Are unethical decisions more a function of individual decision maker or decision maker's environment?comment
Answer:
Various federal organizations define and/or monitor ethical behavior. Depending on who you work for and what you do, those rules may impact whether or not an action of yours is ethical.
Similarly, some corporations define and/or monitor ethical behavior on the part of their employees.
Similarly, some schools define and/or monitor ethical behavior on the part of their employees and students.
There are also societal concepts that vary depending on country, culture, and family. So, unfortunately, you really need to define what definitions of ethical behavior apply and the environment.
So, if you are speaking of a situation where your child is talking to you about what he did to his brother you have one set of codes of ethical behavior. If you are referring to what an American tourist who works for a Japanese company does while "off duty" in Africa on a business trip, then you have a more complex set of ethical codes to address.
Further, your words or actions may be misunderstood. It is easier to avoid doing what you perceive as an unethical action than to avoid the appearance of performing an unethical action as it is perceived by others (especially if they do not like you).
In rapidly changing situations such as war and politics, good people make mistakes.
If the ultimate question is what do you think of your actions when you reflect on them, then you may require yourself to be 100% responsible (even when it is unfair).
in this case nature prevails over nuture.
I would say 25% individual decision and 75% environment.
Even the largest corporations have policies that state "in countries where bribery is allowed, you can participate to the extent that it is required to do business in that country" - geez what does that tell you? I'm talking about big companies, IBM, GM, GE, Microsoft, that have those types of policies.
That's a good question... while ethical individuals usually make ethical decisions in any enviornment, I would think some environments can make temptations greater and some people might buckle. I would say it's the individuals choice to remain ethical in any circumstance.
If by environment your mean circumstance, I think I would sway towards circumstance. Even the most stong minded individual's vision adjusts to circumstance. For example, one of the most ethical individuals may change how or why they do something if they are pressed for time, or if they are overwhelmed, or overly happy. (Stealing may become borrowing because at that moment the believe they will return it.)
100% individual. Can't blame anyone else for the decisions you make.
If the environment is bad, then it is time to look for another job.
It is the result of both not necessarily depends on one single factor, but then these decisions depends on the TYPE and TIME factors!
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