Do the Right Thing!
Ethics
Richard Swann
Office of Internal Audit
Defining Ethics?
“Doing the right thing!”
Ethics must be a part of the fabric of an
effective organization. Members of
our community want and need clear
definitions of what is expected and
acceptable in an increasing complex
environment.
Reasons why I was chosen to
present this session:
1. Seen so many unethical things.
 2. A highly ethical person.
 3. They think I’m unethical, and
they hope it will rub off on me.
 --- I’ll let you decide for yourself!

What is Ethics?
eth·ic Pronunciation: 'e-thik Function: noun
from Greek Éthos, Date: 14th century
1 the discipline dealing with what is good
and bad and with moral duty and obligation
2 a: set of moral principles or values
b : the principles of conduct governing an
individual or a group <professional ethics>
What is Ethics?
The word “ethics” comes from
the Greek root of “ethos” which
in ancient Greece meant “the
persuasive appeal of one’s
character.”
So, what do we mean by
“Ethics?”

Ethics is NOT this:
Instead, ethics embodies . . .


“Standards of conduct that indicate
how one should behave based on
moral duties and virtues, which
themselves are derived from principles
of right and wrong.”
So you need to know right and wrong
(values/principles), and then do it
(action).
We need to explore why good
people do unethical acts.
“Every (professional), at least once in every
case, feels himself crossing a line he
doesn’t really mean to cross. It just
happens.” -- Grisham’s Rainmaker
The value is in knowing where the
line is drawn . . . before you cross it!
Why Study Ethics?
 It
 It
will not make you more ethical.
can help you in trying to decide what
is the right thing and giving you courage
to do that “right thing.”
So . . . why do good
people seem to do
unethical acts?
 Multiple
roles: In different roles, we
sometimes hold ourselves to different
standards (e.g. home and work)
 Courage: Sometimes it is hard to do
what you know is right
So . . . why do good
people seem to do
unethical acts?
 Consensus:
Sometimes we question our
choices if everyone else is acting differently.
 Error: We all can make mistakes. Not
necessarily indicative of “bad” intent.
We all make mistakes, however...
 Would
you make the same decision
tomorrow?
 Do you have the moral courage to look
in the mirror?
We can always set the ethical
bar higher!!!
What is the Right Thing?
“What are the Rules?”
“What are the Tests?”
Ethical Rules?



Is it legal and in
compliance with
MSU policy?
Misuse of
University Assets
01.19
Use of Computing
and Network
Resources 01.12
University-Provided
Wireless Phones
and Plans 01.15
 Use of Copyrighted
Computer Software
30.02
 Ethics in Public
Contracting, AntiKickback &
Procurement 65.03

Ethical Rules?



Conflict of Interest in Federally
Sponsored Programs, Policy &
Procedure on 70.09
Ethics in Research and Other
Scholarly Activities 80.2
Management
Responsibilities/Employee
Expectations of Management HRM 60400
Ethical Rules?



Employee Conduct, Guidelines
for HRM 60-401
Disciplinary Action - NonContract Employees HRM 60-403
Ethics, Conflict of Interest/ HRM
60-416
Ethical Rules?


Is it fair?
– Honest, truthful, responsible,
trustworthy, respected
individual
Would it pass the test(s)?
Ethical Tests
1.Is It Legal? Is it Ethical?
I
Ethical - Legal
II
Ethical - Illegal
III Unethical - Legal
IV Unethical - Illegal
I and IV are Easy Decisions
II and III are Difficult Decisions
The Use Zones
Public employees have a duty to
conserve public resources and funds
against misuse and abuse.
• Green Zone – Official Duties (Ethical & Legal)
• Yellow Zone – Personal Use Under Limited
Circumstances
• Red Zone – Prohibited Uses (Unethical &
Illegal)
The Green Zone
Any Use that is Reasonably
Related to Your Official
Duties
The Yellow Zone
Personal Use OK Under Limited Circumstances
These are Really de minimis exceptions
 There is little or no cost to the state
 There is little to no interference with the
performance of official duties
 The use is brief in duration and frequency
 The use does not distract from the conduct
of University business
The Yellow Zone
Personal Use OK Under Limited Circumstances
These are Really de minimis exceptions
The use does not disrupt other state
employees and does not obligate them
to make a personal use of state
resources
For MSU, 01.19 limits this to basically office
equipment & telephones.
Questions to Ask Yourself
• Will my use of University resources result in added
costs or any other disadvantage to the University?
• Am I using this resource in order to avoid personal
expense?
• Am I confident that my use of University resources
will not compromise the security or integrity of
information or software?
• Are resources being used for purposes that could
be embarrassing if reported publicly?
Ethical Tests
2. Categorical Imperative
(Am I special?)
Are you willing to allow
everyone to practice the
proposed action or do you
want to be a special case?
Ethical Tests
3. Light of Day Test What would be your
reaction if the action were brought out into
the open for public scrutiny?
How will your decision look
in the light? Could a
reasonable fair-minded
person conclude you acted
improperly?
The Red Zone
Prohibited Uses
•Use for material personal gain
•Commercial uses
•Outside business interests
•Illegal or unprofessional activities
Quote
“If … you can’t be a good
example, then you’ll just have
to be a horrible warning.”
- Catherine Aird, Author
Briefly

Daily decisions will guide us in crisis

Values can be instilled

Subordinates seek standards

Choice is often between two “goods”
AM I COMFORTABLE WITH THIS DECISION?
•
•
•
•
Would I be comfortable telling my
family about my decision?
Would I want my children to take my
behavior as an example?
Is this decision one that a wise,
informed, virtuous person would
make?
Can I live with this decision?
Ethical Tests
4. Golden Rule
Do Unto Others Test - If you would like
others to do the same to you – then the
action passes the test.
Silence is NOT Golden
Speak
up!
Encourage
Silence
ethical practices!
implies your consent!!
So speak up, darn it!
"The hottest places in hell
are reserved for those who,
in a period of moral crisis,
maintain their neutrality"
- Dante
CAN ONE PERSON MAKE A
DIFFERENCE?
I am only one.
But still I am one.
I cannot do everything,
But still I can do something.
I will not refuse to do the
something that I can do.
Edward Everett Hale
Author, A Man without a Country
REAL LIFE EXAMPLES
Time Magazine’s 2002 Persons of the Year
The Whistleblowers
GREGORY HEISLER FOR TIME
Cynthia Cooper of Worldcom
Coleen Rowley of the FBI
Sherron Watkins of Enron
Who are you going to call?
 Supervisor
 Human
Resources (325-3713)
 Purchasing (325-2550)
 Controller’s Office (325-2302)
 General Counsel (325-8131)
 Internal Audit (325-7353)
 University Police (325-2121)
Closing Thoughts!
“The reputation of a thousand
years is determined by the
conduct of one hour.”
– Japanese proverb
Closing Thoughts!
No regrets – live your life so the
preacher won’t have to lie at
your funeral.
-unknown
Closing Thoughts!
Reputation is one of those
things that take a lifetime to
build and only one bad decision
to destroy.
-unknown
Thoughts…
The
basis of transformation
must have its foundation in
the realization that character
precedes conduct, because
who we are determines what
we do.
Ethical Dilemma - What do you do?
Your dear friend and office assistant, Mary
asks you if she can “borrow” 10 printer
cartridges from the office supply. When
you ask her why, she says her husband’s
needs them to print a big project tonight
and he doesn’t have money to buy them.
She says she’ll replace them at the end of
the month when she gets paid.
Ethical Dilemma -
Part II
A week after you tell Mary “NO”, you
discover the office is out of printer
cartridges. Another worker said he saw
Mary take them from the storage cabinet
and carry them out to her car. He didn’t
say anything because he didn’t think it
was any of his business. Besides he knew
that Mary was a good friend of yours.
Dilemma
 You
send a brief email or make a brief, local
call to check on your kids.
Is this appropriate stewardship of state
resources?
Per MSU Policy 01.19 this is o.k.
Dilemma
 You
access the Internet during a lunch
break to check on your stock portfolio and
transfer assets to a different fund.
Is this appropriate stewardship of state
resources?
Per MSU Policy 01.19 this is o.k.
But…
 You
are going on vacation and don’t
have a digital camera. Your supervisor
offers to let you take the University
camera…. After all he always does….
Not allowable, and further what happens if the camera
gets stolen or damaged during your vacation.