CHAPTER 6

ETHICS IN DECISION AND

POLICY MAKING
 DECISION-MAKING

In simple terms, decision

making refers to the act or
process of making decisions
or reaching a decision.
 THEORIES IN DECISION-
MAKING
• Man is rational and non-rational creatures,
thus, sometimes
he uses his emotions and sometimes his
intellect in making
decision.

• Decision-making in any organization pervades

other than doing.

• Before undertaking any activity, decisions have

to be made.
 LEVELS OF DECISION-MAKING

Individual Level

-Matters concerning the

organization, which fall on
the jurisdiction or
discretion of the head of
such organization.
 LEVELS OF DECISION-MAKING

Organizational Level

-Matters concerning the

organization, which directly
affects the member of the
organization and its
program.
 LEVELS OF DECISION-MAKING

Societal Level

-Matters concerning the

society like selection of
national political leaders.
 LEVELS OF DECISION-MAKING

National Level

-Majority of the people

comprising the whole
country decide national
issues and concerns.
 LEVELS OF DECISION-MAKING

Global Level

-Concerning various
countries are decided at the
global level.
 CLASSIFICATION OF DECISION-MAKING

Programmable

-are those decisions pertaining to

routine programs and activities.
 CLASSIFICATION OF DECISION-MAKING

Non-programmable

-are those involving unique and

seasonal programs and activities.
 TYPES OF DECISION-
MAKER

Primary

-is one who by virtue of his

appointment is given the
power and authority to make
decisions.
 TYPES OF DECISION-
MAKER

Supplementary

-One who by virtue of his

appointment may not possess the
legal authority to make decision, but,
has gained his authority to act on
certain matters from primary decision
maker.
THEORIES IN DECISION-MAKING

Rational-Comprehensive
Theory

-assumes that the

decision- maker is
endowed with logical
reasoning ability; hence,
he makes decision based
on objective and rational
criteria.
 THEORIES IN DECISION-MAKING
The rational decision-makers do the ff. steps in
performing his task:

• Evaluates the problem at hand in relation to

other problems

• Formulates and ranks his goals or objectives on

the basis of their important.

• Sets and examines the various alternatives

together with the consequences of each
alternative.

• Picks out an alternative that can solve the

problem.
 
 THEORIES IN DECISION-MAKING

Incremental Theory
-it relies on ideas and opinions presented by people involved in
the problem.

-The selection of goals or objectives and the empirical analysis

of the action needed to attain them are closely intertwined
with, rather than distinct from one another.

-The decision-maker considers only some of the alternatives

for dealing with a problem, and these will differ only
incrementally from existing policies.

-For each alternative, only a limited number of “important”

consequences are evaluated
 THEORIES IN DECISION-MAKING

Incremental Theory
-The problem confronting the decision-maker is continually
redefined. Incrementation allows for countless end-means and
means-ends adjustments that have the effect of making the
problem more manageable.

-There is no single decision or “right” solution for a problem.

The test of a good decision is that various analysis find
themselves directly agreeing on it, without agreeing that the
decision is the most appropriate means to an agreed objective.

-Incremental decision-making is essentially remedial and is

geared more to the amelioration of resent, concrete social
imperfection than the promotion of future social goals.
 THEORIES IN DECISION-MAKING

Mixed-Scanning theory
-it takes into account both fundamental
and incremental decision and provides for
“high-order, fundamental policy-making
process which set basic direction and
incremental process which prepare for
fundamental decision and work them out
after they have been reached .
 
CRITERIA IN DECISION-MAKING
LAYERS OF VALUES THAT INFLUENCE DECISION-
MAKER
 LAYERS OF VALUES THAT INFLUENCE DECISION-
MAKER

Political Values

-refers to preferences related to

the attainment of certain
political party platforms, goals
of interest groups or needs and
demands of the clientele
 LAYERS OF VALUES THAT INFLUENCE DECISION-
MAKER

Organization Values

-include preferences related to

the goals, programs and
activities of the organization.
 LAYERS OF VALUES THAT INFLUENCE DECISION-
MAKER

Ideological Values
-are values pertaining to the adhered
upon ideologies of decision-makers.
Ideologies are sets of logically related
values and beliefs, which present
simplified picture of the world and serve
as guides to action or people.
 LAYERS OF VALUES THAT INFLUENCE DECISION-
MAKER

Policy Values

-relate to what decision-makers

believe to be ethically and
morally right.
 
.
 LAYERS OF VALUES THAT INFLUENCE DECISION-
MAKER

Personal Values
-refer to the preferences of an
individual in relation to his well-
being whether physical, financial
or moral reputation.
ETHICS IN DECISION-MAKING

1. Authority of the decision-

maker

2. Jurisdiction of the
decision-maker

3. Decision-Making Process

4. Content of the decision