Every once in a while, almost every person is faced with complex and confusing decision-making situations where they would have to choose between two alternatives. It is often that both of these alternatives would have a significant impact on the society or environment around him. This is why most people get confused about finding and choosing the correct alternative.

This dilemma of confusion between two alternatives when the person has to decide between two alternatives that are morally right, but conflict with the ethical boundaries of a business, law, or government agency is known as an ethical dilemma. There are several different types of dilemma definition — StoryboardThat has them all covered in great detail with examples. Knowing these definitions will help address the dilemma you’re dealing with.

As we all know, the true success of the business does not lie in its profits and good-quality products but instead lies at the core of its business which is ethics. Hence, this article is aimed at helping people in the process of how to approach an ethically right alternative so that they can solve ethical dilemmas at their workplace and in businesses.

The RIGHT decision method

In every ethically difficult situation, there is always a right way to make decisions. The method that will be discussed below is based on the belief that all humans have a dignified ability to choose whatever they want to do with their lives without the interjection of another human being. This dignified ability to make decisions helps humans to make ethical decisions and solve ethical dilemmas. 

The name of the method is RIGHT. It is an acronym based on the steps used in the decision-making process.

R: Recognizing the ethical dilemma

The first step is to clearly understand and state the ethical dilemma that you or your business is going through. It is very important to be clear about the nature of the dilemma. This can begin with the process or an option that can make you or the leader uncomfortable. 

If the process or the option makes you have an uneasy feeling, then it’s crucial to analyze the points related to that alternative, as this queasy feeling is often the first warning sign of an ethical dilemma.

I: Identifying the viewpoints

In order to make an informed decision, you will need to identify the viewpoints of the people concerning the situation or the people who are involved in that particular situation. This means that you would have to consider the viewpoints of the person on the other end of the situation or the person receiving the services, such as your clients, colleagues, and so on. 

It is also very important that the person trying to make an ethical decision understands what the other person feels. 

In order to make it easier for you to understand the feelings of the person on the receiving end, you can ask yourself some questions like:

  • What expectations does the person on the receiving end have for me? 
  • How do the other people involved in the given situation feel? 
  • What are the wants and needs of the people on the receiving end? 
  • Knowing these questions can immensely help you in making informed, ethical decisions.

G: Gathering assistance and resources

After you have an in-depth understanding of the issue and the people related to that issue, you might want to seek out help from various people and resources who might help you in figuring out what to do. 

Some examples of gathering assistance and resources include considering agency policies and their documents that could help in your decision-making. Does the situation require legal advice for which legal advisors would be needed, or whether any community resources could aid you in solving the problem? 

Taking help from these kinds of resources or people could influence your decision to a much greater extent and can help you in making well-informed decisions. 

H: Having a plan

After gathering all the information and discussing the issue with qualified personnel, it’s time for you to formulate a plan that will help you put your plan into action. Identify the steps and note them down for a much more thorough plan. 

The steps could include listing all the people you would want to talk with, pointers on what you would talk about, steps to ensure the best possible outcome for the decision you are going to make, and what reactions there would be to the people involved or affected by the situation.

T: Taking the final actions based on ethical standards

Lastly, all you have to do after devising a plan is to implement it. However, the most important thing after implementing the plan is to monitor its success and the effects it has been having on the people. 

The results acquired from this examination will help you to answer some questions that could assist you in reflecting upon your decision. 

These questions could include what implementations worked out well and why, what implementations did not sit well with the people and the situation and why, and lastly, what changes you will bring after this evaluation. 

Dos and don’ts when stuck in an ethical dilemma

Whenever stuck in an ethical dilemma, emotions could cloud our rational decision-making power and put us to a moral test. This is why following these simple do’s and don’ts will help you to rationally make decisions whenever stuck in some kind of ethically challenging situation.

The dos include constantly questioning your assumptions to ensure that you are not avoiding actions to your plans just so you can steer away from feeling bad. You should also gain perspective and have conversations with other people so that you can understand the reasons behind the ethical dilemma and ways you could confront it.

The don’ts include implementing an action without devising an articulate plan and pointing accusations toward one single person or situation. It is very important to formulate a clear plan and keep your mind open toward different approaches and people. This can help you in making informed decisions which will, in turn, assist you in making ethically correct decisions.