Class Takeaways — Leading With Values

TL;DR

Disagreements about ethical issues in the workplace are often based on different core values, which cannot be resolved with evidence. Good institutions, including incentives, rules, and norms, are crucial for promoting good behavior.

Transcript

[MUSIC] Hi, I'm Ken Shotts, I'm a professor of political economy at the Stanford GSB. >> My name is Neil Malhotra, I'm also a professor of political economy at the Stanford GSB. And Ken and I would like to share some key class takeaways from the course we teach, Leading With Values, which is also the title of our forthcoming book [MUSIC] When peopl... Read More

Key Insights

• 💯 Disagreements about ethical issues are often based on different core values.
• 💄 Moral intuitions play a significant role in our decision-making processes, even when making analytical arguments.
• 🫡 Respecting others' moral intuitions is important for effective communication and understanding.
• 👋 Good intentions are valuable, but good institutions, including incentives and rules, are crucial for promoting good behavior.
• 💨 Government regulations and laws are necessary to incentivize companies to act in ways that benefit society.

Questions & Answers

Q: Why do disagreements about ethical issues in the workplace often arise?

Disagreements about ethical issues in the workplace arise because individuals bring different core values to the table. These values are deeply rooted in their moral intuitions and can have a cultural basis.

Q: How should we approach others who are critical of us or our company?

It is important to respect the fact that individuals with different moral intuitions may be critical of us or our company. Dismissing their concerns as self-interest or money-driven is unhelpful. Instead, we should acknowledge and understand their moral intuitions.

Q: How can we effectively communicate with others and manage disagreements?

To communicate and persuade others, we should not solely rely on our own moral intuitions. It is important to be empathetic and consider others' moral intuitions. Constructing arguments from their perspective can lead to better communication and resolution of disagreements.

Q: Why are good institutions important?

Good institutions, including incentives, rules, and norms, promote good behavior. They align incentives with values and ensure that individuals are rewarded for doing the right thing and not rewarded for acting against values. This is crucial within companies and at a societal level.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Disagreements about ethical issues in the workplace are often due to different core values rather than immorality.

• It is important to respect others' moral intuitions, even if they differ from our own.

• To effectively communicate and persuade others, we should consider their moral intuitions and construct arguments from their perspective.