Integrity, Morality and Ethics: Definitions and Applications (Jensen, Rotman Magazine)

Practice flashcards covering key concepts from the Rotman Magazine interview with Michael Jensen on integrity, its relation to morality and ethics, the Word framework, the Veil of Invisibility, and related examples.

How does Jensen differentiate integrity from morality and ethics?

Integrity is a purely positive proposition that simply is and has nothing to do with good or bad. Morality and ethics are normative: morality is a society's standards of right and wrong for individuals and groups; ethics is the normative set of values for a group or organization.

What does Jensen mean by integrity as being 'whole and complete' in daily life?

A person is whole and complete when their word is whole and complete; their word is whole and complete when they honor their word by keeping it on time or by informing and cleaning up when they cannot keep it.

How can we honor our word according to the interview?

Honor your word by keeping it on time or, if you cannot, informing all parties and cleaning up the resulting mess.

What foundation does Jensen say is essential for integrity with oneself?

Giving your word to yourself: who you are is your word and you are a person of integrity.

What is the Ontological Law of Integrity's effect on performance?

Integrity is necessary for maximum performance; if you are in integrity you have maximum workability, but integrity alone is not sufficient to guarantee maximum performance.

How does integrity relate to workability, performance, and trust?

Integrity creates workability and potential for high performance; honoring your word can increase trust with others, and being honest about delays can strengthen relationships.

What are the three components that determine integrity of an object or system?

Design, implementation, and use—the three aspects must all be whole and complete for maximum performance.

What is an example of an out-of-integrity object?

A 300-pound person using a life preserver designed for a 50-pound child; such mismatch makes the object unreliable and reduces safety and performance.

Why is cost/benefit analysis inappropriate for honoring one's word?

Treating honoring your word as a cost/benefit calculation virtually guarantees you will not be in integrity.

What are the 'The Eleven Factors of the Veil of Invisibility'?

A set of factors that conceal the true costs of out-of-integrity behavior and explain why people fail to see that their word is their identity.

Veil Factor 1: Not seeing that who you are as a person is your word

Believing your identity is your body, thoughts, possessions, title, or status rather than your word.

Veil Factor 2: Living as if Word1 and Word4 are all that constitute your word

Words 2, 3, 5, and 6 are invisible, so people act as if only what they said (Word1) and what they assert (Word4) constitute their word.

Veil Factor 3: Integrity as a virtue rather than a production factor

Integrity is treated as a virtue to be admired rather than a necessary condition for performance.

Veil Factor 4: Self-deception about being out-of-integrity

People rationalize their actions and act against their own integrity; there is a gap between espoused theory and theory-in-use.

Veil Factor 5: Integrity is keeping one’s word

The belief that integrity equals keeping one’s word no matter what ignores contingencies and can fail to engender trust.

Veil Factor 6: Fear of acknowledging you are not going to keep your word

Fear leads to hiding not keeping your word, resulting in loss of power and respect; honesty about the failure is better long term.

Veil Factor 7: Integrity is not seen as a factor of production

Leads to false causes of failure and conceals violations of the Law of Integrity.

Veil Factor 8: Not doing a cost/benefit analysis on giving one’s word

People fail to analyze what keeping their word will take, leading to irresponsible commitments.

Veil Factor 9: Doing a cost/benefit analysis on honoring one’s word

If honoring your word depends on costs versus benefits, the word becomes meaningless and trust declines.

Veil Factor 10: Integrity is a Mountain with No Top

Integrity is never fully achieved; one must continually climb and accept that there is no final top.

Veil Factor 11: Not having your word in existence when it comes time to keep your word

You need your word readily present in order to honor it; without a reliable existence of your word, you cannot keep it.

What is the definition of Integrity of an Organization?

An organization is in integrity when it is whole and complete with respect to its word and it honors its word both internally and externally.

What is included in One's Word?

What you said (Word1), what you know to do (Word2), what is expected of you (Word3), what you say is so (Word4), what you stand for (Word5), and the social, moral, and legal standards of your society (Word6) are all part of your word unless you publicly decline.

How are Morality and Ethics defined in this interview?

Morality is society's standards of right and wrong for individuals and groups; Ethics are the agreed upon standards within a group, possibly with discipline for violations.

What service-failure example illustrates that honoring your word can create a positive experience?

A hotel example where a reservation is full; front desk cannot find another room, but staff provide a dining room setup with cots and bedding, and the guests rate it as an outstanding service encounter.