Summary Note by James R. Martin, Ph.D., CMA
Professor Emeritus, University of South Florida
Behavioral Issues and Culture Main Page |
Ethics Main Page
This is the second of two short articles by Daniel Butcher related to how biases can cause unethical behavior. (See the Butcher Summary for a note on the first article). After the judgment traps and biases in an organization have been identified, specific mitigation techniques can be employed to support ethical decision making.
Overcoming Biases
Mitigation techniques include following your moral compass, considering the big picture, and forcing yourself to consider subconscious biases before making a decision. Decision makers need to refresh their understanding of the code of ethics to maintain their professional excellence. The organization's incentive system needs to be scrutinized to avoid driving unethical behavior, and people must be held to high standards in a way that does not motivate them to cross ethical lines. In addition, leaders need to surround themselves with people who will tell them "no" when they are making a bad decision.
Ethics Advice
The article includes seven mitigation techniques to overcome biases as follows.
1. Regularly examine whether your organization is living up to its code of conduct.
2. Anticipate upcoming situations where your ethical behavior will be challenged.
3. Consider important decisions when you are not multitasking or exhausted.
4. Practice what you preach, i.e., ethical behavior.
5. Emphasize the importance of being ethical to others around you.
6. Associate with professionals whose ethics and morals you respect.
7. Exercise independent thought and don't be afraid to voice a dissenting view if a group is making an unethical decision.
Take the time to look in the mirror when making decisions that have ethical implications to avoid judgment traps and overcome biases
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Related summaries:
Butcher, D. 2019. Ethics: Identifying common judgment traps and biases. Strategic Finance (August): 15-16. (Summary).
Coutu, D. L. 2002. The anxiety of learning. Harvard Business Review (March): 100-107. (Summary).
Dawkins, R. 2008. The God Delusion. A Mariner Book, Houghton Mifflin Company. (Summary).
Hornsey, M. J. and K. S. Fielding. 2017. Attitude roots and Jiu Jitsu persuasion: Understanding and overcoming the motivated rejection of science. American Psychologist 72(5): 459-473. (Summary).
Kenrick, D. T., A. B. Cohen, S. L. Neuberg and R. B. Cialdini. 2018. The science of antiscience thinking. Scientific American (July): 36-41. (Summary).