IN INTRODUCTION TO ETHICS

Chapter 2. Understanding
Ethical and Legal
Considerations ©
2012 by Bedford/St. Martin's
 Definition:

Ethics is the study of the

principles of conduct
that apply to an individual
or a group.

Chapter 2. Understanding Ethical and Legal Considerations © 2013 by Bedford/St. Martin's 2

 Four Standard for Confronting
Ethical Dilemmas

• Rights—how are the individuals’ basic needs and

welfare being effected?
• Justice—how are the costs and benefits of an action
or a policy distributed among a group?
• Utility—what are the positive and negative effects
that an action or a policy has on others?
• Care—how does the action effect the relationships
we have with other individuals?

Chapter 2. Understanding Ethical and Legal Considerations 3

Your Ethical & Legal Obligations
I. Obligations to your employer:
• competence and diligence
• generosity
• honesty and candor
• confidentiality
• loyalty

Chapter 2. Understanding Ethical and Legal Considerations 4

II. Obligations to the public:
• Treat customers fairly
• Provide a safe and effective product

Chapter 2. Understanding Ethical and Legal Considerations 5

III. Obligations to the Environment:
• Know how your organization effects the
environment

IV. Obligations to Copyright Holders:

• Know the “Fair Use” law and understand that

Bedford/St. Martin's
copyright relates to the appropriate/fair use of
a person’s intellectual property
Court Guidelines consider four factors
in disputes over “fair use”:
• the purpose and character of the use,
especially whether the use is for profit
• the nature and purpose of the copyrighted
work
• the amount and substantiality of the portion
of the work used
• the effect of the use on the potential market
for the copyrighted work

Chapter 2. Understanding Ethical and Legal Considerations 7

 Dealing with Copyright Questions:
• Abide by the fair-use concept:

Don’t rely on excessive amounts of another source’s work.

• Ask permission:

Contact the source of the information for permission.

• Cite your sources accurately:

This fulfills your ethical obligation AND strengthens your writing,

showing the reader the range of your research.

• Consult legal counsel if you have questions.

Chapter 2. Understanding Ethical and Legal Considerations 8

 The Role of Corporate Culture in Ethical
and Legal Conduct
Organizations in which ethical values are promoted at all levels -
and where employees see that everyone lives up to the
organization’s stated values – experience fewer ethical
problems.

1. The organization’s leaders can set the right tone by living up to

their commitment to ethical conduct.
2. Supervisors can set good examples and encourage ethical
conduct.
3. Peers can support those employees who act ethically.
4. The organization can use informal communication to reinforce
the formal policies, such as those presented in the company
code of conduct.

Chapter 2. Understanding Ethical and Legal Considerations 9

 An effective code of conduct
has three characteristics:

1. It protects the public rather than

members of the organization or profession.
2. It is specific and comprehensive.
3. It is enforceable.

Chapter 2. Understanding Ethical and Legal Considerations 10

 Communicating Across Cultures:

• They must not reinforce patterns of

discrimination in product information.
• They must not reinforce patterns of
discrimination in product information, but they
are not obligated to challenge the prevailing
prejudice directly.
• They must adhere to other countries’ federal
and regional laws when exporting goods and
services.

Chapter 2. Understanding Ethical and Legal Considerations 11

Ten Principles for Ethical Communication:
1. Abide by copyright law.
2. Abide by the appropriate professional code of
conduct.
3. Abide by your organization’s policy on social
media.
4. Take advantage of your employer’s ethics
resources.
5. Tell the truth.

Chapter 2. Understanding Ethical and Legal Considerations 12

 Ten Principles
for Ethical Communication (cont.):

6. Don’t mislead your readers.

7. Use design to highlight important ethical and
legal information.
8. Be clear.
9. Avoid discriminatory language.
10. Acknowledge assistance from others.

Chapter 2. Understanding Ethical and Legal Considerations 13

 Avoid four common types of
misleading technical communication:

• false implications
• exaggerations
• legalistic constructions
• euphemisms

Chapter 2. Understanding Ethical and Legal Considerations © 2013 by Bedford/St. Martin's 14