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Decision Making and Ethics

In: Organization, Society and Politics

Author

Listed:
  • Kevin Morrell

    (University of Warwick)

Abstract

The study of decision making has multiple implications for ‘business ethics’. There are some problems with this term, partly expressed in the tired, but largely true joke that business ethics is an oxymoron. Also, a lot of organizations are not businesses. Since it is used broadly within the field (to include public sector organizations for instance), and because the term is familiar, it is used in this chapter. The chapter begins with an outline of some commonly used frameworks for understanding choice in organizations and in society. It characterizes the dominant model for decision making in organizations as rational choice theory (RCT) and contrasts this with the naturalistic theory of decision making, image theory. The implications of using RCT and image theory to model decision making are discussed with reference to three ethical systems. RCT is shown to be consistent with Utilitarian ethics, but not with Kantian or Virtue-based ethics. Image theory is shown to be consistent with each. The chapter identifies a number of implications following from this analysis.

Suggested Citation

  • Kevin Morrell, 2012. "Decision Making and Ethics," Palgrave Macmillan Books, in: Organization, Society and Politics, chapter 8, pages 109-127, Palgrave Macmillan.
    • Handle: RePEc:pal:palchp:978-1-137-02688-0_9
    DOI: 10.1057/9781137026880_9
    as

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