Ethical Principles

Applied to Sport Management

Chapter 6

Introduction: Ethics• Ethics: The systematic study of the values guiding

our decision making– Ethics reflect how we believe people should

behave and how we want the world to operate.• Ethical Reasoning:

– The process of making a correct and fair decision– Depends on our values or the values of the

organizations for which we work

Ethical Dilemma vs Decision Making• Ethical Dilemma:

– Practical conflict involving equally compelling values or social obligations

– Solved when we articulate which commonly held values we admire most

• Ethical Decision Making:– Requires consideration of how actions will affect

other groups and individuals

Morality vs Morals• Morality:

– Concerned with values that guide behavior– The list of those actions people ought to do or

refrain from doing• Morals:

– Fundamental baseline values that dictate appropriate behavior within a society

Ethical Considerations• Decisions that affect diverse groups of people with

conflicting interests (e.g., athletes, fans, media, community, businesses)

• Sport managers face ethical dilemmas on daily basis.

• Sport managers’ decisions about ethical dilemmas tend to fall under greater public scrutiny than managers in other industries.

• Ethical analysis involves a systematic process of reasoning: – Weighing pros/cons of two or more seemingly

valid choices that reflect equally cherished values

Ethical Decision Making Process(Hums and MacLean, 2013)

1. Identify the correct problem to be solved.

2. Gather all the pertinent information.

3. Explore codes of conduct relevant to your profession or to this particular dilemma.

4. Examine your own personal values and beliefs.

5. Consult with your peers or other individuals in the industry who may have experience in similar situations.

Ethical Decision Making Process (cont.)

(Hums and MacLean, 2013)

6. List your options.

7. Look for a “win-win” situation if at all possible.

8. Ask yourself this question: “How would my family feel if my decision and how I arrived at my decision appeared on the Internet tomorrow?”

9. Sleep on it. Do not rush to a decision.

10.Make your best decision, knowing it may not be perfect.

11.Evaluate your decision.

Ethical Considerations: Codes of Conduct• Code of Conduct:

– Most visible statement of ethical philosophy and beliefs of an organization

– Need exists for establishing solid ethical climates in corporations

– Code of conduct outlines and explains the principles under which an organization or profession operates.

– Codes of conduct should be clear and straightforward and encourage employees to understand the goals they are trying to accomplish.

Ethical Considerations: Codes of Conduct (cont.)

• How do you create an effective code of conduct?– Codes need to avoid being too vague (DeSensi & Rosenberg, 1996)

– Codes should be based on a few overriding principles that can be used to deal with a variety of ethical dilemmas faced by members of the organization (Fraliegh, 1993)

– Codes should clearly state to whom they apply. If codes are to be influential, leadership and membership within the organization must accept and be willing to adhere to the prescribed standards.

– Codes should contain consequences for violations (DeSensi &

Rosenberg, 1996)

Ethical Considerations: Morality• Some ethical dilemmas are about choosing between

right and wrong or two opposing choices.

• Social practices depend on people upholding certain baseline values.

• Morals are seen as coming from higher order or common sense.

• Many moral values in society are codified in laws, but moral behavior cannot always be legislated and people cannot be forced to act morally.

Ethical Considerations: Morality in the Workplace

• Absolutism: Moral precepts are universal; applicable to all circumstances

• Relativism: What is moral depends on the situation• Commercial moral rules: Rules of the marketplace

guide activities such as sales and marketing• Noncommercial moral rules: Occupations demand

loyalty to an oath of office or professional standards to guard against selling out

Ethical Considerations: Morality and Multiple Roles

• Specific jobs in sports do not reside completely in either the commercial or the noncommercial sphere.

• Process of making a moral choice, of deciding what is right and wrong, involves understanding the parameters of acceptable behavior in the context of one’s multiple roles in society.

Ethical Considerations: Morality and Corruption

• Immoral behavior violates our basic assumptions and corrupts our social institutions.

• An immoral decision can lead to systemic corruption that can destroy a sport enterprise.

• Corruption usually occurs when people hop from one set of moral precepts to another.

• One feature of corruption is that it is systemic.

• Examples: PED use in cycling and MLB

Ethical Considerations: Moral Reasoning and Work

• Contemporary society is characterized by innovation, which continually presents new ethical dilemmas.

• Periodically need to assess whether our current practices are in keeping with values that underlie a just society

• Moral and ethical principles evolve over time.

Key Skills: Ensuring Morality in the Workplace

• Rules designed to protect integrity of sports operate uncomfortably alongside business structure underwriting sports.

• Organizations can help individuals make moral choices by establishing standards, encouraging self-examinations, providing support structures, and enforcing codes.

Key Skills: Self-Examination

• An effective tool to remind people of ethical actions and express institutional concern for ethical issues

• Ask employees to think about hypothetical ethical dilemmas.

• Accreditation programs (NCAA)

Key Skills: Forum for Moral Discourse• Communication is critical to

decreasing corruption and resolving ethical dilemmas.

• Employees should be encouraged to get together to discuss where and how they face specific problems.

• The process takes pressure off individuals and clarifies issues at stake.

• Decisions should be reviewed only after they have been made.

Key Skills: Consequences

• Employees need to know there are consequences for immoral behavior.

• If people understand that corruption comes with certain risks, they are less likely to engage in immoral acts.

• Discipline must meet two criteria. It must be:1. Meaningful2. Enforceable

Summary• Sport managers need to be aware of the importance

of morality and ethics in the sport workplace.

• Their daily decisions affect many people, ranging from athletes to team owners to fans.

• Incorporating codes of ethics, self-examinations, forums for moral disclosure, and statements of consequences for ethical violations helps ensure that sport managers and employees make the “right” decisions.