Question 1

The two Challenger spacecraft engineers who were concerned about possible O- ring failure were unsuccessful at whistleblowing because they .&#10;A)tried to resolve the matter internally at Morton Thiokol&#10;B)refused to use Morton Thiokol internal channels to address the matter&#10;C)did not document problems with the O-ring&#10;D)opted to contact the press before speaking with their superiors about potential problems with the O-ring

Accepted Answer

The two engineers, Bob Ebeling and Roger Boisjoly, raised their concerns about the O-ring's performance in cold weather internally within Morton Thiokol, the contractor responsible for the solid rocket boosters, before the Challenger launch. They attempted to stop the launch through internal channels but were unsuccessful.

Question 2

The main reason that companies should have a whistle-blowing policy is that .&#10;A)it avoids tension and strife&#10;B)whistle-blowinghelps business&#10;C)it enhances employee satisfaction&#10;D)wrongdoing harms them

Accepted Answer

The main reason that companies should have a whistle-blowing policy is because wrongdoing can harm them. Whistle-blowing allows employees to report any illegal, unethical or unsafe practices within the organization, which can help prevent potential harm to the company's reputation, financial stability and legal compliance. By having a whistle-blowing policy in place, companies can encourage transparency and accountability while also protecting themselves from unexpected risks.

Question 3

Some corporations have an ombudsman,whose role is to .&#10;A)blow the whistle&#10;B)release information to the public&#10;C)report on employees&#10;D)hearcomplaints

Accepted Answer

The role of an ombudsman is to listen to and investigate complaints or grievances brought forward by employees or customers. They act as a neutral and impartial party, striving to find a fair and reasonable resolution to issues. Ombudsmen do not blow the whistle or report on employees, and they may release information to the public only as part of their investigation or resolution process, not as their primary role.

Question 4

Which of the following is necessary for whistle-blowing to occur?&#10;A)information&#10;B)legalprotection&#10;C)a nondisclosure agreement&#10;D)managingauthority

Accepted Answer

Whistle-blowing requires information about wrongdoing or unethical behavior to report it.

Question 5

Loyalty to a corporation can sometimes lead to whistleblowing if .&#10;A)the corporation is a large one&#10;B)the whistleblower enjoys legal protection&#10;C)the whistleblower wants to see change in the corporation&#10;D)the government is paying the employee for the information

Accepted Answer

Loyalty to a corporation may motivate an employee to want to see positive changes made within the company. If the employee becomes aware of illegal or unethical practices within the corporation, they may feel compelled to blow the whistle in order to enact change and prevent harm. This loyalty to the overall well-being of the corporation and its stakeholders can override a loyalty to individual executives or colleagues who may be engaging in harmful behavior.

Question 6

Why is the loyal agent argument supported by the law?&#10;A)The argument is supported because of the agent dictates the principal's job duties.&#10;B)The argument is supported because the agent is morally but not contractually obligated to follow the principal's directions.&#10;C)The argument is supported because the agent is not an employee of the principal.&#10;D)The argument is supported because the agent is contractually obligated to perform his or her duty.

Accepted Answer

The loyal agent argument is supported by law because the agent is contractually obligated to perform his or her duty. This means that the agent is bound by the terms of the agreement between the agent and principal to act in the best interests of the principal and carry out their duties faithfully. This contractual obligation provides legal support for the loyal agent argument.

Question 7

The main motivation for there to be whistleblower-protection laws is that whistleblowers .&#10;A)represent a minority&#10;B)are likely to be oppressed&#10;C)benefitsociety&#10;D)should enjoy freedom of speech

Accepted Answer

The main motivation for whistleblower-protection laws is to encourage individuals to come forward and expose wrongdoing that is harmful to society. Whistleblowers play an essential role in promoting transparency, accountability, and integrity in public and private institutions. By protecting them from retaliation or harassment, whistleblower-protection laws help to ensure that honest and ethical individuals are not silenced or punished for speaking out against corruption, fraud, or other misconduct. Choice A and D are not as relevant to the main motivation of whistleblower-protection laws, and while oppression is a risk for whistleblowers, it is not the primary reason for these laws.

Question 8

A whistle-blower is primarily motivated by _.&#10;A)retaliation&#10;B)ethicalconcern&#10;C)personal gain&#10;D)fear of retribution

Accepted Answer

A whistle-blower is primarily motivated by ethical concern, which means they report illegal, unethical, or harmful activities to prevent harm to others or the organization as a whole. While retaliation, personal gain, and fear of retribution may also be factors, they are not the primary motivation for blowing the whistle.

Question 9

All whistle-blowing policies should include .&#10;A)a guarantee against retaliation&#10;B)a guarantee of continued employment&#10;C)a way for employees to go public&#10;D)specific monetary awards

Accepted Answer

A guarantee against retaliation is crucial in any whistle-blowing policy to protect employees who report unethical behavior or illegal activity from any form of punishment or retaliation by their employer or co-workers. While continued employment may be desirable, it cannot always be guaranteed as the company may have to take appropriate action as a result of the whistle-blowing. Going public may not always be necessary or appropriate, and specific monetary awards can lead to concerns about the motives behind the whistle-blowing.

Question 10

Employees who are most upset with a company will most often .&#10;A)write to the CEO&#10;B)simply leave the company&#10;C)go public with their complaints&#10;D)hope the company will reform from within

Accepted Answer

According to studies, employees who are dissatisfied with their job will usually choose to leave the company rather than confront the issue directly or go public with their complaints.

Deck 4: Whistle-Blowing