ES438 Quality systems notes – Lecture 14 (Business Ethics II)
Problem Ethics
Concept of Single Causes
– Human Error - it is common to seek a single cause for a single event.
• Tend to seek person or factor to blame.
• Once blame apportioned, is the problem is solved?
• Human error is inevitable, therefore, nothing can be done.
– Scapegoating - this is the systematic attempt to apportion blame to an
individual
• Unfair
• Avoids true determination of causes
Concept of Multiple Causes
– Usually a combination of causes create a particular event.
• It is recognised that usually different actions or decisions on
the path leading to the event could affect the outcome
• Therefore, the outcome is not predetermined.
– Where scapegoating has occurred, it would appear that a single
set of events is the only path that could have been taken.
– Existence of alternative paths places more responsibility on all
involved.
Problem Ethics
Concept of Single Causes
– Human Error - it is common to seek a single cause for a single event.
• Tend to seek person or factor to blame.
• Once blame apportioned, is the problem is solved?
• Human error is inevitable, therefore, nothing can be done.
– Scapegoating - this is the systematic attempt to apportion blame to an
individual
• Unfair
• Avoids true determination of causes
Concept of Multiple Causes
– Usually a combination of causes create a particular event.
• It is recognised that usually different actions or decisions on
the path leading to the event could affect the outcome
• Therefore, the outcome is not predetermined.
– Where scapegoating has occurred, it would appear that a single
set of events is the only path that could have been taken.
– Existence of alternative paths places more responsibility on all
involved.
