Course Modules

Module 1: Introduction to Behavioral Ethics 

• What is behavioral ethics? Moving beyond "bad apples" to "bad barrels."
• System 1 vs. System 2 thinking and their impact on ethical decisions.
• Common cognitive biases that lead to unethical behavior (e.g., bounded ethicality, implicit bias, conformity bias).
• The role of situational factors (e.g., time pressure, fatigue, authority) in influencing conduct.
• Understanding the "slippery slope" of ethical fading.
• Case Study: Analyze a corporate ethical failure through the lens of behavioral ethics, identifying the underlying psychological factors.

Module 2: The Architecture of Ethical Decision-Making 

• Understanding ethical awareness, judgment, motivation, and action.
• Ethical blind spots and how to address them.
• The impact of moral licensing and self-serving bias.
• The power of framing and its influence on choices.
• Designing ethical "nudges" in processes and communications.
• Hands-on Exercise: Identify a specific ethical dilemma common in workplaces and brainstorm how cognitive biases might influence responses, then propose a "nudge" to guide ethical behavior.

Module 3: Building a Culture of Integrity and Psychological Safety 

• Components of a strong ethical culture: values, norms, artifacts.
• The importance of psychological safety for speak-up culture.
• Strategies for fostering trust and open communication.
• Creating an environment where employees feel safe to raise concerns without fear of retaliation.
• The role of informal networks and social norms in shaping behavior.
• Hands-on Exercise: Discuss current practices in your organization and brainstorm initiatives to enhance psychological safety and encourage employees to speak up.

Module 4: Ethical Leadership and Role Modeling 

• Tone at the top, tone in the middle, tone at the bottom: cascading ethical messages.
• Qualities of ethical leaders: integrity, authenticity, courage.
• How leaders can shape ethical behavior through their actions and decisions.
• Developing ethical courage and resilience in leadership.
• Coaching and mentoring for ethical development.
• Study Tour (Virtual/Video): A virtual tour or video presentation showcasing a company that has successfully cultivated a strong ethical culture through leadership commitment.

Module 5: Reinforcing Ethical Behavior and Continuous Improvement 

• Designing effective ethics training that incorporates behavioral insights.
• The power of storytelling and ethical dilemmas in training.
• Performance management systems that reward ethical conduct.
• Transparent accountability and consistent enforcement of ethical standards.
• Measuring ethical culture: surveys, climate assessments, behavioral metrics.
• Final Exercise: Participants develop a strategic plan for integrating behavioral ethics principles into their organization's existing ethics and compliance program, focusing on 3-5 key initiatives.