FREE ESSAY ON ARTICLE: WHAT'S ETHICAL? HERE'S A SIMPLE TEST

ARTICLE: WHAT'S ETHICAL? HERE'S A SIMPLE TEST

What's ethical? Here's a simple test. Strategic Finance Magazine 81.9 (2000): 24. Online.
WilsomSelectPlus. 23 March 2001.
The article What's ethical? Here's a simple test, which is based on the work of Dr.
Michael Rion, includes three situations, which are directed to its readers. First
situation is about choosing between stopping or not stopping at a stop sign. In the
second situation, the author asks its readers to choose between express and regular line
in the store. The person in that particular case has just two more items than is allowed
to have in order to be in the express line. In the third situation, author's purpose is
to check its readers' honesty. The article asks us what we would do in these three
situations, and then it asks us questions that help us analyze and think through each
situation. Next, the article shows us how these simple situations, and the way we solved
them help us in making wiser decisions concerning more difficult situations. At the end
of this article, the IMA Ethics Committee is interested in how people face and solve
their problems. Therefore, the Committee asks for e-mails with comments. Also, the
Committee invites people for the Conference on ethical issues. 
First of all, the topic of the article seems to have a main purpose to check our ability
to behave ethically in certain situations, and what thinking process we would use. At the
beginning, it might not seem difficult because, for example, as situation number one
tells us when we come to a stop sign, we know that it is ethical to come to a complete
stop even though there is no one around. On the other hand, would we do it? This action
would probably be different for people, depending on many situations, and of course
depending on people. For example, how they usually act, how they feel at that moment,
etc. As a result of this, most of the people do not usually do what they feel is ethical
to do; they usually choose easier and faster way in order to get what they want. I think
that the article shows us how to go about solving little problems like the one in the
first situation. This helps us to find an ethical solution to more complicated
circumstances. One can wonder how these situations can possibly reflect how we think
about other issues more related to our lives. As the article explains, if we use the
decision criteria(1) like how do I feel about what I just did(1), we make practical and
reasonable decisions, which in the same time are also ethical. 
Second of all, there is not enough information to support the article's generalization
and conclusion. It is more generalized than specific, and it challenges the readers to
arrive with their own answers to their own terms and decision criteria. The article is
very short, and it has a big effect on what is included in it. The conclusion of this
article is more the invitation to IMA conference about ethics than giving specific
answers to the questions asked in each of the three situations. In addition, I think that
the article is very persuasive because although not in the direct but in the indirect way
it makes the readers to believe that the ethical solution is the best solution. It
stretches the fact that the decision that one makes and proudly shares with others is
usually an ethical decision. On the other hand, we can conclude that the decision that
one makes in the hopes that no one will find out is usually an unethical decision. As I
have said, although the article is persuasive, it is also very general.
Third of all, in the article the language was clearly presented; however, the
organization was a little bit tricky. The language presented certainly was clear for the
general reader. Indeed, anyone easily could read this article without any problems. I do
not think that it could be too simple for an expert because an expert could ask himself
more questions or analyze the article more deeply than the ordinary reader.
Despite this, the organization plan was not clear and easy to follow at the beginning of
the article, though the ideas came through clearly. The beginning of the article there
are questions, which ask us what the reader would do about certain situations. Although
these questions are not hard, I found it difficult to start answering them, because I was
unsure of what exactly I was expected to do. Later on when I read it, it was clear that I
was expected to ask myself questions and then answer them in order to find the best way
to come up with the right solution for myself. Following the questions made it easier to
supply ethical solutions to the problems described. 
Finally, the material in the article is an interesting way of looking at information that
should be commonsense. For example, let us consider situation number three.  As you're
making a withdrawal from an ATM, a mechanical error gives you an extra $100 but doesn't
charge your account. Would you keep the money or return it? Why? The ethical solution is
to give the money back to the bank at the next business day. Otherwise, if the person
would keep the money the disadvantages most likely will outweigh the advantages. Later,
the article has questions to help its readers to analyze the problem. Also, the article
encourages investigating this situation. Then it sets a good example, if we choose the
ethical solution to our approach. Indeed, after we would choose this ethical answer to
our dilemma, we could proudly talk about that. 
On the other hand, if we would choose the unethical solution then we wouldn't be
comfortable talking about that. I read that because today's economy is driven by
knowledge, not physical assets, information helps improve products and services. It
brings us to the point that if we have knowledge about certain things like ATM machines,
we are able to make more thoughtful and therefore ethical decisions, which we are proud
of. The article suggests that common persons need to make choices every day. For
instance, when they are in stores there are all different kinds of brands for almost
everything. 
As I was told in class, an ethical solution now helps to escape from a worse situation
later. It means that although an ethical decision might be not as desirable as the
unethical decision would be in that particular time, for the long run the ethical
situation will save us worry. This relates to the third situation about the ATM from the
article. Let us say that a person would decide to take the $100 and never return it.
Would it change the situation if the ATM machines have video cameras? In that case,
probably yes, because then the bankers would know who took more money that the person was
supposed to take. This person would be in an uncomfortable situation now if he did not
give back the money. This shows, knowledge about a particular thing is very helpful in
order to make ethical decisions. 
To conclude, if we use our knowledge and critical thinking, we would make wise and at the
same time ethical decisions. In the three situations explained in the article, we learn
how to start including all the factors and going step by step in order to get the most
desirable solution, which can be proudly shared with family members and friends.