An HFMA Leadership+ tool (hfma.org/leadership)
Tool: A Practical Ethical Decision-Making Model Based on Kantian Philosophy
Autonomy Section
START HERE
by asking
yourself the
question below:
Question Section
Each person should
consider the following
three questions:
Yes
Proceed to
decision making
Am I acting from
the basis of
reason alone?
Can I rule out:
a.) political
influence
b.) monetary
influence
c.) pure selfinterest
Individual Decision
Group Consensus
Decision
Defer decision
to another
No, I am
manager or use
subjective group consensus
decision making
Could I (we)
obligate everyone
else who is ever in
a similar situation
to do the same thing
I am about to do (we
are about to do)?
Would I (we) accept
this decision if I
(we) were on the
receiving end?
Have I (we) faced a
similar ethical
issue before?
(con’t.)
Tool: A Practical Ethical Decision-Making Model Based on Kantian Philosophy (continued)
Ethical Consideration Triangle
Consider each point of the
triangle with each group inside
of the triangle
Communication
Communication with
groups in the
triangle
End Result
of using
model
DUTY
Am I doing
the right thing?
Self
Publics
Society
Stakeholders
Organization
INTENTION
Am I
proceeding
with a morally
good will?
DIGNITY
and RESPECT
Are dignity and
respect maintained?
Communicate
Considerations
(i.e., two-way
communication with
publics; do formal
and informal
research; inspire
change in
organization and
publics, mutual
understanding, and
relationship
maintenance)
Ethical
Result
Issues
Management
Source: Bowen, S.A., “A Practical Model for Ethical Decision Making in Issues Management and Public Relations,” Journal of
Public Relations Research, 2005, vol. 17, no. 3, pp. 191-216. Used with permission.