While reading “Frameworks for Ethical Analysis” by the Science Learning Hub, I learned that there are 4 ethical frameworks commonly used to make judgements. These include rights and responsibilities, consequentialism, autonomy, and virtue ethics. Reading these made me realize that I usually result in using virtue ethics. When I am stuck in between two choices, I think of what I should do based on what society deems as good. For example, at work when I have to decide whether or not to help a co-worker even if it leaves me behind on my own work. Typically, I think of what is the “good” thing. 

This article reminds me of the business ethics blogs we were reading for this chapter. These blogs were full of authors sharing their opinions boldly despite what others may think. Relating this to consequentialism, I think that the article focused on the effects of bad ethical decisions and the harm they would/have caused.  

In real events, we see consequences to decisions made. Every business must make decisions that can affect the way their consumers feel. This reminds me of Ben and Jerry’s, the ice cream brand, in recent years and how they have spoken up about their political standpoints. This caused their sales to increase and decrease per statement released. Some people believe it’s best not to speak on ethical debates because of this reason. Ethical decisions are never cut and dry and the consequences always seem to be vast. 
Frameworks for ethical analysis. Science Learning Hub. (n.d.). https://www.sciencelearn.org.nz/resources/2146-frameworks-for-ethical-analysis

While reading the article “Thinking Ethically” by the Santa Clara Markkula Center, I learned the five approaches to dealing with moral issues. These include the Utilitarian, Rights, Fairness or Justice, Common-Good, and Virtue Approaches. These approaches can help decide how to solve moral dilemmas by using what values are important to you. 

The Common-Good approach reminds me of group projects I used to be a part of. In highschool, I used this approach the most often as I felt I should think of the whole group in every decision I made. This caused me to act selflessly, sometimes sacrificing my potential gain. I have used all of these approaches in life, this is just one example. 

These approaches reminded me of a book I read called 1984 by George Orwell. In this book, the government controlled everything and everything was being watched. The book consisted of people who thought they were better than everyone else. This specifically ties into the virtue approach because in the book they valued different virtues to alter everyone’s thinking. These virtues changed the way people dealt with balmoral dilemmas. 

This framework of approaches can be applied to the world and its many controversies. There are many ethical debates that focus on these many approaches to help come to a conclusion. For example, AI has been a heated debate for years. This debate follows the ethical problem solving questions mentioned in the article. What are the benefits and harms? These methods of solving ethical problems allow us to consider all details. 

Velasquez, Manuel, Claire Andre, Thomas Shanks, S.J., and Michael J. Meyer. “Thinking Ethically: A Framework for Moral Decision Making.” Markkula Center for Applied Ethics, Santa Clara University, 2021, https://www.scu.edu/ethics/ethics-resources/ethical-decision-making/thinking-ethically/

While reading “40 years of storming: a historical view of Tuckman’s model of small group development”, I learned about the four step process. This step process is used in decision making and can help show the process in making a decision. The four steps include forming, storming, norming, and performing. During the forming step, you identify the problem. During the second step, the problem is discussed and usually disagreements occur. Throughout these disagreements, teams talk to each other. The norming stage allows for these disagreements to come to compromise. A decision is made and they make a plan for execution. In the final stage, they see the effects of the solution when it is executed. 

This reminds me of another article I read in my Thriving in Interdisciplinary Studies workshop. It showed a step process for making a decision just like this. Unlike this one, it had about 8 steps to making an informed decision. 

This article relates to my personal life as I use processes like this to make decisions in real life. I used something similar to make my decision on what college to choose. These processes help guide decisions more thoroughly. I can relate this to the world as decisions are made everyday especially in businesses and can have lasting effects. People should use these 4 steps to calculate a proper decision. 

Natvig, D., & Stark, N. L. (2016). A project team analysis using Tuckman’s model of small-group development.

While reading “How to link personal values with team values”, I saw the importance of how values affect businesses. Each different core value affects the behavior of an individual which in turn affects how businesses make decisions. CEO of Levi Strauss, Robert Haas, states in an interview that the soft stuff (values) is just as important as the hard stuff (strategies/logic). This reminds me of my past working experiences. I used to think that working was all about the work. I would go in and not talk, be silent and then leave. Slowly, I learned that it was just as important to create a work environment that supports my values. Without this, it is miserable and doesn’t work correctly. For example, I value honesty and kindness so it was important for me  to work for  a business that shared those values. 

This article is similar to one I recently read in SLC 250. It was about how our values affect decision making. “How to link personal values with team values” mentioned how a team decided on a set of values to make company decisions. This relates to the other article because it showed how much our values affect decisions, even when we don’t realize it. 

In the world, recently I have seen many news stories on ethical business practices. This is relevant as these ethical decisions being made are influenced by core values of companies. “Exploring individual and team values is a critical foundation for major organizational change” (Scott 7). In order to create better business practices, new ethical decisions have to be made by establishing common values. 

Scott, Cynthia, and Dennis Jaffe. “How to Link Personal Values with Team Values.” SlideShare, Slideshare, www.slideshare.net/cynthiascott/how-tolinkvalues-article. Accessed 09 Sept. 2025.

After reading “Why Ethical People Make Unethical Choices” by Ron Carucci, I am intrigued. The idea of business leaders who made unethical choices being good people seemed unlikely. This article reminded me of my first job. I worked at a restaurant when I was 16, for the first time. I had no idea what to expect but I was hopeful. Quickly, I began to notice the pressure of keeping the customers happy. The managers were feared by the staff so it made it impossible to admit to mistakes. They were bias to certain workers and didn’t properly to their jobs. Reading this article, led me to reflect on how their unethical choices effected the team. 

This article reminds me of another article we read this week by the Huffpost about values. To summarize this article, it mentions how leading with values maintains a positive work culture. By maintaining proper values, unethical choices can be prevented. This article differs because it doesnt show examples of corrupted values, like we are reading about.

This text applies to many real world situations. There are many seemingly normal people who make unethical decisions in a moment of stress. Some leaders create toxic environments that lead to extreme pressure. According to the article ”Why Ethical People Make Unethical Choices”, “…unfettered goal setting can encourage people to make compromising choices in order to reach targets, especially if those targets seem unrealistic” (Carrucci, p. 3). Like in the Wells Fargo disaster, mentioned in the article, the company lost millions of dollars because employees felt immense pressure to open fake accounts. This is just one example, at a larger scale, of instances that happen daily. 

Carucci, R. (2016, December 16). Why Ethical People Make Unethical Choices. Harvard Business Review. https://hbr.org/2016/12/why-ethical-people-make-unethical-choices