How can knowledge of Kohlbergs stages of moral development b

How can knowledge of Kohlberg’s stages of moral development be useful in developing an organizational ethics program?

Solution

Kohlberg\'s has explained six stages which are further categorized into three levels. Let us see the connect between ethics and these level -

1) Preconventional - At this level individual\'s defer to the decisions made and at later stage they try to please the authority to fulfill own desires. This is a important level from ethics program perspective as it is not in the best of the organization that employees are pleasing their bosses to fulfill their own desires so ethics programs should account this for.

2) Conventional - At this level individual starts respecting authority\'s decisions and folloing them out of respect. Ethics program should consider the stage of employee at this level as they are most loyal for the company at this point of time.

3) Postconventional - Kohlberg\'s highest stages of moral development are called postconventional and involve a recognition of the social contract and of universal ethical principles. Employees at this level are very senior and at higher level with crucial decision making powers so ethical program should take this into account.