Transcript COMM 4170-01: Applied Organizational Communication

COMM 4170-01:
Applied Organizational Communication
Instructor: Dan Lair
Day Fourteen: Ethics in
Communication Consulting
September 28, 2005
Today’s Agenda
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Note on next Wednesday’s (10/19) test
Discussion of readings
Group consultation (if time available)
Ethics in Context
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In his chapter, Purdy (1993) argues that ethics was an increasingly
important consideration in the business world in the late 1980s/early
1990s.
Purdy references Popcorn (1991) who argues that such concern is a
cyclical trend. Consider where we are in such a cycle, given the
following developments:
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Employees regularly encounter ethical dilemmas at work (Lutheran Brotherhood, 1998)
Ethically questionable behavior is rampant by executives (Brief, Dukerich, Brown, & Brett,
1996)
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Disconnect between ethical beliefs and behaviors:
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Business students (Badaracco and Webb, 1995)
Business School Deans (Siguaw et al, 1998)
Question: Purdy seems to peg his discussion of ethics in consulting to
the then-popularity of ethics in the corporate world. What do you think
about this move? What effect might it have?
Questions on Purdy, “Ethics and
Communication Consulting”
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What is the difference between code-based and traitsbased approaches to ethics? What are the advantages
and disadvantages of each approach?
What do you think about Kohlberg’s model of
moral/ethical development? Do you agree with the claim
that there are “basic ways of moral valuing” across
cultures, communities, corporations? How does this view
affect communication consulting?
Purdy suggests three ethical imperatives for
communication consultants. What are they, and what
suggestions does Purdy have to help consultants meet
them?
Questions on Harrison, “Toward an
Ethical Framework”
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Why does Harrison argue that even when a consultant is trying
to be neutral – to “simply” present information – they still act as
a change agent?
How does Harrison apply Bitzer’s rhetorical situation to
communication consulting? How does that application affect the
way we look at the consulting process?
Harrison argues that “the decision that emerges [from a
consultation] is judged to be moral or ethical on the basis of the
quality of discourse which gave rise to it” (p. 95). What do you
think of this as an ethical principle? What guidelines does she
suggest to help achieve this ethical goal, and what do
consultants need to do to follow those guidelines?
Questions on Case Study, “The Penis
People”
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What ethical dilemma(s) do consultants
Emma and Sheila face in this case study?
Drawing on the discussion in both Purdy and
Harrison, how would you suggest that the
consultants manage these ethical dilemmas?
General Discussion:
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What ethical dilemmas/situations have you
either already encountered or anticipate that
you might encounter in your consulting
projects? How do you plan on managing
such dilemmas/situations?