A Practical Guide to the Giving Voice to Values (GVV) Framework

“How to Speak Your Mind When You Know What’s Right”

We live in a society where we often face ethical challenges in our daily lives.

For instance,

• In student life, we may have witnessed our classmates cheating on exams or assignments.
• In research, we may have seen our colleagues breaking academic integrity.
• In social gatherings, we may have found our friends bullying or offending others.

Sometimes, we can’t able to decide what to do or what is the right thing to do. It becomes even harder when it comes to relationships or in our professional life.

To resolve such situations, Dr. Mary C. Gentile introduced an innovative approach called Giving Voice To Value (GVV).

In a leadership-driven society, people have found GVV to be an effective solution.

In this post, I will discuss how we can decide on the right thing to do when handling ethical issues. I will present a sample use case and walk you through the theoretical concepts and practical examples in a step-by-step manner.

What is GVV?

“Giving Voice To Values (or GVV) is a new and innovative way of thinking about, teaching about, and acting on our values in our careers — and in our wider lives. Rather than focusing on trying to figure out what the right thing to do” — Mary C. Gentile.

The GVV approach helps individuals take action in the face of ethical dilemmas by providing a structured, practical framework that focuses on expressing one’s values effectively.

Now, I am going to present an ethical dilemma and explain how we can use GVV to assist in taking the right action.

An Ethical Dilemma

As a Data Scientist in a Company (e.g. C), I was involved in a project that aimed to optimise the efficiency of our mining operations.

During the data analysis process, I discovered a pattern that indicated a potential negative environmental impact on the local ecosystem.

However, my supervisor instructed me to exclude this information from the final report, as it could potentially delay the project and increase costs.

This request conflicted with my values of environmental responsibility and transparency, as well as the Company’s commitment to sustainability.

The GVV Framework

I am going to use the seven pillars of the GVV framework to address this ethical dilemma:

1. Values: The first step in the GVV process is recognising the values at stake in a given situation. By explicitly identifying the values involved, individuals become more aware of the ethical implications and can better align their actions with their beliefs.

Example: I identified the values at stake as environmental responsibility, transparency, and sustainability.

2. Purpose: GVV encourages individuals to clarify the purpose of their actions, which helps them stay focused on their values-driven goals and maintain a clear sense of direction when navigating ethical challenges.

Example: My purpose was to ensure that the potential environmental impact was taken into consideration and addressed appropriately.

3. Choices: GVV prompts individuals to consider the different choices available to them in a given situation. By evaluating various options, individuals can identify the most effective and values-aligned course of action.

Example: My choices were to comply with my supervisor’s request or to raise my concerns and present the findings.

4. Normalisation: The fourth pillar focuses on normalising the experience of encountering ethical dilemmas. By acknowledging that ethical challenges are a common part of professional life, individuals can better prepare themselves to address these situations effectively and proactively.

Example: I acknowledged that ethical dilemmas are common in the workplace and that others have successfully navigated similar situations.

5. Self-assessment: GVV encourages individuals to assess their strengths and weaknesses in addressing ethical dilemmas. By recognising their capabilities and areas for improvement, individuals can develop targeted strategies to enhance their effectiveness in taking values-driven actions.

Example: I recognised my strengths in data analysis and environmental knowledge while acknowledging my hesitancy to confront authority figures.

6. Voice: GVV focuses on helping individuals find the most effective way to express their values in a given situation. This may involve refining communication skills, building alliances, or leveraging one’s influence within an organisation. By developing their voice, individuals become more confident and capable of taking action on their values.

Example: I decided to prepare a detailed report outlining the potential environmental impact and possible mitigation strategies, and then request a meeting with my supervisor and the project team to discuss the findings.

7. Reasons and Rationalisations: The seventh pillar involves understanding the reasons and rationalisations individuals and organisations may use to justify unethical behaviour. By recognising these rationalisations, individuals can better anticipate potential obstacles and develop strategies to address them effectively.

Example: I anticipated potential objections, such as increased costs or project delays, and prepared counterarguments emphasising the long-term benefits of addressing the environmental impact and maintaining the company’s reputation for sustainability.

The Outcome

• By following the GVV framework, I was able to have a productive conversation with my supervisor and the project team.
• We discussed the potential environmental impact and agreed to incorporate the findings into the final report, along with the proposed mitigation strategies.
• This decision not only aligned with my values and the company’s commitment to sustainability but also demonstrated the company’s dedication to being the best employer in the world by every conceivable metric.

I hope this example can help to understand the basic concept of applying the GVV technique when comes to taking action in any ethical situation.

This approach offers a more action-oriented, positive, and practical framework for addressing ethical dilemmas not only in the workplace but also in our daily lives.

It encourages individuals to proactively develop their ethical skills and empowers them to act on their values, regardless of their position within the organisation.

Please feel free to share your thoughts in this regard. Thanks.

Reference

Gentile, Mary C. Giving voice to values: How to speak your mind when you know what’s right. Yale University Press, 2010.