by Nick Jacobs

As a seasoned student in Graduate School for Master's number two, I remember my professor's very carefully positioned discussion around the concept of Situational Ethics. Joseph Fletcher (1905-1991) was given credit for conceiving of this philosophy, and numerous religious philosophers have been uncomfortable with him ever since.

It has been described as a system of ethics that evaluates acts in light of their situational context rather than by the application of moral absolutes. The concept of ethics tailored to a specific situation certainly seemed like a great way to explain away the gray or, depending upon your geography, the grey issues with which we are confronted every day.

Regardless of the moral or religious implications, it is what it is, and I have come to learn that our society and most societies embrace this philosophy in a multitude of ways. If the Material's Management Director receives a favor in the form of a trip or a gift from a vendor, and that gift is beyond a limited value, that may be considered problematic for the organization. If a senior officer, though, is flown to a reception in the vendor's corporate jet, wined and dined, and then taken to a professional sporting event in an attempt to influence that officer into using that company's product, does that present the same problem? If a U.S. Congressman is flown at no cost by a lobbyist, that now is considered problematic, but if the lobbyist is from an academic institution, that is considered okay.

If a board member puts undue influence on an executive to do business with his company, how does that play out? Sarbanes-Oxley sends a very clear message that the business community is expected to do things differently than the way they have been done in the past, but I've already heard of cases in health care governance where specific board members have required the calculation of just how much business is too much business to be pushed to the extreme before the law kicks in for non profit corporations.

According to the Columbus Dispatch, in 2000, 13 of central Ohio’s corporate boards were dominated by insiders — company executives, consultants and lawyers. Some owned jets that they leased to their companies. Others owned office buildings that their companies rented. Still others were relatives of the CEO.

Bottom line? Corruption by any other name is often called doing business in many countries, and in some countries, it is truly considered an art form. Who do you know? How do you take care of your friends and the friends of your friends? What financial favors do they do for each other? Unfortunately, in many cases, if you don't play by the rules of the GOB's (Good Ole Boys), there can be a heavy price to pay, unemployment.

So, for all of you who are looking at a high powered future, study the rule books and stick to your guns, but, unless you work for an absolutely wonderful board, hold onto your hats because situational ethics can be very difficult to surmount.

Regarding ethics in the military, Robert Prentice, a professor of business law at the McCombs School, said, "Nobody up the line is taking responsibility. Everyone is trying to pin it on the little guys." Remember, that little guy could end up being YOU.

Final thought, putting on make-up or shaving in the morning usually requires one to look in the mirror, and that can become challenging for those who are better known as the players. Of course, that depends on the situation.