Lesson 2.1: Anticipating Ethical Risk in Strategic Decisions

Lesson Summary:
This lesson teaches leaders to recognize ethical dimensions in strategic planning, innovation, growth, and crisis response. It introduces foresight tools to assess long-term risks to values, people, and purpose.

Objectives:

• Equip leaders to scan for ethical risk in strategic and disruptive contexts

• Analyze stakeholder impact in long-range planning

• Evaluate how innovation and change can outpace ethical controls

Content Highlights:

• Identifying hidden stakeholders and vulnerable groups

• Ethical risks in automation, AI, and global partnerships

• Strategy, branding, and the integrity of public trust

Tools and Activities:

• Foresight Tool: “Ethical Risk Radar” – scanning tool for strategic planning

• Scenario Lab: Strategic dilemma (e.g., cost-cutting vs. social license)

• Interactive Exercise: “Stakeholder Impact Map”

• Decision Journal Template: Capturing rationale in uncertain contexts