D.Litt. et Phil. / The moral tone and ethical consciousness of an organisation are often reflected in everyday spoken discourse. Discourse (both written and verbal) sends a message about how an organisation does business. Ethical discourse, in turn, sends a message about the ‘right’ and ‘wrong’ way of conducting business, which helps people make better decisions. When business related ethical issues are openly and honestly discussed it propels ethical awareness which in turn may inspire responsible action. Ethical awareness increases responsiveness and sensitivity to ethical issues, as well as enhanced ethical decision-making. The notion of “moral” talk in organisations, i.e. talking about ethics, or organisational “ethics talk” (OET), has however, been scantily addressed in business ethics research and literature (the exception being the work of Waters and Bird in the late 1980s). It can be postulated that OET may be a powerful vehicle for the institutionalisation of ethics in the organisations. For it to be utilised optimally, it has to be placed under theoretical scrutiny before it can be applied in organisational ethics management initiatives. The primary objective of this research was to design an appropriate conceptual framework from which to develop a substantive model for (OET) in an attempt to clarify the concept and its components. A qualitative methodology with grounded theory as a research strategy was employed to develop the substantive model. Eight ethics experts (N=8) were purposively selected to partake as research participants, chosen because of their knowledge, education and experience in the field of business ethics. The research participants’ perceptions, experience and understanding of OET were explored to develop the substantive model. The primary data collection method was semi-structured interviews, which generated rich and descriptive data. The data was systematically analysed using grounded x theory. An in-depth literature review was undertaken following the fieldwork. This was integrated with results of the data analysis once the theoretical directions had become clear. Member checking was executed throughout the research process and a focus group was conducted to verify interpretations and substantiate the initial OET model. The outcomes of the focus group discussion resulted in the drafting of the final model for OET. Based on the findings, OET was defined as intra-organisational spoken or written articulation that reflects the consideration of the ethical interests of (a) the ‘self’ (e.g. organisation, the well being of its members in particular context), and (b) the ‘other’ (e.g. other internal and external stakeholders, other organisations, society). The central elements of the model consist of the following themes: enabling contextual factors, potential catalysts, barriers to OET and effects thereof, categorisation of OET, forms of OET, purposive and unintentional OET, motivations for OET and resulting effects (i.e. outcome versus no outcome).

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This research explores methods to improve code of conduct effectiveness. Misconduct is a common phenomenon in the business environment, even in the face of increased regulation, and the adoption of codes of conduct by organisations. This impacts negatively on organisations’ reputations, results in financial loss, and has a negative impact on the sustainability of businesses. While researchers suggest that codes of conduct should reduce misconduct and improve the ethical culture of organisations, mixed research results suggest codes of conduct are not always effective. While research into code of conduct effectiveness proliferates, seldom does such research take a holistic approach to understanding effectiveness of codes of conduct. Models proposed to better research code of conduct effectiveness, such as Kaptein and Schwartz’ (2008) integrated research model, do not present guidelines for better developing and implementing codes of conduct. Therefore the primary research objective was to develop a benchmarking framework which could provide insight into factors that could influence code of conduct effectiveness, and provide guidelines on how these factors should be influenced and accounted for to improve code of conduct effectiveness. Content of codes of conduct can play an important part in code of conduct effectiveness, yet they vary enormously in terms of provisions, language, tone, style, design. Some are directional or rules based, others aspirational, or values based. Bettcher, Deshpandé, Margolis and Paine (2005) developed the Global Business Standards Codex that depicted the most commonly found provisions in organisations they surveyed. A secondary research objective was therefore to apply this codex to the evaluation of participating organisations codes of conduct, and in so doing, evaluate the suitability of the codex as a benchmarking framework for the content of the code of conduct. Adopting a grounded theory methodological approach and code of conduct content analysis, the researcher investigated nine of South Africa’s largest multinational organisations in order to understand the factors influencing their code of conduct effectiveness better. The research makes a significant contribution to the understanding of codes of conduct, their effectiveness, and provides practical guidelines on improving their effectiveness. This is achieved by 1) presenting nine formulae for an effective code of conduct; 2) detailing a multi-dimensional model that can facilitate the effectiveness of codes of conduct; and 3) improving the codex developed by Bettcher et al. (2005) on the content of codes of conduct with the proposed code of conduct architecture criterion.

In today‘s world, characterised by highly competitive global economies, organisations have realised the need for a positive approach in order to remain competitive, sustainable and to attract and retain talent. A positive approach to leadership and an organisational environment characterised by trust has been one of the fundamental tools towards achieving this goal. The main objective of the present study was to assess the existence of positive organizational approaches (authentic leadership and workplace trust) within the government of Lesotho, especially at a time when the country was facing difficulties. The study was descriptive in nature, and followed a non-experimental quantitative approach. The survey made use of a sample of 153 civil servants occupying positions from supervisory to senior management. Data was acquired through the use of an electronic questionnaire made up of two scales: one was a self-assessment instrument on authentic leadership adopted from Walumbwa and associates, and the other scale was on workplace trust developed by Natalie Ferres. The analysis of data involved descriptive statistics, t-tests, ANOVA, post hoc tests and Cohen‘s d. The results of the study provided evidence that there were high levels of the authentic leadership and trust in the workplace. Demographic variables were not found to influence the outcome of authentic leadership scores, however, education and managerial level were found to have an influence on organisational trust. The findings of the study provoked the researcher to call for an implementation of policy on positive training for management and for further research in this area.

This thesis is about potentiality theory and the right to life. It is an attempt to distil the potentiality position into its strongest incarnation in order to see what it has to offer. In Chapter I various attempts to discredit potentiality theory are examined. Particular emphasis is placed on Michael Tooley's defense of abortion and infanticide and his critique of potentiality theory. It is concluded that a well articulated potentiality position need not lead to any obvious absurdity, and can resist the charge of philosophical arbitrariness. Thus, the potentiality position is a legitimate contender in the right to life dispute. In Chapter II, we ask the question whether the potential to become a person is sufficient for the right to life, or is actual personhood necessary? Various attempted resolutions are considered and rejected. It is concluded that the issue is still quite debateable but that some support for the potentiality position can be found in a Rawls-type validation procedure. / Arts, Faculty of / Philosophy, Department of / Graduate

Little research has explored the dilemmas of practice experienced by practitioners working with rehabilitation clients who are assimilating disabilities, resulting from injury or chronic conditions, into their lives. Consequently, there is limited literature to support educational initiatives or clinicians' decision-making in these settings. Accordingly, this qualitative study was designed to explore 'expert' physical therapists' perceptions of dilemmas of practice in rehabilitation settings. Using an ethnographic design, multiple interviews were conducted over a period of six months with each of ten participants. The researcher's theoretical background and 'insider' role were thoroughly explicated. Interpretive analysis was grounded in three overarching themes that emerged from the participants' accounts and compared with relevant theoretical constructs and research in physical therapy and other health professions. In the first theme the 'authority' of the concept of evidence-based practice as it is currently promoted within physical therapy was questioned. A need was identified to develop rigorous alternative sources of 'evidence' to support current practice that are more congruent with the multifactorial and client-centred nature of rehabilitation service provision. A second theme explored situations interpreted as causing moral distress in which the participants found themselves prevented from acting effectively on behalf of the clients, as a result of admission and discharge decisions and perceived misuse of rehabilitation resources within the organization and health system. The third theme related to the advantages and disadvantages of being involved with the interdisciplinary team. A lack of understanding of different professional philosophies of practice was perceived as a contributing factor to conflict and miscommunication. These themes are related to issues of professional accountability and suggest that physical therapy needs to develop a clearly articulated philosophy and conceptual models, including the concept of client-centred practice, that would reflect practice, serve to guide research and promote interdisciplinary collaboration. Alternative sources of 'best' evidence need to be developed that more realistically reflect complex 'practice' knowledge. In addition, the profession needs to commit to developing a comprehensive ethics curriculum offered in education programs and through interdisciplinary learning opportunities, by which physical therapists will be better prepared for the moral deliberations inherent in their professional role. / Education, Faculty of / Educational Studies (EDST), Department of / Graduate

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The Principle of Double Effect has served as a guide for both statesmen and soldiers since the middle ages in determining which acts in war are morally permissible and which are not. It is used, in particular, by those who make their moral decisions on the basis of certain moral rules that concern the moral consequences of action. This Principle of Double Effect (hereafter referred to as PDE) comes into play in situations where an agent has the option of performing an act with both good and bad consequences. Advocates of PDE believe that it is morally significant whether a bad consequence is intended by the agent or merely forseen as incidental to an act that is in all other respects morally acceptable.^ Of great interest to moral philosophers discussing acts of war is how this principle applies to the deaths of persons not directly involved in the prosecution of the war. Proponents of the PDE claim that while it is morally impermissible to intentionally bring about the deaths of innocent people during combat, either as a means to a military objective or as a goal in itself, it is permissible under certain circumstances for an agent to choose a course of action which may bring about the deaths of innocent people as a forseeable consequence.

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