Non-Western Approaches to Ethical Decision-Making

The previous lessons addressed the topic of ethical decision-making from an exclusively Western perspective. Western ethics is pervaded by 17th- and 18th-century European "Enlightenment ideas," such as beliefs in science, rationality, and progress. For instance, ethical choice resembles a step-by-step procedure that, similar to science, methodically seeks to secure progressively better results. In non-Western approaches, custom and tradition play a more prominent role in ethical choice. In HR, especially international HR, showing sensitivity to differences in values and beliefs is critical for success. Similarly, sensitivity to non-Western approaches to ethical decision-making is equally important in international HR decisions with an ethical dimension—e.g., whether to enforce a policy prohibiting employees from offering bribes to public officials at the Chinese subsidiary.

What follows is a brief sampling of non-Western moral values, each of which can direct choices about what is right and wrong in the process of ethical decision-making:

• Kyosei (Confucian/Japan): Cooperation aimed at promoting public welfare, or the common good.  
• Santutthi (Buddhist/Chinese): Self-control through the annihilation of desire or severe limitations on material comforts.
• Zakat (Muslim/Middle East): Duty to give alms to the poor.
• Dharma (Hindu/India): Acceptance of an inherited obligation.

How might these differing values manifest themselves? As an example, an HR manager at the Calcutta (India) subsidiary of a multinational corporation believes that she has an inherited duty (dharma) to protect and serve the interests of the less fortunate. Consequently, she is reluctant to terminate an employee who has stolen company property to feed his family.