GE7-Ethics Module-7

Course Code GE7
Description Ethics
Pre-Requisites
Department: Week 9
General Education Module No. 8

TOPIC
The 7-step Guide in Moral Decision Making
LEARNING OUTCOMES
At the end of this module, the student will be able to:

1. Check real life cases against the 7-step model.
2. Identify the use of reason and impartiality against the 7-step model.
INTRODUCTION
In this module, students will be provided with guiding principles, and trails to help guide ethical
decision-making.
Ethical reasoning is a way of thinking about matters of right and wrong.
The 7-step guide is essential in making an ethical decision.
Students will be provided with reading materials, links and online lectures for them to further
understand the subject matter.
Quiz and recitation will be given to assess the students.
Discussion will also very helpful in assessing the students understanding with the topic. Exchanging
inputs among students is another effective way to weigh if they met the objective of studying
various topic.
COURSE CONTENT
A 7-STep Guide to Ethical Decision-Making

1. State the problem.
o For example, "there's something about this decision that makes me uncomfortable" or
"do I have a conflict of interest?"
2. Check the facts.
o Many problems disappear upon closer examination of the situation, while others
change radically.
o For example, persons involved, laws, professional codes, other practical constraints
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3. Identify relevant factors (internal and external).
4. Develop a list of options.
o Be imaginative, try to avoid "dilemma"; not "yes" or" no" but whom to go to, what to
say.
5. Test the options. Use some of the following tests:
o Harm test: Does this option do less harm than the alternatives?
o Publicity test: Would I want my choice of this option published in the newspaper?
o Defensibility test: Could I defend my choice of this option before a congressional
committee or committee of peers?
o Reversibility test: Would I still think this option was a good choice if I were adversely
affected by it?
o Colleague test: What do my colleagues say when I describe my problem and suggest
this option as my solution?
o Professional test: What might my profession's governing body for ethics say about this
option?
o Organization test: What does my company's ethics officer or legal counsel say about
this?
6. Make a choice based on steps 1-5.
7. Review steps 1-6. How can you reduce the likelihood that you will need to make a similar
decision again?
o Are there any cautions you can take as an individual (and announce your policy on
question, job change, etc.)?
o Is there any way to have more support next time?
o Is there any way to change the organization (for example, suggest policy change at
next departmental meeting)?
Additional Approaches to Ethical Decision Making

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Ethical Decision-Making Model based on work by Shaun Taylor.
Shaun Taylor's presentation: Geoethics Forums (PowerPoint 2007 (.pptx) 380kB Jun11 14), given at
the 2014 Teaching GeoEthics workshop, provided a simple model to help students engage Ethical
Decision-Making that includes a) the context/facts of the situation, b) the stakeholders, c) the
decision-makers, d) these inform a number of alternate choices, e) that are mediated through the
evaluation of impacts and negotiations among the parties, that lead to f) selection of an optimal
choice. Taylor provides guidance for what makes a good ethical dilemma discussion, including:
o Trust, respect, disagreement without personal attacks
o Being judgmental vs. making a judgment
o Emphasize process vs. conclusion
o Uncertainty is OK
o Description then prescription
FOCUS QUESTIONS
1. How to solve a case using the 7 step model?
LEARNING ACTIVITIES
A. Class Discussion
The instructor will discuss given topics in order for the students to get a clear picture of the
subject matter.
B. Individual Activity. Students will be given a case and use the 7 step model to solve the case
given orally.
C. Additional Learning Activities.

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Students will be given links where additional inputs are available.
LMS will also be available for students to access.
ASSESSMENT
Short Quiz
Direction: Visit the LMS and answer Quiz no.7 of Week No. 9
Instructions will be provided.
Recitation:
Students will be required to solve a case using the 7 step model.
Home work:
Students will be given homework to improve their understanding of the topic.
ASSIGNMENT
Assignment No. 7
Answer the following questions:
1. What is Mental Frames?

2. What is moral decision?
RELATED READINGS / REFERENCES
READINGS/CITATION:
• Teaching Geoethics ,Across the Geoscience Curriculum

• Seven-step guide to ethical decision-making (Davis, M. (1999) Ethics and the university,
New York: Routledge, p. 166-167.
• O'Fallon, M.J., and Butterfield, K.D., 2005, A Review of the Empirical Ethical Decision-
Making Literature: 1996-2003, Journal of Business Ethics vol 59 #4, p. 375-413;
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-005-2929-7
• Robert C. Ford and Woodrow D. Richardson (2013) Ethical Decision Making: A Review
of the Empirical Literature, In: Michalos A., Poff D. (eds) Citation Classics from the
Journal of Business Ethics. Advances in Business Ethics Research (A Journal of Business
Ethics Book Series), vol 2. Springer, Dordrecht
• Cottone, R. R. and Claus, R. E. (2000), Ethical Decisionâ€Making Models: A Review of
the Literature. Journal of Counseling & Development, 78: 275-283. doi:10.1002/j.1556-
6676.2000.tb01908.x
Prepared by: Noted by:
Cherry Ann B. Fernandez Rito A. Camigla Jr., EdD.

Faculty VP for Academic & Student Affairs

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PLAGIARISM DECLARATION
I hereby certify that the module GE7-Ethics submitted to Trimex Colleges is

entirely my original work, except where otherwise indicated. I am aware of the College's
rules on plagiarism, including those on disciplinary action that may result from
plagiarism. Any use, in any form whatsoever, of the works of any other author shall be
properly recognized and cited at their point of use.
Signature :
Author’s Name : CHERRY ANN B. FERNANDEZ

Faculty
Date of submission : July 22, 2020

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Course Code GE7

General Education Module No. 8

The 7-step Guide in Moral Decision Making

At the end of this module, the student will be able to:

Ethical reasoning is a way of thinking about matters of right and wrong.

The 7-step guide is essential in making an ethical decision.

Quiz and recitation will be given to assess the students.

A 7-STep Guide to Ethical Decision-Making

Trimex Colleges © 2020. All rights reserved.

Trimex Colleges © 2020. All rights reserved.

1. How to solve a case using the 7 step model?

C. Additional Learning Activities.

Trimex Colleges © 2020. All rights reserved.

1. What is Mental Frames?

RELATED READINGS / REFERENCES

• Teaching Geoethics ,Across the Geoscience Curriculum

Prepared by: Noted by:

Cherry Ann B. Fernandez Rito A. Camigla Jr., EdD.

Trimex Colleges © 2020. All rights reserved.

I hereby certify that the module GE7-Ethics submitted to Trimex Colleges is

Author’s Name : CHERRY ANN B. FERNANDEZ

Date of submission : July 22, 2020

Trimex Colleges © 2020. All rights reserved.

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