Sport Management

Ethical Principles

Morals vs. EthicsMorals

Conformity to established rules, or accepted notions of right and wrong.

Examples: Athletes taking steroids Teammates giving their

best effort In business…trusting other

parties will deliver the agreed upon goods or service

Shared Morality – society depends on people upholding certain basic values. It cultivates trust between strangers and enables us to function in society.

Ethics Involves more difficult questions

of rightness, fairness or equity. Ethics – values that guide our

decision making Ethical dilemmas involve equally

important/compelling values. Ethical dilemmas are solved

when we decide which values are most important; which values will be held to a higher standard

Examples: Should the high school

basketball coach play everyone equally?

Should NFL games continue after 9/11 attacks?

Ethical Considerations

When Making Ethical Decisions, Consider That…

The outcomes of ethical decisions affect a diverse group of people whose interests are in conflict (athletes, fans, community businesses, media).

Ethical decisions in sport fall under great public scrutiny.

Ethical Considerations

How to Make Ethical Decisions1. Make a rational argument for each viewpoint2. Weigh the pros and cons of each,

considering…a) Financial costsb) Effect on organization’s reputationc) The lawd) Impact on winning

Ethical Considerations

Codes of Conduct/Ethics When faced with ethical decisions,

managers shouldn’t look at just their own values to aid in decision making.

Must consider the values of the society in which they live and/or the values of the organization in which they work.

How do organizations tell employees about their values? Code of Conduct/Ethics

Ethical Considerations

Code of Conduct/Ethics – Visible statement of an organization’s ethical

philosophy and beliefs. Outlines the values under which an organization

operates. Provides employees with guidelines for their behavior,

and establishes how ethical issues will be handled. Found in every type of organization and corporation in

the U.S. Typically clear, straightforward, not long or complex;

focuses on the goals of the organization, not just rules and punishments.

Morality and Corruption

The biggest difference between moral decisions and ethical decisions is the extensive ramifications of immoral choices.

Immoral decisions can lead to corruption, which can destroy a business.

Corruption is systemic…it starts small but can eventually become standard operating procedure and there is no way to fix it…consequences go far beyond the people who started it.

Corporate Corruption Scandals

Corporate corruption scandals with ramifications on the sport world include…

1. WorldCom2. Enron3. Adelphia Communications

Enron Scandal Touches Sports Enron owned the naming rights to the Houston Astros’ ballpark. When the scandal surfaced, the Astros no longer wanted to be associated with Enron. They paid Enron over $2M to un-name stadium and later sold the naming rights to Coca Cola, who named it Minute Maid Park.

Adelphia Scandal Touches Sports

The founder of Adelphia, John Riggas, owned the NHL’s Buffalo Sabres. He used Adelphia funds to operate the team. At the time of the arrests, the team owed Adelphia $150 million. The NHL took over the team to try to save it, but it eventually declared bankruptcy and was sold to new owners.

Immoral Behavior of Parents

Violence, bad language, abuse and general bad behaviour of parents has undermined all the terrific benefits of youth sports.

Immoral Behavior of Parents

Preserving the Integrity of Youth Sports1. Parental Code of Conduct2. PSA’s directed at parents; to see themselves

through the eyes of their children3. Local organizations dedicated to promoting ethical

behavior in sports Lehigh Valley Coalition on Sport Ethics