. Guidelines for Facilitating Solutions

Applied Ethics Case of the Month Club

National Institute for Engineering Ethics

Guidelines for Facilitating Solutions to Ethical Dilemmas in Professional Practice

Step 1:

 Determine the facts in the situation - obtain all of the unbiased facts possible

 Step 2:

 Define the Stakeholders - those with a vested interest in the outcome

 Step 3:

 Assess the motivations of the Stakeholders - using effective communication techniques and personality assessment

 Step 4:

 Formulate alternative solutions - based on most complete information available, using basic ethical core values as guide

 Step 5:

 Evaluate proposed alternatives - short-list ethical solutions only; may be a potential choice between/among two or more totally ethical solutions

 Step 6:

 Seek additional assistance, as appropriate - engineering codes of ethics, previous cases, peers, reliance on personal experience, prayer

 Step 7:

 Select the best course of action - that which satisfies the highest core ethical values

 Step 8:

 Implement the selected solution - take action as warranted

 Step 9:

 Monitor and assess the outcome - note how to improve the next time

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