Top 10 rationatizations@workBy Muel Kaptein, Partner at KPMG and Professor in Business Ethics

© 2015 KPMG Advisory N.V., registered with the trade register in the Netherlands under number 33263682, is a member firm of the KPMG network of independent member firms affiliated with KPMG International Cooperative (‘KPMG International’), a Swiss entity. All rights reserved. Printed in the Netherlands. The KPMG name, logo and ‘cutting through complexity’ are registered trademarks of KPMG International.

Rationalizations are invalid arguments for

trying to make unethical practices ethical.

© 2015 KPMG Advisory N.V., registered with the trade register in the Netherlands under number 33263682, is a member firm of the KPMG network of independent member firms affiliated with KPMG International Cooperative (‘KPMG International’), a Swiss entity. All rights reserved. Printed in the Netherlands. The KPMG name, logo and ‘cutting through complexity’ are registered trademarks of KPMG International.

Which of the following 10 rationalizations do you recognize most?

© 2015 KPMG Advisory N.V., registered with the trade register in the Netherlands under number 33263682, is a member firm of the KPMG network of independent member firms affiliated with KPMG International Cooperative (‘KPMG International’), a Swiss entity. All rights reserved. Printed in the Netherlands. The KPMG name, logo and ‘cutting through complexity’ are registered trademarks of KPMG International.

“Everyone does it…”

Reply:So when everyone murders it is allowed to

murder?

1.

© 2015 KPMG Advisory N.V., registered with the trade register in the Netherlands under number 33263682, is a member firm of the KPMG network of independent member firms affiliated with KPMG International Cooperative (‘KPMG International’), a Swiss entity. All rights reserved. Printed in the Netherlands. The KPMG name, logo and ‘cutting through complexity’ are registered trademarks of KPMG International.

“It is legal…”

Reply:So when there is no law everything is

allowed?

2.

© 2015 KPMG Advisory N.V., registered with the trade register in the Netherlands under number 33263682, is a member firm of the KPMG network of independent member firms affiliated with KPMG International Cooperative (‘KPMG International’), a Swiss entity. All rights reserved. Printed in the Netherlands. The KPMG name, logo and ‘cutting through complexity’ are registered trademarks of KPMG International.

“I am only doing what I’m asked to do…”

Reply:So you are a plaything of others, a robot

with no autonomy?

3.

© 2015 KPMG Advisory N.V., registered with the trade register in the Netherlands under number 33263682, is a member firm of the KPMG network of independent member firms affiliated with KPMG International Cooperative (‘KPMG International’), a Swiss entity. All rights reserved. Printed in the Netherlands. The KPMG name, logo and ‘cutting through complexity’ are registered trademarks of KPMG International.

“As long as no-one finds out…”

Reply:So when no one is watching everything is

allowed?

4.

© 2015 KPMG Advisory N.V., registered with the trade register in the Netherlands under number 33263682, is a member firm of the KPMG network of independent member firms affiliated with KPMG International Cooperative (‘KPMG International’), a Swiss entity. All rights reserved. Printed in the Netherlands. The KPMG name, logo and ‘cutting through complexity’ are registered trademarks of KPMG International.

“It’s only once…”Reply:

Unethical is unethical, whether it is done for the first time or second time.

5.

© 2015 KPMG Advisory N.V., registered with the trade register in the Netherlands under number 33263682, is a member firm of the KPMG network of independent member firms affiliated with KPMG International Cooperative (‘KPMG International’), a Swiss entity. All rights reserved. Printed in the Netherlands. The KPMG name, logo and ‘cutting through complexity’ are registered trademarks of KPMG International.

“They get what they deserve…”

Reply:You are always accountable for the means employed even when combating evil. And how will the vicious

circle of evil ever be broken if evil is continuously repaid with evil?

6.

© 2015 KPMG Advisory N.V., registered with the trade register in the Netherlands under number 33263682, is a member firm of the KPMG network of independent member firms affiliated with KPMG International Cooperative (‘KPMG International’), a Swiss entity. All rights reserved. Printed in the Netherlands. The KPMG name, logo and ‘cutting through complexity’ are registered trademarks of KPMG International.

“If I won’t, someone else will do…”

Reply:When everyone will say this, nothing will

ever improve.

7.

© 2015 KPMG Advisory N.V., registered with the trade register in the Netherlands under number 33263682, is a member firm of the KPMG network of independent member firms affiliated with KPMG International Cooperative (‘KPMG International’), a Swiss entity. All rights reserved. Printed in the Netherlands. The KPMG name, logo and ‘cutting through complexity’ are registered trademarks of KPMG International.

“That is the way things work…”

Reply:When you have no freedom to take a

decision, you cannot take a decision at all.

8.

© 2015 KPMG Advisory N.V., registered with the trade register in the Netherlands under number 33263682, is a member firm of the KPMG network of independent member firms affiliated with KPMG International Cooperative (‘KPMG International’), a Swiss entity. All rights reserved. Printed in the Netherlands. The KPMG name, logo and ‘cutting through complexity’ are registered trademarks of KPMG International.

“When in Rome, do as the Romans do…”

Reply:When you only adapt you are a chameleon

without authenticity.

9.

© 2015 KPMG Advisory N.V., registered with the trade register in the Netherlands under number 33263682, is a member firm of the KPMG network of independent member firms affiliated with KPMG International Cooperative (‘KPMG International’), a Swiss entity. All rights reserved. Printed in the Netherlands. The KPMG name, logo and ‘cutting through complexity’ are registered trademarks of KPMG International.

“Doing business is like war…”

Reply:Especially in war times ethics count, so

why then, wouldn’t it in business?

10.

© 2015 KPMG Advisory N.V., registered with the trade register in the Netherlands under number 33263682, is a member firm of the KPMG network of independent member firms affiliated with KPMG International Cooperative (‘KPMG International’), a Swiss entity. All rights reserved. Printed in the Netherlands. The KPMG name, logo and ‘cutting through complexity’ are registered trademarks of KPMG International.

Which of the 10 rationalizations did you

recognize most?

© 2015 KPMG Advisory N.V., registered with the trade register in the Netherlands under number 33263682, is a member firm of the KPMG network of independent member firms affiliated with KPMG International Cooperative (‘KPMG International’), a Swiss entity. All rights reserved. Printed in the Netherlands. The KPMG name, logo and ‘cutting through complexity’ are registered trademarks of KPMG International.

Want to learn more?

In this book more rationalizations

are discussed.

kaptein.muel@kpmg.nl

Thank you!