In a
similar manner, functions and activities can
overlap, causing conflict, wasting time, and
unintended duplication of responsibilities.
 Lack of clarity vs.
Lack of creativity
When employees are not clear about what
they are expected to do, they often adapt their
tasks to personal interests instead of system-wide
goals that often lead to problems. Yet when people
's duties are over defined, they comply with their
positions and procedures in a bureaucratic manner.
They specifically follow job requirements as to
how much the service or product fails.
 Excessive autonomy vs.
Excessive interdependence
When individuals or groups are too
independent, they are always isolated. On the
other hand, if the units and responsibilities
are too closely connected, people are
absentminded from work and waste time or
excessive coordination.
 Based on the discussion above, to
avoid structural moral dilemma
then following characteristics
must be maintained:
1. must have well-distributed jobs and the laws,
policies, rules, and regulations must be balanced
through lateral approaches.
2. must have an implicitly defined job description,
roles, and duties to evade from gaps and overlaps.
 Based on the discussion above, to
avoid structural moral dilemma
then following characteristics
must be maintained:
3. must have a clear-cut expectation of the tasks
in a wide range of goals
4. must have a well-balanced interdependence
and coordination
 Learning Assessment

Cite an example of a moral dilemma that you had

encountered. How did you decide for the action
you will take? Are you happy with that decision?