Kidder's Ethical Decision Making Checkpoints

Overview and Review of Rushworth Kidder's Ethical decision making process checkpoints.

1. Ethical Checkpoints by Rushworth M. Kidder

2. Rushworth M. Kidder (May 8, 1944 – March 5, 2012) Biography Rushworth Moulton Kidder was born in Amherst, Massachusetts in 1944. Rushworth M. Kidder was the founder of the Institute for Global Ethics. Kidder was a professor of English at Wichita State University for ten years before he became an award-winning columnist and editor at the Christian Science Monitor. Kidder earned a doctorate from Columbia University in English and comparative literature.

3. Rushworth M. Kidder (May 8, 1944 – March 5, 2012) Rushworth Kidder was the author of ten books on subjects ranging from international ethics to the global future. Kidder was the author of Moral Courage: Ethics in Action and How Good People Make Tough Choices: Resolving the Dilemmas of Ethical Living . In the book, Moral Courage, Kidder states that he believes our decision making is driven by values , morals and integrity. He places decision making into two categories: Moral Temptations and Ethical Decisions.

4. The Ethical Decision Making Process Kidder collects his ideas from the field of Moral Philosophy to describe three contrasting ways of thinking about ethical decision making. Ends Based : Also known as “utilitarianism”, this principle is best known by deciding to do whatever provides the greatest good for the greatest number. Rules Based : Sticking to the rules and your principles. Rules exist for a purpose because they promote order and justice and should be followed. Care Based : Putting love for others first. Following the Golden Rule: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

5. Once it is determined that the problem is not a right vs. wrong, that indeed an ethical dilemma exists. Then you must examine the situation and begin to try and resolve the dilemma. Kidder laid out nine (9) checkpoints for ethical decision making. The Ethical Decision Making Process

6. Recognize there is a ethical/moral issue Identify issues needing attention and decide if it’s an ethical issue or just a social conflict or poor manners. Determine the actor Whose dilemma is it? Who is responsible? Gather the relevant facts D istinguish the facts from assumptions Test for right vs. wrong issues Was it against the law? Does it go against your moral principles? The Ethical Decision Making Process

7. 5. Test for right vs. right paradigms The paradigms describe ethical problems and are presented as an “either/or”, such as Truth vs. Loyalty, or Justice vs. Mercy. 6. Apply the resolution principles: Ends-based, Rules-based, or Care-based? 7. Investigate the “trilemma” option Look for common ground or compromise Make the decision It is important to come to a conclusion, decide, and act. 9. Revisit and reflect on the decision The Ethical Decision Making Process

8. Pros and/or Advantages This decision making process allows an administrator to put aside personal feelings and interests. This process forces an administrator to consider all the angles of a decision and also the impact that the decision will have on individuals, as well as groups, involved. The Ethical Decision Making Process carefully examines the outcomes, benefits, and consequences of the decisions to be made. The Ethical Decision Making Process

9. Cons and/or Disadvantages With this decision making process it may be difficult for the administrator to determine all of the possible outcomes which may lead to unanticipated consequences. Another disadvantage would the administrator would not be able to determine or predict consequences to the community or to programs already in place. The facts are not always available, or there may not be enough time to gather them and this would be a disadvantage to the decision making process. The Ethical Decision Making Process

10. Implications Towards Education Leadership Using the Ethical Decision Making Process in educational leadership begins with one’s individual morals, values, and ethics. An educational leader must consider the morals or principles of what they believe to be right or wrong. An educational leader must use these morals and values to determine what will be best for the greater good. Ethics incorporates ones morals and values to present a set of principles that guide the actions of individuals or groups. An educational leader must follow these principles and rules in the ethical decision making process.

11. Implications Towards Education Leadership An educational leader must use professional ethics when making ethical decisions. Educational leaders must act with professional integrity – following the professional code of conduct, when faced with moral and ethical dilemmas in their school. In an education ethics decision making process this means putting the needs of students and parents before our own personal needs. The educational leader must put his/her love for others first and “do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”

12. Implications Towards Education Leadership The Ethical Decision Making Process focuses on the importance of the educational leader maintaining the respect and confidence of his/her staff, students, parents, and of other members of the community. The educational leader must always strive to achieve and sustain the highest degree of ethical conduct and this can be achieved by using Kidder’s Ethical Decision Making Process.

13. Bibliography DeVore, S., & Martin, B. N. (2008). Ethical Decision-Making: Practices of Female and Male Superintendents. Advancing Women In Leadership, 281. Frame, M. W., & Williams, C. B. (2005). A Model of Ethical Decision Making From a Multicultural Perspective. Counseling & Values , 49(3), 165-179. Johnson, C. E. (2012). Ethical decision making and behavior. Meeting the Ethical Challenges of Leadership: Casting Light or Shadow (4th ed.). Retrieved from http://uk.sagepub.com/sites/default/files/upm-binaries/39590_Chapter7.pdf Kidder, R. M. (2005). Moral Courage, Digital Distrust: Ethics in a Troubled World. Business & Society Review (00453609), 110(4), 485-505. doi:10.1111/j.0045-3609.2005.00026.x Rebore, R. W. (2014). The Ethics of Educational Leadership (2nd ed.). Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Merrill Prentice Hall. Roubanis, J. L., Garner, S. F., & Purcell, R. S. (2008). Professionalism: Ethical Decision Making as a Foundation for Professional Practice. Journal Of Family & Consumer Sciences Education , 26(2), 44-59. Saunders, S., & Butts, J. L. (2011). Teaching integrity. New Directions For Student Services , (135), 67-77. doi:10.1002/ss.405