Can Ethical Decision Making be Taught? The JUSTICE Approach

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to ask whether ethics can be taught? Can we teach how to make decisions in issues involving ethics? Preliminary results suggest we can.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper describes how managerial ethical decision making is taught using a tool called the JUSTICE framework. Each letter introduces a decision making criterion: J for Justice, U for Utilitarian, S for Spiritual Values, T for TV Rule, I for Influence, C for Core Values, and E for Emergency.

Findings

It is not known if ethics can be taught, but we now believed we can teach our students learn ways to face managerial ethical decisions. What the JUSTICE model lacks in theoretical underpinning it makes up for in pragmatic results. Students learned (memorized) all seven criteria, and learned to select their three favorites, and then to use the model to decide in numerous cases. It works.

Originality/value

The paper introduces the JUSTICE approach.

Citation

Lau, C., Hulpke, J.F., To, M. and Kelly, A. (2007), "Can Ethical Decision Making be Taught? The JUSTICE Approach", Social Responsibility Journal, Vol. 3 No. 2, pp. 3-10. https://doi.org/10.1108/17471110710829678