Advancing the Art and Science of Decision-Making: A Guide (2026)
Chapter: Values and Ethics
Values and Ethics
Values are indispensable to arriving at a good decision. Values are fundamental beliefs about preferred end states that may either be hard wired into a person or learned through cultural context. While values-based decision-making has gained popularity as a shorthand for decisions made for the common good, values can be positive, negative, or neutral in terms of social valence. Even decisions to cheat and steal are values-based; they simply prioritize the values of winning and material acquisition.
People make decisions, not data, and people make decisions based on their values.
—Roger Millar
Secretary, Washington State DOT
Ethics are the prevailing norms for conduct that distinguish between acceptable and unacceptable behavior in a group or society. While values can be good, bad, or neutral, ethics are fundamentally about determining “good” courses of action based on accepted positive values and morality.
Finding the right decision requires a balance between the decision-makerʼs own values and the ethics prevalent in the decision context. Because values are an inseparable part of every decision, make sure you are explicit about understanding your own values, those of your organization, and those of people whose interests you serve.
For the transportation leader, consulting the industry ethics established by engineering and planning professional groups may be helpful to identify responsible and acceptable decisions. Examples include the Codes of Ethics for the American Society of Civil Engineers and the American Institute of Certified Planners.
Each leader may want to develop their own set of values and ethics. Have conversations with your team so everyone is clear on what they are working toward.
