Business Ethics

Make sound calls when the right answer isn't obvious

Why It Matters

Ethical lapses rarely start with bad intent. They start with a small favor, a rounded number, or a decision nobody wanted to question. In public-sector and government contracting environments, those moments carry added weight: procurement rules, public trust, and audit exposure. Employees need more than a code of conduct on file. They need a practical way to think through gray areas and the confidence to speak up. Organizations that build that habit protect their reputation, their contracts, and their people.

Course Description

Realistic dilemmas drive the course, not abstract philosophy. Participants work through a simple decision framework: clarify the facts, identify who is affected, check the relevant rules and values, weigh options, and test the decision against how it would look if made public. Small groups apply it to scenarios drawn from typical workplace situations, including a vendor offering event tickets, pressure to adjust a report before a deadline, and a hiring decision involving a friend. Discussion covers conflicts of interest, gifts and favors, accurate recordkeeping, and the difference between legal and ethical. A segment on speaking up gives people language for raising concerns with a supervisor or through formal channels. Participants finish by identifying the ethical risk points in their own role and the resources they would turn to.

Key Focus Areas

Participants explore and practice:

A step-by-step framework for ethical decision-making in gray areas
Recognizing and disclosing conflicts of interest
Gifts, favors, and vendor relationships in public-sector and contractor settings
Accurate reporting, recordkeeping, and resisting pressure to shade the facts
Raising concerns with supervisors and through formal reporting channels

Learning Outcomes

Participants will be able to:

Apply a structured framework to analyze an ethical dilemma
Identify potential conflicts of interest in their own role
Explain the appropriate steps for raising an ethical concern
Evaluate common workplace scenarios for legal and reputational risk

Who Should Attend

Employees in government agencies and public programs
Staff at government contractors and grantees
Supervisors and managers
Procurement, finance, and program staff
New hires learning organizational standards

Delivery and Customization

Examples, scenarios, and activities are adapted to your audience and goals. Delivery is available in person, virtually, or in a hybrid format, as a standalone session or as part of a series. Format and length are agreed during scoping.

Related Courses

Professional Conduct at Work · Teamwork, Culture & Inclusion
Accountability in the Workplace · Leadership & Management
Contract Management · Operations & Project Management
Harassment Prevention for All Employees · Teamwork, Culture & Inclusion

Bring Business Ethics to your team

Tell us about your audience and goals. We will follow up to scope objectives, format, and timing.

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