Rotary District 9600

‘Ethical Challenges’ - Program Ideas and Resources

Program Idea #7 - IS THE 4-WAY TEST A ‘MODEL T’

It is generally accepted that talks or lecturesdo not raise people’s ethical practices. Stimulating people’s thinking about effective and practical ethical guidelines is a more effective approach to applied ethics. Therefore participative processes such as debating and discussing practical ethical issues can be a powerful aid in the review of one’s ethical values and principles. These program ideas are devised so that they can be led by a committed club, possibly the Vocational Service Co-ordinator, and most can be completed within a standard club program ‘guest speaker’ segment of 25-30 minutes.

Outline / Activity / Timing
guide
Setting the scene / General introduction to the relevance of ethics and being a Rotarian.Rotary in most clubs seems to have a prime emphasis on community service and fellowship.
However Rotary guidelines appear to put significant emphasis on ethical practices to be demonstrated by Rotarians. For example there are the 4-Way Test, Object 2 within the Objects of Rotary and theDeclaration for Rotarians in Business and Professions. Of these the 4-Way Test is the most well known and simplest guide. In the 1990’s a survey was conducted with the members of the Rotary Club of Sydney. One result reported was that ‘20% said that the 4-way test had little or no relevance to their lives’. This raises a question as to whether the problem lies with the Rotarians for not embracing this ‘ethical guideline’ or with the test itself. ‘Is it still relevant?’or is it like the Model T – a wonderful initiative at the time but now technically out of date?
Indicate you will be giving members a realistic task in small groups, ideally of 4-6, to consider the current relevance of the 4-Way Test and suggest any changes. / 5mins
Setting the task / Distribute copies of the Rotary 4-Way Test to all members or show it on a PowerPoint slide. Advise they have 10 minutes to discuss the following questions in their small groups.
You have been selected by the Rotary International President to be on a Working Party to review the current relevance of the 4-Way Test and to bring back recommendations to the RI Board regarding any changes desirable. You have been given the following questions to start your review:
  • Does it address the key issues involved in making ethical decisions?
  • Are there significant questions missing?
  • Is concern about commitment to ethical practices by Rotarians as relevant today as it was in 1932?
  • Is it still a useful ‘ethical guide’?
/ 10 mins
Debriefing the task / Seek quick comments from each group.
Get feedback from one group on the first question and ask generally if others have anything additional to add or a different perspective.
Move on to Group 2 for a response on Question 2 and so on until the questions posed have been addressed. / 10 mins
Conclusion /
  • Bring together key issues which emerged from responses to the discussion.
  • Highlight what are the apparent challenges to the average Rotarian in addressing ethical issues today.
  • Suggest that as Rotarians it is useful to regularly review the 4-Way Test, Objects of Rotary and Declaration for Rotarians in Business and Professions, and challenge ourselves with the consistency of our practices with these ethical ideals.
  • If presented in Vocational Service Month (October) make the connection.
/ 5 mins
30 mins

Prepared by the Rotary District 9600 Ethics and Conflict Management Committee to assist Clubs and Rotarians in pursuing one of the Objects of Rotary - ‘to encourage and foster high ethical standards in business and professions’.