1 college and university auditors of virginia ethics (and why good leaders go bad) craig anderson...
TRANSCRIPT
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College and University Auditors of Virginia
ETHICS(And Why Good Leaders Go Bad)
Craig Anderson Deputy Director, University Audit
Virginia Commonwealth University
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OUTLINE
1. Introduction / Background
2. General Thoughts & Principles
3. “Slippery Slope” Model
4. Closing Comments & Questions
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INTRODUCTION
My Background / Biases VCU Experience Prior Experiences
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WHAT IS ETHICS ?
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WHAT IS ETHICS ?
Merriam-Webster:
Discipline dealing with what is Good & Bad, with Moral Duty & Obligation
Set or System of Moral Values and Principles
A Guiding Philosophy
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WHAT ARE THE OBSTACLES TO ETHICAL BEHAVIOR &
DECISION-MAKING ? How much Gray exists? What kind of “Gray” have you
encountered?
And Many Times: It’s Easy to Do the Wrong Thing It’s Hard to Do the Right Thing
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WHY IS IT EASY TO DO THE WRONG THING ?
Lack of Knowledge of the Expectations or Requirements
Lack of training in the “right way to do things”
Lack of Accountability Intent
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SLIPPERY SLOPE MODEL
Even if You Win the Rat Race, You’re Still a Rat.
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WHY IS IT HARD TO DO THE RIGHT THING ?
Frustration with Policies or Procedures (without understanding the reason for those P&P)
Time or Departmental Pressures Competing Priorities Short-Term Impacts
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SO WHY DO GOOD LEADERS GO BAD ?
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SLIPPERY SLOPE MODEL
1. The Early Years
2. Entitlement
3. Arrogance
4. Greed
5. The Fall from Grace
OSCAR WILDE
Morality, like art, means drawing a line somewhere
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SLIPPERY SLOPE MODEL
STAGE 1 - THE EARLY YEARS
“He was impressive, young and aggressive, saving the world on his own” (Jimmy Buffett)
Talent, Hard Work, Very aggressive Knows & Respects “the rules” Usually rises rapidly in the organization What other characteristics do you see?
WILLIAM J H BOETCKER
That you may retain your self respect, it is better to displease people by doing what is right than to temporarily please them by doing what you know is wrong.
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SLIPPERY SLOPE MODEL
STAGE 2 - ENTITLEMENT I Earned It – “You don’t look smart
enough to find it if I did” I Deserve This – “If I can’t get a raise
I will get it another way” It Comes with the Territory – “How
will my kids go to college?” It’s No Big Deal – “I’m not the only
one doing this”
ALBERT EINSTEIN
Relativity applies to physics,
Not ethics.
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SLIPPERY SLOPE MODEL
STAGE 3 - ARROGANCE
They Start to Believe the Press Clippings All the Successes are due to My Efforts This Department couldn’t survive without
me and my Grants Better to Ask Forgiveness than
Permission
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SLIPPERY SLOPE MODEL
Don’t get down in the Mud
with a Pig; You Both get Dirty
but Only the Pig Enjoys It.
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SLIPPERY SLOPE MODEL
STAGE 4 - GREED
Earth provides Enough to Satisfy Every Man’s Needs, but
Not Every Man’s Greeds
GANDHI
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SLIPPERY SLOPE MODEL
STAGE 4 - GREED At this point, the Leader’s Greeds take
precedence over the Organization’s Needs The Leader’s Priorities drive the Organization’s
Priorities The Leader’s Actions no longer support the
Organization’s Mission What can we do to prevent some of these very
real issues?
NATIVE AMERICAN PROVERB
A Native American grandfather talking to his young grandson tells the boy he has two wolves inside of him struggling with each other. The first is the wolf of peace, love and kindness. The other wolf is fear, greed and hatred. "Which wolf will win, grandfather?" asks the young boy. "Whichever one I feed," is the reply.
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SLIPPERY SLOPE MODEL
DENIAL
Don’t Listen/Watch when the Foundation is Crumbling
“This is a Short-Term Problem”
“I Know Better than They Do; I Built this Place”
PLATO ~ 400 BC
Good people do not need laws to tell them to act responsibly, while bad people will find a way around the laws.
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SLIPPERY SLOPE MODEL
STAGE 5 - THE FALL
Cumulative Effect of: Entitlement Arrogance Greed
POTTER STEWART
Ethics is knowing the difference between what you have a right to do and what is right to do.
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SO WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE ?
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YOUR RESPONSIBILITY Educate yourself –understand the relevant
policies and procedures Establish strong relationships with your
Deans/AVPs/Chairs Ask for Help when you don’t understand Lead By Example – if you mess up they will
remember and throw it back at you!!! Speak up when you see something wrong – it
doesn’t have to be in a report
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SUMMARY
Power is the Common Denominator in the most damaging cases I’ve worked on
Absolute Power Corrupts, Absolutely There is no Reset Button in Life
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EVERYTHING I NEED TO KNOW ABOUT ETHICS I
LEARNED IN KINDERGARTEN
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CLOSING THOUGHTS
Across our Organizations, Thousands of Good, Sound, Ethical Decisions are Made Every Day.
One Person CAN Make a Difference !
MARK TWAIN
Always do right;
This will gratify some
And astonish the rest.
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ELBERT HUBBARD
The path of least resistance is what makes rivers run crooked.
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Case Studies:
Case Study 1 – Pcard Misuse
Case Study 2 – Grant Fraud
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CLOSING
Questions Comments Thank You !