Baase, "Scenario Analysis Methodology"
Notable for distinguishing between actions that are morally required and acts that are morally acceptable but not required
SOURCE FOR THE PROCEDURE
Baase, Sara. "Issues of Professional Ethics and Responsibilities." A Gift of Fire: Social, Legal and Ethical Issues in Computing. Upper Saddle River: Prentice-Hall, 1997: 331-371.
THE PROCEDURE ITSELF
- Identify all the people and organizations affected (stakeholders).
- Unless it is a simple yes or no decision, list as many possible actions as you can.
- List consequences, risks, benefits, harms, costs for each action considered in relation to each stakeholder.
- Identify the responsibilities of the decision makers and the rights of stakeholders.
- Determine if any of the actions would violate general ethical guidelines or someone's rights.
- Evaluate the ethical merits of the actions.
- Identify actions that are ethically wrong.
- Identify actions that are ethically obligatory.
- Identify actions that are acceptable choices, but not required.
- Select an option, considering the ethical merits of each, courtesy to others, practicality, self-interest, personal preferences, and so on.
WALT'S CHECKLIST
The same checklist was applied to all procedures.
- This method is most useful when the DECISION-MAKER ...
- has high initial sensitivity to relevant ethical "features" [step 1]
- has plenty of time for investigation and analysis [step 2]
- is skilled in causal or consequential reasoning [step 3]
- This method is most useful in a SITUATION ...
- that will change little over time
- This method is most useful when STAKEHOLDERS ...
- share ethical codes or policies [step 5]
- share ethical principles [step 5]
- share values [step 7]
