5CO02 AC 1.5 Answer

5CO02 AC 1.5 Assess how two different ethical perspectives can be used to inform and influence moral decision-making. *Approx 400 words

Two ethical perspectives that offer different solutions to moral conundrums in both personal and professional contexts include  utilitarianism and universalism. While utilitarianism advocates a focus on the overall good as a moral strategy, universalism promotes  moral consistency in every interaction.

Utilitarianism

The utilitarian viewpoint is based on consequentialism, which holds that decisions are made by weighing their effects in order to maximise advantages and minimise disadvantages. According to this ethical viewpoint, a course of action is justified if it maximises benefits for the vast majority of the population  (CIPD, 2015). In a corporate setting, this perspective can aid in directing the distribution of resources throughout organisational changes. For instance, this point of view would be in favour of dissolving  a division when a business is experiencing financial difficulties if doing so would allow the business to continue as a going concern and retain the bulk of its employees. The main drawback of this viewpoint is its emphasis on the premise  that, as the needs and desires of the majority come before those of the individual, individual rights might be ignored in the interest  of achieving favourable  overall results (Rocco, Morris, and Poell, 2024). For instance, in the interest of organisational survival, this point of view ignores the psychological effects and overall wellbeing of those who might lose their jobs.

Universalism

Universalism emphasises that moral standards must never change, regardless of the circumstance or setting. Deontological ethics form its basis. According to this viewpoint, moral standards establish what conduct is generally acceptable and desirable (CIPD, 2024). People must therefore make an effort to behave in a way that upholds the moral principles they wish to see applied universally. For instance, a leader who embraces universalism as a point of view must always be transparent and honest, even if their actions lead to short-term conflicts throughout  the organisation. Accordingly, if transparency and openness  are among a company’s core values, a universalist approach would mandate that it disclose any flaws in its product offerings, regardless of any possible financial losses. Equity and consideration for all stakeholders are guaranteed by this viewpoint (Rocco, Morris, and Poell, 2024). However, this perspective may lead to rigid decision-making and even loss in circumstances when universal principles conflict with practical realities.

References

CIPD (2015) Ethical decision-making: Eight perspectives on workplace dilemmas. https://www.cipd.org/globalassets/media/knowledge/knowledge-hub/reports/ethical-decision-making-2015-eight-perspectives-on-workplace-dilemmas_tcm18-9564.pdf.

CIPD (2024) Evidence-based practice for effective decision-making. https://www.cipd.org/uk/knowledge/factsheets/evidence-based-practice-factsheet/.

Rocco, T.S., Morris, M.L. and Poell, R.F. (2024) The SAGE Handbook of Human Resource Development. SAGE Publications Limited.

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