Communication Ethics

for Managers
Chapter Three:
Communication
Ethics

J.S. O’Rourke
University of Notre Dame / USA
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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Integrity in Business
In a recent poll, 53% of about 1,800
communications professionals said
top management is an
organization’s conscience. Their
other responses, however, reveal
that employers may be sending
mixed messages.
Source: BusinessWeek

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In My Organization . . .
“Discussion of ethical / unethical
conduct is encouraged”
 Agree: 46%
 Undecided: 28%
 Disagree: 26%

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In My Organization . . .
“Unethical behavior that results in
personal gain is reprimanded”
 Agree: 68%
 Undecided: 23%
 Disagree: 09%

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In My Organization . . .
“Unethical behavior that results in
corporate gain is reprimanded”
 Agree: 51%
 Undecided: 36%
 Disagree: 13%

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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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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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Copyright ©2013 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall 3-20