Developing an Ethical Decision-Making Process: Frameworks, Practices, and Organizational Implications
Author: Dr. Anna Neya Kazanskaia
Publisher: NEYA Global Publishing
Article | NEYA Global Journal of Non-Profit Studies
Year: 2025
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0009-5669-1676
DOI: https://doi.org/10.64357/neya-gjnps-eth-ds-mk-05
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About the Article
This article presents a comprehensive framework for developing and institutionalizing ethical decision-making processes, particularly in resource-constrained environments where dilemmas are intensified by competing priorities. It outlines staged approaches—identifying ethical issues, gathering information, evaluating alternatives, making decisions, implementing actions, and monitoring outcomes—and situates them within ethical theories and applied tools.
Practical techniques such as stakeholder analysis, ethical audits, scenario planning, and feedback mechanisms are discussed, supported by real-world examples from non-profit, corporate, and international development contexts. The article highlights that beyond frameworks, successful ethical processes require leadership commitment, stakeholder engagement, and cultural sensitivity. Institutionalizing structured ethical practices strengthens accountability, builds trust, and equips organizations to adapt to evolving challenges.
Key Topics
- Stages of ethical decision-making: recognition, analysis, evaluation, decision, implementation, reflection
- Practical tools: stakeholder analysis, ethical audits, scenario planning, feedback mechanisms
- Balancing justice, autonomy, beneficence, and non-maleficence
- Applications in NGOs, donor relations, and volunteer management
- Leadership commitment and cultural sensitivity in ethical practice
- Continuous improvement through monitoring and feedback
Suggested Citation
Kazanskaia, A. N. (2025). Developing an Ethical Decision-Making Process: Frameworks, Practices, and Organizational Implications. NEYA Global Publishing. https://doi.org/10.64357/neya-gjnps-eth-ds-mk-05
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