Apply concepts learned in Rushworth Kidder's reading on right vs. right dilemmas to your own personal ethical dilemma.
Materials: All Module 1 Materials
Tasks:
Part 1:
Rushworth Kidder talks about genuine ethical dilemmas as tough choices in which individuals face right vs. right situations (as opposed to right vs. wrong situations). He goes on to argue that most ethical dilemmas fit one of four possible patterns identified in Ch. 1 by Rushworth Kidder. Describe a personal example of a 'right vs. right' ethical dilemma you have faced in the past. Answer the questions in the following order. All answers must be in complete sentences.
Describe the right vs. right ethical dilemma you faced.
Which type of right vs. right dilemma is this based on Kidder's reading? Explain why. (Truth vs. Loyalty, Individual vs. Community, Short term vs. Long term, or Justice vs. Mercy [another way to describe mercy is compassion])
What were the moral considerations behind the choices you were faced with? (This includes reviewing all of the facts and identifying all moral dilemmas for all parties involved).
What was the outcome of your ethical dilemma? In other words, what did you do?
What was the reasoning behind your choice?
Part 2:
Consider the following dilemma: You are a police officer patrolling late at night and see a car weaving back and forth across lanes of traffic. You easily suspect either DUI or some form of distracted driving so you turn on your siren and lights and the car pulls over. Before you approach the car, the driver stumbles out of the car, obviously intoxicated. There is no question that the driver meets the legal definition of intoxication. The driver also happens to be your favorite person (e.g. mother, father, sibling, cousin, best friend, grandma, grandpa, coach, teacher, etc.).
Imagine the same scenario and the person is a complete stranger. What would you do and why?
Full Answer Section
The ethical dilemma I faced fit the individual vs. community pattern. I was torn between my loyalty to the team member and my responsibility to the team and the project as a whole.
Moral Considerations
The moral considerations behind the choices I was faced with included:
- Loyalty: I owed the team member loyalty as a colleague and a friend. I also wanted to help them succeed.
- Teamwork: I had a responsibility to the other team members to ensure that the project was successful.
- Project success: The project was important to the company and to our clients. I had a responsibility to do everything I could to ensure its success.
Outcome
I decided to speak to the team member about their performance. I explained that I was concerned about how their work was impacting the project and the other team members. I also offered to help them in any way that I could.
The team member was receptive to my feedback and agreed to make an effort to improve their performance. They also asked for my help in some areas. I was happy to provide assistance, and the team member's performance did improve over time.
Reasoning Behind My Choice
I chose to speak to the team member because I believed it was the best way to address the situation. I wanted to help them succeed, but I also needed to ensure that the project was successful. By speaking to them directly, I was able to address their performance issues and offer my support.
Conclusion
I am glad that I was able to resolve this ethical dilemma in a way that was beneficial to both the team member and the team as a whole. I learned a lot from this experience about the importance of communication and teamwork. I also learned that it is important to weigh the different moral considerations involved in ethical dilemmas before making a decision.
Sample Answer
In the past, I faced a right vs. right ethical dilemma when I was working on a project with a team member who was struggling. The team member was not meeting deadlines and was making careless mistakes. I was concerned about the impact this was having on the project and on the other team members.
Kidder's Four Types of Right vs. Right Dilemmas
Kidder identifies four types of right vs. right dilemmas:
- Truth vs. loyalty
- Individual vs. community
- Short-term vs. long-term
- Justice vs. mercy