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Professional Decision
Making Model
Wendy Beaton
January 31, 2013
Ron Sandland
EDTE 519
Rationale
As a teaching professional it is important to have a
sound decision making model to refer to when having
to make difficult decisions. I feel that it is my goal to not
loose sight as to who I am and what I stand for, to
always consider my values and beliefs and to always
adhere to my professional obligations as outlined in the
BC Teachers College and TRB Standards and in the
BCTF’s Code of Ethics. I have strong values and
beliefs around treating all people with dignity and
respect. I believe that teaching children is an honour
and a privilege. The privilege of teaching children
comes with high legal, moral and ethical standards that
need to be maintained. I would expect nothing less of
the teachers in my own children’s classrooms.
I accept that there may be times when I will have to
reconcile my values and beliefs in order to make
difficult decisions. As a professional it is important that
the decisions I make reflect the standards of
professional culture and my values and beliefs in
respect and dignity for all .
Approaches
I am a person that is mindful of others and I have a tendency to want to
accommodate as many people as possible when having to make critical
decisions. I have started to shift my approach to include ‘what is best for
those who are most vulnerable.’ I believe that the children who are most
vulnerable can be greatly affected by decisions made by schools, the
Education system and by classroom teachers. I worry that the children’s best
interest may sometimes be overlooked. I feel their voice must be heard in the
decision that are made with respect to them.
In considering the following approaches I have determined that my personal
decision making approach seems to fall somewhere between the Justice and
Utilitarian approaches. I believe in trying to meet the needs of the most people
or doing what will make more people happy and reduce suffering. I want to be
fair but feel strongly that the most vulnerable are often at a disadvantage and
there needs to be equity for them in decisions that directly affect them.
The Virtue Approach: Focuses on attitudes, dispositions, or character traits that
enable us to be and to act in ways that develop our human potential.
The Common Good Approach: Individuals own good is parallel with the good of the
community, members are bound by the pursuit of common values/goals.
The Justice Approach: Focuses on how fairly or unfairly our actions distribute
benefits and burdens among the members of a group.
Utilitarian Approach: Focuses on maximizing happiness and reducing suffering.
Reconciliations
•
•
•
I cannot always please everyone all of the time. On
occasion some will be dissatisfied with the result and
may not understand why the decision was not in their
favour. If I can justify my decision ethically and morally,
then I can reconcile that sometimes people will be
unhappy with my decision, but that it was a decision that
needed to be made.
The decisions I make can have an impact on others in
ways that I cannot control. I will have to make tough
decisions throughout my career. Some of these
decisions will make me unpopular. I too may not be
happy with how the decision impacts individuals. But if I
can rationalize the decision in sound professional
practice, and ethical and moral standards then I will have
to accept that I cannot control everything, especially how
individuals feel about the decisions I make.
I learn from making difficult decisions. It will not be easy,
I will likely want to run away from having to make tough
decisions, but the learning will help me with future
decisions especially if I engage in reflective practice.
Identify
the issue
Reflect on
the decision
made & the
process
Professional
Decision
Making
Model
Collect
information
Identify
ethical
Implement
decision
Reconcile
personal
issues
considerations
Consult
with
Mentor
Decide
which is
option is
most ethical
Questions and Issues: Clearly identify the issue or define the problem that needs attention?
Collect information: What caused the problem? Who are the stakeholders? Who is impacted? Who will speak
for the most vulnerable? What is at stake? Who needs to be consulted? What am I trying to achieve in solving this
problem? Is there another side to the story?
Identify ethical consideration: What fundamental principals are at stake? What policies or regulations are at
stake? What if I do nothing? How will this decision affect my ethic and moral values?
Consult a mentor: Who can help me? Talk with a trusted colleague or a mentor if you have one. Generate
some possible solutions and alternatives. What are the consequences of the various solutions?
Consider if some will gain more and some will loose more if certain solutions are reached?
Decide which option is most ethical: Disregard solutions that are unethical, unrealistic or illegal. Which
solution is the best or should possible solutions be combined?
Reconcile personal issues: How confident are you with this decision? How does this decision feel? Does it feel
like the right thing to do? Is it fair to everyone? How do you feel about the decision being made public? What is
bothering you about the decision being made? Can you reconcile the differences you feel? Develop a rationale
for your decision.
Implement Decision: Share your decision and rationale with those who
should be informed first. Let all other stakeholders know of your
decision. Identify who will help implement the action.
Reflect on decision and the process: Did the decision achieve the desired
results? How did stakeholders feel about the decision? What was the
feedback? How do you feel about the decision and the process? Would you
make a different decision in the same situation the next time? Should the
PDMM model be changed?
References:
BC Ministry of Education: Current Standards.
Retrieved
from:http://www.bcteacherregulation.ca/Standards/Sta
ndardsDevelopment.aspx
BC Teachers’ Federation: Code of Ethics
Retrieved from:
http://bctf.ca/professionalresponsibility.aspx?id=4292&
printPage=true
Definitions of Approaches. Retrieved from
http://www.ee.scu.edu/eefac/healy/approach.html
Ron Sandland. Rules For Ethical Decision Making &
Process Checklist.