ACCA Strategic Professional · Strategic Business Leader · Professionalism, ethical codes and the public interest
Orrin Group's chairman says that after ensuring legal compliance, managers should rely on their own integrity: 'Ask what a person of good character, such as an honest, fair and courageous professional, would do.' Which ethical approach is being advocated?
The chairman is advocating virtue ethics. It judges decisions by asking what a person of good character, such as someone honest, fair and courageous, would do, rather than relying only on rules, legal compliance or the outcomes for stakeholders.
- AVirtue ethics, focusing on the moral character of the decision makerCorrect
- BConsequentialism, focusing on the results for stakeholders
- CLegalism, focusing only on compliance with regulations
- DCultural relativism, focusing on local norms
Explanation
Virtue ethics emphasises the character traits of the decision maker, such as honesty, fairness and courage, and asks what a virtuous person would do. It is not based on outcomes or rules alone. The chairman goes beyond legal compliance, so legalism does not fit.
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