Example: Auditors may be more likely to accept a client firm's questionable financial statements if infractions have accrued over time.

Remedy: Be alert for even trivial ethical infractions and address them immediately. Investigate whether a change in behavior has occurred.

Example: A researcher whose fraudulent clinical trial saves lives is considered more ethical than one whose fraudulent trial leads to deaths.

Remedy: Examine both "good" and "bad" decisions for their ethical implications. Reward solid decision processes, not just good outcomes.

Example: The pressure to maximize billable hours in accounting, consulting, and law firms leads to unconscious padding. Remedy: Brainstorm unintended consequences when devising goals and incentives. Consider alternative goals that may be more important to reward.

Example: A drug company deflects attention from a price increase by selling rights to another company, which imposes the increases.

Remedy: When handing off or outsourcing work, ask whether the assignment might invite unethical behavior and take ownership of the implications.

Example: Baseball officials failed to notice they'd created conditions that encouraged steroid use.

Remedy: Root out conflicts of interest. Simply being aware of them doesn't necessarily reduce their negative effect on decision making.