Steps in the Ethical Decision-Making Process

There are eight steps involving questions to be answered in resolving computer ethics dilemmas. It may be asked whether this process actually facilitates one's ability to make the most ethical decisions or whether it simply encourages people to better document their own instinctive positions. Although it cannot be proven, the answer to this question is probably the former. Even if it were the latter, the process should still prove to be a valuable exercise.

The steps are:

1. Step 1. Briefly describe the ethical issues in this case.

Be aware that there may be multiple ethical issues in the case. Make sure that all of the issues are clearly articulated. Also, be aware that different issues may apply to the different people involved in the case.

1. Step 2. Identify the stakeholders in this case and tell what you think each of them would like to see as an outcome.

Empathy is needed here in order to put yourself in the place of each of the parties involved and state what each would presumably like to see done in keeping with each one's interests.

1. Step 3. A) Propose three possible solutions to the case (two extremes and a compromise). Mark them a), b), and c). B) Give a best-case and worst-case outcome for each solution and, for each solution, indicate whether you could tolerate the worst-case outcome. C) Which of the three solutions would you choose?