7 steps of ethical decision making

OUTLINE AND ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY ON ETHICAL DILEMMA 7

Outline and Annotated Bibliography on Ethical Dilemma

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Outline and Annotated Bibliography on Ethical Dilemma

Ethical dilemmas present in different situations, which requires the involved people to apply appropriate theoretical frameworks and conflict resolution techniques to address them. According to Figar and Đorđević (2016), the agents at the center of ethical dilemmas find themselves in a hard situation because they have to choose between the available ethical and unethical alternatives. Even after selecting the ethical alternatives, the agents need to determine the most appropriate type to the existing situation. Ethical dilemmas have always existed since the beginning of time, and over the years, researchers and thinkers from different backgrounds have put forth decision-making models deemed effective in lessening the difficulty of selecting the best choice. For instance, the American Counseling Association’s (ACA) Decision Making Model consists of seven steps followed when selecting the best ethical alternative. Based on the details provided in the case study, applying ACA’s model could address the existing dilemma and help to attract and retain additional members to the ‘relationship skills’ group administered by Amanda.

Counselors, therapists, and other relevant types of caregivers are responsible for employing the type of theoretical frameworks and conflict resolution strategies that diffuse ethical dilemmas. Logman (2016) asserts that ethical dilemmas and code of ethics have been a bone of interpretation and contention since the beginning of time. Due to the complexity of some dilemmas, thinkers and researchers have developed techniques and models essential in addressing conflicting situations. Particularly, the ACA’s seven-step model is useful in eliminating the dilemmas by providing a series of steps helpful in deciding on the desirable course of action. These steps include problem identification, application of the ACA’s code of ethics, determination of the dimensions and nature of the dilemma, generation of the potential course of action, consideration of the potential consequences of the chosen option, evaluation of the chosen course of action, and implementation of the selected choice (Forester-Miller & Davis, 1995). The case study provided concerns a former detainee who threatens to commit suicide following the first meeting of the ‘relationship skills’ group administered by Amanda. His intended course of action emerges following the decision by five of the female members to exit the group after he reveals his anger towards women. The exit aggravates him to the extent of contemplating taking his life. The situation places Amanda between a hard place and a rock considering that she has to review the possible course of actions and select the most desirable. Despite the existence of a large pool of models, she has a chance to address the issue by applying the ACA’s decision-making model. The rest of this paper contains the outline and the annotated bibliography of the case study provided.

Outline

I. Introduction

According to Figar and Đorđević (2016), the agents at the center of ethical dilemmas find themselves in a hard situation because they have to choose between the available ethical and unethical alternatives.

Thesis: Based on the details provided in the case study, applying ACA’s model could address the existing dilemma and help to attract and retain additional members to the ‘relationship skills’ group administered by Amanda.

II. Studies about ethical dilemma have occurred for a long time.

A. Ethical dilemmas have always existed since the beginning of time, and over the years, researchers and thinkers from different backgrounds have put forth decision-making models deemed effective in lessening the difficulty of selecting the best choice.

B. Even after selecting the ethical alternatives, the agents need to determine the most appropriate type to the existing situation.

III. Several models exists to help in addressing ethical dilemmas.

A. For instance, the American Counseling Association’s (ACA) Decision Making Model consists of seven steps followed when selecting the best ethical alternative.

B. The ACA’s seven-step model is useful in eliminating the dilemmas by providing a series of steps helpful in deciding on the desirable course of action.

C. These steps include problem identification, application of the ACA’s code of ethics, determination of the dimensions and nature of the dilemma, generation of the potential course of action, consideration of the potential consequences of the chosen option, evaluation of the chosen course of action, and implementation of the selected choice (Forester-Miller & Davis, 1995).

IV. Conclusion

A. Applying ACA’s model could address the existing dilemma and help to attract and retain additional members to the ‘relationship skills’ group administered by Amanda.

B. Particularly, the ACA’s seven-step model is useful in eliminating the dilemmas by providing a series of steps helpful in deciding on the desirable course of action.

Annotated Bibliography

Figar, N., & Đorđević, B. (2016). Managing an ethical dilemma. Economic Themes, 54(3), 345-362. Retrieved from http://економске-теме.срб/pdf/et2016en3_02.pdf

In this peer-reviewed journal, Figar and Đorđević (2016) explore how to manage ethical dilemmas in varying situations. The study investigated the importance of ethical dilemmas when making business decisions. The researchers reveal that business ethical dilemma is an interplay of common good, egoism, and altruism. The study established that the people entangled in an ethical dilemma must establish a point of compatibility lest they desire to threaten the existence of the business. Importantly, the authors advise that the approach adopted to address a dilemma must contain procedures with priority and hierarchy needs, which direct the involved parties towards choosing the desirable course of action. The article is relevant to pinnacle management and leadership in business organizations and other people that face ethical dilemma. This is because the recommendations provided apply to all types of ethical dilemmas. Moreover, this article is relevant to the existing ethical dilemma since the group’s founder has to employ a strategy that would eliminate the situation with hardly any hiccups. The strength of this article sits in the intensive use of references and the credential of the authors. Notably, the two authors are Ph.D. holders and thus, experts in their backgrounds. They also borrowed intensively from previous studies and cited the used information appropriately.

Santosuosso, P. (2016). A Ten-Step Model for Solving Ethical Dilemmas. International Journal of Business and Management, 11(12), 30-39. http://dx.doi.org/10.5539/ijbm.v11n12p30

Over the years, researchers have developed models deemed effective in addressing ethical dilemmas. In this article, Santosuosso (2016) explicates a ten-step model effective in solving ethical dilemmas. The author of the article is a Ph.D. holder and a professor of economics at the Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy. His credentials indicate that he is an expert in this area, which strengthens the evidence provided in the article. The paper discusses a ten-step model useful in addressing ethical dilemma by considering ethical values to guide the process. The author reveals that the dictates of the moral obligations determine the type of model adopted by most decision-makers. In this respect, the model describes several situations along with their accompanying moral obligations. Notably, the author indicates that every step of this model has a series of priority and hierarchy rules crucial for deciding the desirable course of action. The information in this article is relevant to any ethical dilemma; thus the author targets all decision-makers in varying settings. The paper provides information about a desirable decision-making model. Therefore, it is relevant to the case scenario provided. The glaring strength of this article is its use of intensive findings from previous studies.

Stockall, N., & Dennis, L. R. (2015). Seven basic steps to solving ethical dilemmas in special education: A decision-making framework. Education and Treatment of Children, 38(3), 329-344. 10.1353/etc.2015.0015

Stockall and Dennis (2015) are both instructors at West Virginia University, and thus, their educational credentials cement the strength of this article. The paper explored a seven-step framework that could be used to address ethical issues arising in special education settings. The authors reveal that special education settings are embroidered in a series of ethical dilemmas that vary in their dynamism. In this light, educators must adopt frameworks with high efficacy to address the existing ethical situations. The article’s content aims to express concern and provide solution to dilemma situations that emerge in critical environments. Therefore, the article is meant for decision-makers who make choices that affect the lives of people with special needs. Since the article explored a seven-step framework to address ethical dilemma, it is relevant to the situation presented in the case study. Additionally, the authors used several studies from the past to strengthen the content of their article, thus providing credibility and reliability of their findings.

Brown, T., Armstrong, S. A., Bore, S., & Simpson, C. (2017). Using an Ethical Decision-Making Model to Address Ethical Dilemmas in School Counseling. Journal of School Counseling, 15(13), 1-30. Retrieved from https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1158281.pdf

The article by Brown, Armstrong, Bore, and Simpson (2017) aimed to explore the decision-making model that can be applied to address the ethical dilemma in school counseling. These authors note that counseling is a crucial process in school environments considering that it helps students to merge their academic and personal lives in ways that do not undermine one aspect. Counseling helps learners achieve the desired outcomes in both dimensions of lives. The content of this article can be applied by counselors in the educational and other settings to address ethical dilemmas. Since the article covers the models used by counselors in educational settings to address ethical dilemmas, this paper finds perfect application in the described scenario in the case study. Moreover, the use of extensive references and appropriate citations strengthen the relevance, credibility, and reliability of the article.

Conclusion

Applying ACA’s model could address the existing dilemma and help to attract and retain additional members to the ‘relationship skills’ group administered by Amanda. Particularly, the ACA’s seven-step model is useful in eliminating the dilemmas by providing a series of steps helpful in deciding on the desirable course of action. These steps include problem identification, application of the ACA’s code of ethics, determination of the dimensions and nature of the dilemma, generation of the potential course of action, consideration of the potential consequences of the chosen option, evaluation of the chosen course of action, and implementation of the selected choice. Therefore, its use could address the dilemma presented in the case study.

References

Brown, T., Armstrong, S. A., Bore, S., & Simpson, C. (2017). Using an Ethical Decision-Making Model to Address Ethical Dilemmas in School Counseling. Journal of School Counseling, 15(13), 1-30. Retrieved from https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1158281.pdf

Figar, N., & Đorđević, B. (2016). Managing an ethical dilemma. Economic Themes, 54(3), 345-362. Retrieved from http://економске-теме.срб/pdf/et2016en3_02.pdf

Forester-Miller, H., & Davis, T. E. (1995). A practitioner's guide to ethical decision making. Alexandria, VA: American Counseling Association.

Logman, H. E. (2016). Ethics education: The implications on ethical dilemmas (Doctoral dissertation, Capella University).

Santosuosso, P. (2016). A ten-step model for solving ethical dilemmas. International Journal of Business and Management, 11(12), 30-39. http://dx.doi.org/10.5539/ijbm.v11n12p30

Stockall, N., & Dennis, L. R. (2015). Seven basic steps to solving ethical dilemmas in special education: A decision-making framework. Education and Treatment of Children, 38(3), 329-344. 10.1353/etc.2015.0015