INTER-ETHICAL COMPETENCE

ESSENTIAL FOR MASTERING THE CHALLENGES OF MULTI-ETHICALITY

The following example is the second of two courses designed as part of an ethical transformation programme for a multinational organisation, based in Switzerland. The 45-year-old company designs and produces automated technology solutions for the automotive and airline industries.

Triggered partly by the dire economic consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic, but also by political developments in certain countries and changes within the ownership and Supervisory Board, the company’s vision and strategy have been radically revised. Certain departments are to be significantly downsized, major investments are to be made in the field of artificial intelligence and strategic alliances have been established by the newly constituted Supervisory Board with automated technology organisations in China and Nigeria.

The running of an ethical transformation programme for the top- and middle-management was not originally planned, but has been necessitated by an increasing number of resignations received from key staff and by escalating tensions and conflicts inside the organisation. Most of the resignations and tensions are due to conflicting deep-rooted values and what employees feel to be threats to their most deeply-held convictions.

Participation in this course prerequires participation in the first course entitled ‘Ethical Competence’ and is restricted to a maximum of 5 attendees.

The objectives agreed with senior management for this particular part of the transformation programme are:

  1. to deepen the participants’ understanding of multi-ethicality and the challenges which this presents when working in an ethically dynamic organisation functioning in a global context which is a) both veritably multi-ethical and b) simultaneously subject to mono-ethical, morally- and legally-binding prescriptions;
  2. to work towards a level of inter-ethical competence which will enable the participants to function at interfaces between differing ethical systems in a way which anticipates, prevents and overcomes ethically-based dissonance and which does not cause them personal distress.

The course will comprise a first module of three days and, after two weeks, a second two-day module.

The methodology will be empathetic, challenging and fundamental: it will use case-studies, ethical theory, first-hand experience and interactive discussions.

Between the two modules, the participants will work on reading- and implementation-tasks. Personal reflections and follow-up support are also provided as an option.

Tutors

  • Stuart D.G. Robinson
  • Dr Alan Ettlin

A cooperation between


Mono-Ethicality in a Multi-Ethical World

“Ethical supremacy is often used as a powerful protectionist tool.”

Applying inter-ethical competence to recognise the ‘ethics-behind-the-ethics’ of various organisations, national economies and economic unions.

Multi-Ethicality in Business

“There are virtually no managers who have received adequate training in inter-ethical competence

  • even though we factually live in a multi-ethical world,
  • even though different organisations, national economies and economic unions are conditioned to assert their own mono-ethical system
  • even though developments, particularly in digitalisation and artificial intelligence, require businesses to fully understand their own ethical premises and those of their competitors, their partners, their clients and other stakeholders more than ever before.”

Applying inter-ethical competence in strategic and operational matters in both local and global contexts – to include interactions within the organisation and externally with partners, clients and others.

Multi-Ethicality & Ethical Fluidity in Private Life

“Just as the difference between a community’s ethics and one’s personal deep-ethics can present very significant, often life-threatening challenges, so also the development from mono-ethicality to ethical fluidity.”

Applying inter-ethical competence in close relationships.


We ask for your understanding that, for reasons concerning confidentiality and contextuality, we only run these courses as part of in-house programmes.

For enquiries about about the inter-ethical competence course, please contact us through info@bbv-consultancy.com or +41 44 512 1660.