The idea of examining options through legality, fairness, and alignment with values applies strongly to internship and career-related decisions I’ve had to make lately. When networking or interviewing, there can be pressure to oversell certain experiences or blur details to stand out amongst candidates. But I’ve learned that long-term credibility matters more than short-term gain. Being authentic aligns with my values and avoids ethical gray areas. Similarly, in group projects, it can be tempting to let someone under-perform without confrontation to avoid awkwardness, but fairness matters. This step-by-step ethical lens reminds me why staying consistent with my values matters even when shortcuts seem easier or convenient.

This connects to leadership frameworks like values-based leadership and ethical climates from OB. Those models stress that values guide decisions more than rules alone. It also echoes Aristotle’s virtue ethics idea, that ethical behavior builds habits that shape character. The UCSD article reaffirms that by giving clear, actionable steps rather than abstract philosophy.

In the business world, this model is visible in ESG frameworks and corporate governance. Companies must not only follow the law but also act fairly and maintain trust. For instance, tech companies evaluating AI ethics, like Salesforce, use similar guiding questions to balance innovation and responsibility. If more organizations applied these structured ethical steps, scandals like Theranos or FTX might have been avoided. The path UCSD outlines is realistic for everyday decisions but also scales up to major corporate and public-sector ethics challenges.

University of California San Diego. “A 7-Step Path for Ethical Decision-Making.” UCSD Blink, Ethics Awareness. “Evaluate the options by asking whether they are legal, fair, and aligned with your values and organizational policies.”