The Elements and Impact of Ethical Decision Making We must first examine the thought process and define the meaning of morality. We continually make decisions without regard to ethics or moral values ​​on a daily basis. We can define morality as a system of shared rules or values ​​that dictate specific behavior when people interact. Morality or moral value is about doing the right thing and raises questions about how we should act in a given situation. According to John Wilcox and Susan Ebbs, in The Leadership Compass, "Moral behavior is primarily about how we treat each other, individually and in groups... - the key then is that morality puts us in touch with others and asks us to consider quality. of this contact” (Shanks, 1997). This article will discuss the elements of an ethically defensible decision and the impact of ethics on decision making. Basic Elements and Rules As in problem solving, we must first identify the problem, similarly, to morally sound decision making, we must first identify or recognize a moral problem. We do this by asking questions that determine whether an action is right or wrong by the standards of a given society. What is acceptable in one society may not be morally acceptable in another; however, the ethical relevance of the behavior does not change. Questions like: Will this behavior harm anyone? Could this be...... middle of paper ......ion today? Have I done more good than bad? Was I fair and just? There are others, but I think you get my point. The impact of ethics on decision-making is that it challenges us to become better individuals at all levels, by making us aware of our own actions and behaviors. We're really talking about expectations and we shouldn't expect more than we're willing to reinvest in society. ReferencesShanks, Thomas SJ, (1997). Markula Center for Applied Ethics. Everyday ethics. Accessed January 30, 2004 at: http://www.scu.edu/ethics/publications/iie/v8n1/everdayethics.html. Velasquez, M., Andre, C., Shanks, Thomas SJ and Meyer, MJ, (no date). Markkula Center for Applied Ethics. Thinking Ethically: A Framework for Moral Decision Making. Retrieved January 24, 2004 from: http://www.scu.edu/ethics/practicing/decision/thinking.html