Abstract
This paper suggests guidelines that are likely to significantly enhance a large proportion of those decisions that impact on the quality of management and leadership. Their use is illustrated with an analysis of a scenario that involves the development of a program for scanning data to reduce IT input costs. The case also raises an ethical issue. The guidelines are conceptually similar to the way the scientific and applied disciplines provide actionable foundations for theories. They can help those managers, who embrace them, acquire greater competence as managers and as leaders.