Scenario 1: Handling a Conflict of Interest
- Objective: To practice making ethical decisions when facing a conflict of interest.
- Instructions for Trainer:
- Present a scenario where an employee discovers that a project they are working on could benefit a family member’s business.
- The participant must decide whether to disclose the conflict and how to proceed ethically.
- Debrief by discussing the ethical considerations and the actions taken by the participant.
Scenario 2: Responding to Pressure to Compromise Ethics
- Objective: To practice standing firm on ethical principles under pressure.
- Instructions for Trainer:
- Present a scenario where a manager is pressured by senior leadership to cut corners to meet a deadline, potentially compromising quality or safety.
- The participant must decide how to respond to the pressure while maintaining ethical standards.
- Debrief by analyzing the ethical challenges and the participant’s response.
Scenario 3: Managing Confidential Information
- Objective: To handle ethical dilemmas involving confidentiality.
- Instructions for Trainer:
- Present a scenario where an employee accidentally learns confidential information that could harm the company if leaked.
- The participant must decide how to handle the situation, balancing ethical considerations with professional responsibilities.
- Debrief by discussing the importance of confidentiality and the ethical implications of the participant’s decisions.
Ethical Decision-Making Role Play
Scenario: Facing an Ethical Dilemma
- Participants: Employee, Manager
- Objective: The Employee must make a decision when faced with an ethical dilemma and discuss the situation with the Manager.
Situation: The employee discovers that a colleague is manipulating sales data to meet targets. The employee must decide whether to report the issue or stay silent, considering the potential consequences for themselves and the team.
Instructions for the Employee:
- Consider the ethical implications of the situation.
- Weigh the potential risks and benefits of reporting the issue.
- Decide whether to report the issue to the manager or handle it another way.
- If reporting, explain the situation to the manager and seek their advice.
Instructions for the Manager:
- Listen to the employee’s concerns and understand the ethical dilemma.
- Discuss the company’s ethical standards and policies.
- Offer guidance on how to proceed while protecting the employee and addressing the issue.
- Consider the broader impact on the team and the company.
Debrief:
- Discuss the employee’s decision-making process and the ethical considerations involved.
- Reflect on how the manager handled the situation and provided guidance.
- Analyze the potential outcomes of different decisions and how they align with ethical standards.
Ethical Decision-Making Role Play
Scenario 1: Handling a Conflict of Interest
Issue/Problem: David, a project manager, discovers that his brother’s company is bidding on a contract for a project he is overseeing. This creates a potential conflict of interest.
Objective: David must decide whether to disclose the conflict and how to handle the situation ethically.
Conversation:
David: “I wanted to talk to you about something that’s been on my mind. My brother’s company is one of the bidders for the project I’m managing, and I’m concerned about a potential conflict of interest.”
Ethics Officer: “Thanks for bringing this up, David. It’s important that we handle this situation transparently. Have you had any involvement in his company’s bid so far?”
David: “No, I’ve kept my distance, but I’m worried that my involvement in the project could be seen as biased, even if I’m impartial.”
Ethics Officer: “You’re right to be concerned. The best course of action is to disclose the relationship to the selection committee and recuse yourself from any decision-making related to the bidding process. This will ensure that everything is above board and there’s no perceived bias.”
David: “That makes sense. I’ll prepare a statement disclosing the conflict and step back from the selection process.”
Ethics Officer: “I’ll help you with the disclosure and make sure it’s documented properly. It’s great that you’ve come forward with this—it shows a strong commitment to ethical conduct.”
David: “Thanks. I want to make sure everything is done right.”
Objective Reached: David successfully identified and disclosed the conflict of interest, ensuring that the situation was handled ethically and transparently.
