Engineering Ethics and Difficult Decision Making | Justine Metz | TEDxCSM

Summary

In a world where distinguishing fact from fiction is increasingly difficult, the speaker highlights the importance of ethics in decision-making. Using a group project scenario, they emphasize the need for clear rules, shared risk assessment, and personal accountability. By 'engineering ethics' within a group, members can align their actions towards a common goal, ensuring quality outcomes. The speaker argues that defining measurable standards and committing to them is essential for success, whether in academics or broader societal contexts, where misinformation and fake news continue to challenge our ability to make informed decisions.

Takeaways

• 😀 The distinction between what is real and what is not has become blurred over time, leading to confusion in decision-making and ethics.
• 😀 Fake news has become a pervasive issue, making it harder for people to discern truth from falsehoods.
• 😀 Ethics and decision-making processes need to be engineered in a way that ensures consistency and accountability, especially in uncertain environments.
• 😀 In group assignments, different levels of commitment and risk tolerance among team members can significantly affect the outcome of the project.
• 😀 It's crucial to assess the risk tolerance of each team member at the beginning of a group assignment to understand the level of effort required.
• 😀 Establishing clear, measurable rules at the start of a project ensures that everyone is on the same page and accountable for their responsibilities.
• 😀 Measurable rules and commitments lead to higher chances of success by keeping the team focused and aligned towards the same goal.
• 😀 Defining the rules and risk tolerance creates a framework for ethical decision-making and helps avoid confusion when making difficult decisions.
• 😀 The idea of 'walking the walk and talking the talk' highlights the importance of living up to commitments and ensuring that ethics are followed in practice.
• 😀 Even with a well-engineered process, success isn't guaranteed, but clear ethical standards and decision-making rules significantly increase the odds of achieving the desired outcome.
• 😀 In a world full of uncertainty and misinformation, deliberately engineering ethics and decision-making frameworks is essential to navigating challenges and making good decisions.

Q & A

What is the main theme of the speech?

The main theme of the speech is the importance of ethics, risk tolerance, and decision-making in group assignments, especially in the context of today’s media landscape where distinguishing between real and fake information is increasingly difficult.

How does the speaker relate the National Enquirer to the concept of fake news?

The speaker contrasts the National Enquirer, a tabloid that people knew was fake, with today’s fake news, highlighting that in the past, fake news was obviously false, but now, it's harder to distinguish between real and fake information in mainstream media.

What example does the speaker use to illustrate how group work can be affected by differing information sources?

The speaker uses the example of a group assignment where some members use questionable information while others rely on irrefutable sources. This discrepancy can lead to contradictory conclusions or potentially flawed recommendations, demonstrating how important it is to work with credible information.

What role does risk tolerance play in the group assignment scenario?

Risk tolerance helps define how much the group cares about the outcome of the project. If the project is high-risk (important for members’ grades), they will approach it with more care and accountability, whereas low-risk projects might result in less commitment and effort from the team.

What does the speaker mean by 'engineering ethics' in the context of decision-making?

‘Engineering ethics’ refers to deliberately creating a framework of ethical guidelines and decision-making processes to ensure that individuals or teams are making well-informed, accountable, and aligned choices.

How can measurable rules improve group performance in a project?

Measurable rules allow teams to track progress, ensure accountability, and make sure everyone is living up to the commitments they've made. By having clear, quantifiable standards, the group can monitor its own success and correct course if needed.

Why is it important for group members to define their risk tolerance early on in a project?

Defining risk tolerance early helps the group understand how seriously each member takes the project. If the project is important to the majority, it sets the tone for the level of effort and responsibility expected, ensuring alignment and commitment.

What is the significance of setting rules like 'meeting weekly' or 'submitting deliverables on time' in the group assignment?

Setting rules like regular meetings and timely submissions establishes structure and ensures accountability. These commitments create a framework that helps the group stay focused and organized, which increases the likelihood of achieving the desired outcome.

What does the speaker mean by 'walking the walk and talking the talk' in the context of group ethics?

‘Walking the walk and talking the talk’ means that the team members should not only talk about their ethical commitments and responsibilities but also actively demonstrate them through their actions. This reinforces the group’s commitment to its shared values.

How does the speaker suggest that ethics and decision-making can help with distinguishing real from fake information in today’s world?

The speaker suggests that by engineering ethics—defining risks, setting clear rules, and holding everyone accountable—teams can make better, more informed decisions, even when the information they encounter may be uncertain or misleading. Ethical decision-making processes help mitigate the impact of fake news or unreliable sources.