Just as we have limits on our cognitive abilities (bounded rationality), we have psychological limits that prevent us from seeing the ethical dimensions of our choices.
Organizations should audit their incentive structures. If you reward only the "bottom line," you are architecting an environment where ethical blind spots flourish. Blind Spots: Why We Fail to Do What's Right and...
Recognize that you will be tempted in the moment and set "pre-commitment" strategies. Just as we have limits on our cognitive
Instead of assuming we are perfectly ethical, we should acknowledge our biases so we can actively guard against them. Recognize that you will be tempted in the
We hold people less accountable for unethical actions when they are carried out through third parties or "outsourced." How to Close the Gap
This book, by Max H. Bazerman and Ann E. Tenbrunsel , explores the gap between how we think we will behave in ethical situations and how we actually behave when the pressure is on.
This occurs when the ethical aspects of a decision disappear from view, often because they are masked by "business" goals, "legal" requirements, or "efficiency" metrics.