How Can We Better Model Ethics in Extension Work?

Ethics is "the principles, norms, and standards of conduct governing an individual or group" (Trevino and Nelson, 1999, p. 12). Essentially, ethics are guiding principles that help individuals to maintain integrity while completing the task at hand, whether it be work or volunteer related. Considering ethics in the workplace, Ferrel and colleagues' defined business ethics as: "principles and standards that guide behavior in the workplace (2005, p.6)." Both of these definitions are applicable for Extension professionals and volunteers. 

Ethics in Extension

As Extension professionals, we encounter situations everyday where we must make difficult decisions. This could involve determining how to approaching notifying a volunteer when they are violating policy, deciding whether or not an educator is meeting performance expectations, or choosing not to allow a camper to return to 4-H camp. Even if none of these examples resonate with you, you probably are still easily able to come up with your own example of a recent ethical dilemma. It is likely you had to make a decision with ethical implications during the last month, if not the last week or day.

How can we as Extension professionals, model effective ethical decision-making? Ethical climate and using sense-making are two approaches identified in the literature to address ethics in the workplace. Below, we describe both concepts in more detail and their application to Extension work.

Ethical Climate

Ethical climate involves a group's collective opinion on what behavior is ethical and how ethics should be addressed in a group or organization (Grojean, Resick, Dickson, and Smith et al. ,2004; Victor & Cullen, 1987, p. 52). In addition, organizational founders shape the ethical climate (Grojean, Resick, Dickson, and Smith et al. ,2004). Yet as time progresses, leaders across all levels of the organizational hierarchy contribute to ethical climate. It is essential that Extension administrators support ethical professional development for all Extension employees. We adapted Grojean and colleagues' (2004) strategies that can help Extension professionals positively model ethical behaviors when working with clients, volunteers, and other Extension professionals.

Tips for Ethical Leadership

When working with Extension professionals, volunteers, and clientele, consider the following tips to better model a positive ethical climate.

• Apply value-based leadership strategies.
• Discuss the vision and mission of organization.
• Communicate organizational culture.
• Provide examples of ethical behavior that align with organizational values.
• Establish clear expectations.
• Provide feedback.
• Coach and support.
• Recognize good ethical behaviors.
• Reward good ethical behaviors.
• Teach them how to value diversity and appreciate individual differences and contributions.

Ethical Sensemaking

Ethical sensemaking involves "individuals engaging in multiple complex cognitive processes" to make an ethical decision (Thiel, Bagdasarov, Harkrider, Johnson, & Mumford, 2012). This ethical decision-making model can be utilized in the work place (Thiel, Bagdasarov, Harkrider, Johnson, and Mumford, 2012). Authors identified emotional regulation, self-reflection, forecasting, and information integration as components of their ethical decision-making framework. We adapted Thiel's et al., (2012) framework to provide ethical sense-making decision tips that will help Extension professionals in their daily work.

Tips for Ethical Sense-Making Decision-Making

• Adjust your mindset. Practice controlling your emotional reactions.
• Reflect on your approach toward ethical dilemmas in the past, and work to adjust as needed in the future.
• Predict implications of your decisions before acting. Think about results.
• Assimilate the culture of organizational values into your day-to-day decision-making.
• Apply the above tips, and encourage volunteers, clients, and coworkers to do the same.

References

Ferrell, O. C., J. Fraedrich and L. Ferrell: 2005, Business Ethics:  Ethical  Decision Making  and  Cases (Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston).

Fischer, J. (2004). Social responsibility and ethics: clarifying the concepts. Journal of Business ethics, 52(4), 381-390.

Grojean, M. W., Resick, C. J., Dickson, M. W., & Smith, D. B. (2004). Leaders, values, and organizational climate: Examining leadership strategies for establishing an organizational climate regarding ethics. Journal of business ethics, 55(3), 223-241.

Thiel, C. E., Bagdasarov, Z., Harkrider, L., Johnson, J. F., & Mumford, M. D. (2012). Leader ethical decision-making in organizations: Strategies for sensemaking. Journal of Business Ethics, 107(1), 49-64.

Trevino, L. K. and D. A. Nelson: 1999, Managing Business Ethics, 2nd Edition (Wiley, New York).

Victor, B. and Cullen, J. B.: 1988, 'The Organizational Bases of Ethical Work Climates',

Administrative Science Quarterly, 33, 101–125.

Windon, S. & Stollar, M.K. (2019). Research in brief: Ethical decision making: Application for Extension.