Ethical Dilemma

Contents1.Ethical Dilemma introduction (2)2.Ethical Dilemma constituents (2)3.Ethical Dilemma experience in the workplace (3)4.Consequentialist vs Non-consequentialist (4)5.Ethical Solution (5)6.Conclusion (6)Reference: (6)Ethical Dilemmas1.Ethical Dilemma introductionAn ethical dilemma is a situation wherein moral precepts or ethical obligations conflict in such a way that any possible resolution to the dilemma is morally intolerable.In other words,an ethical dilemma is any situation in which guiding moral principles cannot determine which course of action is right or wrong.An ethical dilemma is one in which a person has to choose between two options,both of which are morally correct but in conflict.Ethics and morals are inseparable.They both deal with questions of right and wrong.What constitutes ethical behaviour is determined by societal or cultural norms.What constitutes moral behaviour is up to the individual to decide based on his own sense of right and wrong.There are three conditions that must be present for a situation to be considered an ethical dilemma.The first condition occurs in situations when an individual,called the“agent,”must make a decision about which course of action is best.Situations that are uncomfortable but that don’t require a choice, are not ethical dilemmas.The second condition for ethical dilemma is that there must be different courses of action to choose from.Third,in an ethical dilemma,no matter what course of action is taken,some ethical principle is compromised.In other words,there is no perfect solution.2.Ethical Dilemma constituentsIn determining what constitutes an ethical dilemma,it is necessary to make a distinction between ethics,values,morals,and laws and policies.Ethics are prepositional statements(standards)that are used by members of a profession or group to determine what the right course of action in a situation is.Ethics rely on logical and rational criteria to reach a decision,an essentially cognitive process(Dolgoff,Loewenberg,&Harrington,2009).To valuesomething means that we hold it dear and feel it has worth to us.Often, values are ideas that we aspire to achieve,like equality and social justice. Morals describe a behavioural code of conduct to which an individual ascribes. They are used to negotiate,support,and strengthen our relationships with others(Dolgoff,Loewenberg,&Harrington,2009).Finally,laws and agency policies are often involved in complex cases,and social workers are often legally obligated to take a particular course of action. Although our profession ultimately recognizes the rule of law,we are also obligated to work to change unfair and discriminatory laws.It is also essential that the distinction be made between personal and professional ethics and values(Congress,1999).Conflicts between personal and professional values should not be considered ethical dilemmas for a number of reasons.Because values involve feelings and are personal,the rational process used for resolving ethical dilemmas cannot be applied to values conflicts.Further,when an individual elects to become a member of a profession,he or she is agreeing to comply with the standards of the profession.Recent court cases have supported a profession’s right to expect its members to adhere to professional values and ethics.Therefore,although they can be difficult and uncomfortable,conflicts involving personal values should not be considered ethical dilemmas.3.Ethical Dilemma experience in the workplaceMy currently service company ATS is Singapore’s major traffic engineering specialist contractor,providing customized traffic control products and specialist services.Normally in our company,all of the engineering installation works have been outsourced to our wholly-owned sub-com KSL Engineering which is operated by our boss’s young brother.According to the previously projects experience,the majority of project managers are not satisfied with KSL’s work efficiency.But our boss’s opinion is:KSL has about hundred foreign workers from India,Bangladesh and China;most of the foreign workers have been worked for us more than10years,so we have to try our best to create the job for them.Last year,our team manager got one new project to design and install the traffic light at Changi Airport T3Carpark.This is a big and high efficiency requirement project.I am the job coordinator.My manager instructed me to arrange the installation works with KSL manager to make sure the job process in high efficiency,if not,I could find out other sub-contractor to take this job but how to communicate with the boss that is my duty.How to make a good decision for the project that was a dilemma job for me.If I continue to outsource this important project to KSL sub-com,which was a challenge for me to make sure the job complete in high efficiency.KSL sub-com engineering work team group up by different nationalities,different race, different culture background and different languages workers,so how to communicate smooth during the work time to improve the work efficiency which is the big issue in KSL sub-com so far.But,the manager boss’s young brother doesn’t treat it as a big issue.If I outsource the work to other new engineering sub-com,the most of the KSL workers will lose their job,and which means I will depart from the boss’s opinion to try our best to create the job for all workers.At the same time,study from my own experience that can realise two different ethical theory between my manager and my boss,which are consequentialist and non-consequentialist.4.Consequentialist vs Non-consequentialistA consequentialist theory judges the rightness or wrongness of an action based on the consequences that action has.The most familiar example would be utilitarianism that action is best that produces the greatest good for the greatest number.In my experience case,my manager’s goal is to pursue the good consequences of the project processing in high efficiency.He didn’t care whether outsource the installation work to KSL or other sub-contractor.In other words,what I made the decision is right or wrong justified by the work outcome.A non-consequentialist theory of value judges the rightness or wrongness of an action based on properties intrinsic to the action,not on its consequences. As for instance,people should be free to do as they like as long as they respect the freedom of others to do the same.In comparison with company business profit maximization,my boss prefers to do his best to keep the job chances for his employees.He had said our company is a big family,he hopes every individual family of all the employees will get better.That also is one reason of most of the employees has been serviced here more than ten years,and even same age as the company founded.Generally undervalue outcomes and regardless consequences are the non-consequentialist ethical duties.He has been doing it. Consequentialist theories are those in which a judgment of the overall goodness or badness of the consequences completely decides the question of the rightness or wrongness of the act.All other theories are non-consequentialist.The difference can make a real difference in moral appraisals of acts,and therefore in legal outcomes insofar as they may be fashioned to track moral appraisals.For example,a politician gives money to the poor in order to gain votes.A consequentialist would say that this is a good deed,no matter that he only did this for his own good.A non-consequentialist would say that this is not a moral deed at all,because there was no ethic intention.Generally consequentialists focus more on deeds:are deeds good or bad.Non-consequentialists focus more on character:is someone a good person or not.5.Ethical SolutionBase on my work environment and my boss’s viewpoint,I have to take the risk to outsource the project work to KSL sub-com.At the same time of creating the job for KSL workers,I need challenge to the project result in high efficiency.I have made work procedure and schedule in details to meeting with the KSL team supervisors every schedule day to make sure the job process in smooth and efficiency.6.ConclusionUnfortunately,there is no perfect method for dealing with ethical dilemmas. Regardless of the choice,we will need to face and accept the consequences of our actions.However,there are two ways to look at your situation to help you come to a decision:The first way is to evaluate the potential actions you can take and then pick the course that is least morally problematic.The second involves analyzing the potential outcomes of your actions and selecting the course of action with the most benefits or least harm.Reference:Dolgoff,R.,Lowenberg,F.M.,&Harrington,D.(2009).Ethical decisions for social work practice(8th Ed.).Belmont,CA:Brooks/Cole. Congress,E.P.(1999).Social work values and ethics:Identifying and resolving professional dilemmas.Belmont,CA:Wadsworth Group/Thompson Learning.。