Dubai Women's College and Dubai Chamber's Center for Responsible Business launch Ethics Simulation

The planning and development of the Ethics Simulation project took place with the collaboration of the Higher Colleges of Technology (DWC, Dubai Men's College, and Sharjah Colleges), University of Wollongong in Dubai, Dubai University College, RAK-Medical and Health Sciences University, and Zayed University.

Recognizing the significance of problem solving and ethical decision-making in life and at the workplace, the e-learning tool allows the participants to identify the ethical and legal complexities that influence decision-making in typical business settings, and apply organizational ethics in business environments.

In addition, the Ethics Simulation helps participants understand the relationship between personal morality and ethical behavior in a professional setting.

The Ethics Simulation tool consists of three simulations on career path, ethical development, and downsizing and diseases. Each simulation contains three case studies that cover topics including business ethics and decision-making in Health Science, Communication Technology and Media, Information Technology and more.

At the end of each case study, participants receive feedback about how they solved the ethical dilemma. Although the feedback does not say if the decision was right or wrong, it addresses the ethical considerations of the decisions taken and their impact.

The project, funded by the Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT) and Shell EP International Limited, was initially launched in 2006 with the first phase which has since then developed into a second and third phases and were launched today for the general public.

"The collaboration between the HCT and CRB has resulted in a real-life educational e-learning tool that is designed for the Middle-East region. Students, business decision-makers, and CSR specialists will find the tool highly beneficial since it addresses ethical issues that most face during their career development," said Dr. Howard Reed, Senior Director at the HCT and Director at DWC.

Clare Woodcraft, Regional Communications Director from Shell noted that Shell was one of the first multinational companies to publish its business principles back in the 1970s.

"Supporting the Ethics Simulation project was a very logical decision and one Shell is very proud of," she said.

While the tool enhances discussions on ethics dilemmas that employees face in their daily jobs, it generates open-ended discussions which lead to increased awareness on ethics.

"All case studies present ethical dilemmas that are framed within 'company culture', where users are provided with policy documents and expert opinions, and a simulated 'user-conscience' which points out possible repercussions before decisions occur and enable the users to change their mind before they commit," noted Mark Karstad, E-Learning Coordinator at DWC and project manager and instructional designer for the simulation.

The Ethics Simulation can also be used by businesses as part of their in-house ethics trainings, or by managers and other CSR professionals to prepare them for decision-making issues that may arise in the workplace. The simulation can help to introduce discussions about ethical dilemmas in business, an essential step for any company wishing to foster a culture of institutional integrity.

"This open dialogue will assist companies to promote and contextualize their core organizational values, binding company's employees together by demonstrating the alignment between their own personal and corporate beliefs. This simulation will thus enable employees to recognize cultural differences and views on moral and ethical behavior, and to enable them align these views with the organization's beliefs and their own behavior." said Dr. Belaid Rettab, Director Data Management and Business Research at the Dubai Chamber.