Deck 2: Ethical Decision Making: Personal and Professional Contexts

Question 1

The best environment for high quality ethical decision making involves "thin air thinking."

Answer 1

False
Explanation: It is much more effective to have the time and space in which to consider the questions of ethical decision making before we are faced with them, than when they become urgent and we must engage in "thin air thinking," not the best environment for our high quality decision making.

Question 2

The most helpful way to compare and weigh the alternatives is to try to place oneself in the other person's position.

Answer 2

True
Explanation: To compare and weigh the alternatives-create a mental spreadsheet that evaluates the impact of each alternative you have devised on each stakeholder you defined. Perhaps the most helpful way to accomplish this task is to try to place oneself in the other person's position.

Question 3

Consequences or justifications are the only means for comparing alternatives.

Answer 3

False
Explanation: Consequences or justifications are not the only means for comparing alternatives. Some alternatives might concern matters of principles, rights, or duties that override consequences.

Question 4

Stakeholders include only those groups and/or individuals within an organization affected by an internal decision, policy or operation of a firm or individual.

Question 5

Normative myopia occurs only in business.

Question 6

Responsibility for the circumstances that can encourage ethical behavior and can discourage unethical behavior falls predominantly to the business management and executive team.

Question 7

Within a business setting, individuals must consider the ethical implications of both personal and professional decision-making.

Question 8

Inattentional blindness is the inability to recognize ethical issues.

Question 9

In the ethical decision-making process, the issue identification step always follows the fact gathering step.

Question 10

Kathy, your best friend and class mate, asks you to help her with a challenging ethical predicament. Which of the following would be your first step in the decision making process?

A)Identifying the ethical issue
B)Considering the available alternatives
C)Determining the facts of the situation
D)Making the decision

Question 11

A person who acts in a way that is based upon a careful consideration of the facts has acted in a more ethically responsible way than a person who acts without deliberation.

Question 12

Decisions made on economic grounds imply the lack of ethical considerations.

Question 13

Which of the following is the second step of the ethical decision-making process?

A)Considering available alternatives
B)Making the decision
C)Identifying the ethical issues involved
D)Considering the impact of the on stakeholders

Question 14

Within business, an organization's context sometimes makes it difficult for even the best-intentioned person to act ethically.

Question 15

When does issue identification become the first step in the ethical decision-making process?

A)When you are not accountable for the decision
B)When you are solely responsible for a decision
C)When you are presented with an issue from the start
D)Under all circumstances

Question 16

In the ethical decision-making process, identify the steps that might arise in reverse order, depending on the circumstances.

A)Identifying the ethical issues; considering the impact of the decision on stakeholders
B)Determining the facts; identifying the impact of the decision on stakeholders
C)Identifying the impact of the decision on stakeholders; considering the available alternatives
D)Determining the facts; identifying the ethical issues

Question 17

The first step in making decisions that are ethically responsible is to:

A)determine the facts.
B)consider the available alternatives.
C)monitor and learn from the outcomes.
D)identify and consider the impact of the decision on stakeholders.

Question 18

A critical element of comparing and weighing the alternatives is the consideration of ways to mitigate, minimize, or compensate for any possible harmful consequences.

Question 19

The first step in making decisions that are ethically responsible is to consider all of the people affected by a decision, the people often called stakeholders.

Question 20

There is a role for science and theoretical reason in any study of ethics.

Question 21

In the ethical decision-making process, creativity in identifying options is also known as ____.

A)moral imagination
B)descriptive imagination
C)intentional deliberation
D)normative imagination

Question 22

Which omission occurs when decision makers fail to notice gradual variations over time?

A)Inattentional blindness
B)Incremental blindness
C)Change blindness
D)Normative myopia

Question 23

According to Bazerman and Chugh, inattentional blindness results from ____.

A)ignorance
B)passivity
C)thoughtlessness
D)focusing failures

Question 24

Speaking on a cell phone while driving, and as a result, missing a highway turn-off by mistake is an example of ____.

A)normative myopia
B)inattentional blindness
C)descriptive ignorance
D)change blindness

Question 25

In the ethical decision-making process, once one examines the facts and identifies the ethical issues involved, one should next ____.

A)make the decision
B)consider the available alternatives
C)monitor and learn from the outcomes
D)identify the stakeholders

Question 26

Which of the following terms refers to shortsightedness about values?

A)Inattentional blindness
B)Normative myopia
C)Change blindness
D)Descriptive ignorance

Question 27

Which of the following is true of normative myopia?

A)It occurs when decision makers fail to notice gradual changes over time.
B)It refers to the shortsightedness about values.
C)It occurs only in business.
D)It results from only from focusing failures.

Question 28

The inability to recognize ethical issues is known as ____.

A)inattentional blindness
B)normative myopia
C)change blindness
D)descriptive ignorance

Question 29

The Arthur Andersen auditors did not notice how low Enron had fallen in terms of its unethical decisions over a period of time. According to Bazerman and Chugh, this omission is an example of ____.

A)inattentional blindness
B)descriptive ignorance
C)change blindness
D)normative myopia

Question 30

Which of the following is true of change blindness?

A)It occurs when decision makers fail to notice gradual variations over time.
B)It refers to the shortsightedness about values.
C)It distinguishes good people who make ethically responsible decisions from good people who do not.
D)It results from focusing failures.

Question 31

If we are told specifically to pay attention to a particular element of a decision or event, we are likely to miss all of the surrounding details, no matter how obvious. According to Bazerman and Chugh, this phenomenon is known as ____.

A)inattentional blindness
B)descriptive ignorance
C)change blindness
D)normative myopia

Question 32

_____ is one element that distinguishes good people who make ethically responsible decisions from good people who do not.

A)Normative myopia
B)Inattentional blindness
C)Change blindness
D)Moral imagination

Question 33

In the ethical decision-making process, once we have examined the facts, identified the ethical issues involved, and identified the stakeholders, we need to next ____.

A)make the decision
B)consider the available alternatives
C)consider how a decision affects stakeholders
D)identify stakeholders

Question 34

Which of the following is true of moral imagination?

A)It occurs when decision makers fail to notice gradual variations over time.
B)It refers to the shortsightedness about values.
C)It distinguishes good people who make ethically responsible decisions from good people who do not.
D)It results from focusing failures.

Question 35

Which of the following statements reflects the concept of normative myopia?

A)"I was so involved in our debate that I missed the red light."
B)"I never expected Draco to steal from me; he has been my friend for so long."
C)"Brad met with an accident because he was drunk while driving. I hope he has learnt his lesson."
D)"I may have exaggerated the features of the product to get this sale. You knew how important this deal was for me."

Question 36

Jim resides in the vicinity of a steel manufacturing firm. Any changes in the pollution control or waste treatment policy of the firm indirectly affects Jim. In this sense, Jim is a(n) ____.

A)shareholder
B)employee of the firm
C)observer
D)stakeholder

Question 37

In an ethical decision-making process, moral imagination helps individuals make ethically responsible decisions. Identify the step in which moral imagination is critical.

A)Determining the facts
B)Considering the available alternatives
C)Identifying the ethical issues
D)Identifying and consider impact of decision on stakeholders

Question 38

Which of the following is true of inattentional blindness?

A)It occurs when decision makers fail to notice gradual changes over time.
B)It refers to the shortsightedness about values.
C)It distinguishes good people who make ethically responsible decisions from good people who do not.
D)It results from focusing failures.

Question 39

Focusing failures result in moments where we ask ourselves, "How could I have missed that?" According to Bazerman and Chugh, this phenomenon is known as:

A)change blindness.
B)descriptive ignorance.
C)inattentional blindness.
D)normative myopia.

Question 40

"_____" include all of the groups and/or individuals affected by a decision, policy, or operation of a firm or individual.

A)Stakeholders
B)Shareholders
C)Employees
D)Owners

Question 41

The inability to recognize ethical issues while dealing with the financial aspect of business decisions is called ____.

Question 42

Which of the following cognitive barriers, when used, might appear to relieve us of accountability for the decision, even if it may not be the best possible decision?

A)Moral imagination
B)Considering unlimited alternatives
C)Satisfying the maximum decision criteria
D)Using a simple decision rule

Question 43

"A critical element of this step in the ethical decision-making process will be the consideration of ways to mitigate, minimize, or compensate for any possible harmful consequences or to increase and promote beneficial consequences." Which step is this?

A)Monitoring the outcomes
B)Considering available alternatives
C)Identifying the ethical issues
D)Comparing and weighing alternatives

Question 44

Consequences, justifications, principles, rights, or duties are all methods to:

A)identify the stakeholders that may be impacted by the decisions.
B)find out about the various available alternatives.
C)compare and weigh alternatives.
D)identify the ethical issues involved.

Question 45

Which step in the ethical decision-making process occurs once you have considered how a decision affects stakeholders by comparing and weighing the alternatives?

A)Identifying the ethical issues involved
B)Monitoring and learning from outcomes
C)Making a decision
D)Identifying key stakeholders

Question 46

In the ethical decision-making process, identify the step that involves predicting the likely, foreseeable, and the possible consequences to all the relevant stakeholders.

A)Comparing and weighing the alternatives
B)Making the decision
C)Identifying the ethical issues
D)Monitoring and learning from the outcomes

Question 47

Which of the following elements distinguish good people who make ethically responsible decisions from good people who do not?

A)Normative imagination
B)Moral obligation
C)Ethical goal orientation
D)Moral imagination

Question 48

The first step in the ethical decision-making process, when an individual is not presented with an issue from the start, is ____.

Question 49

Which of the following is the final step in the ethical decision-making process?

A)Identifying the ethical issues involved
B)Monitoring and learning from outcomes
C)Considering how a decision affects stakeholders
D)Identifying key stakeholders

Question 50

Which of the following is a cognitive barrier to responsible, ethical decision-making?

A)Choosing the alternative that meets maximum decision criteria
B)Considering unlimited alternatives
C)Following simplified decision rules
D)Selecting only the best option

Question 51

Which of the following is an example of a social role?

A)Student-body president
B)Manager
C)Neighbor
D)Accountant

Question 52

_____ differences surrounding how individuals experience and understand situations can explain many ethical disagreements.

Question 53

According to Socrates, which of the following aspects leads to an unexamined life not worth living?

A)Bounded ethicality
B)Passivity
C)Cultural myopia
D)Satisficing

Question 54

Which of the following is an example of an institutional role?

A)Friend
B)Citizen
C)Neighbor
D)Teacher

Question 55

Which of the following explains the term "satisficing?"

A)Striving to select only the best alternative
B)Following simplified decision rules
C)Selecting the alternative simply because it is the easy way out
D)Selecting the alternative that meets minimum decision criteria

Question 56

_____ occurs when decision makers fail to notice gradual changes over time.

Question 57

Which of the following elements is important not only to consider the obvious options with regard to a particular dilemma, but also the much more subtle ones that might not be evident at first blush?

A)Intentional deliberation
B)Descriptive imagination
C)Moral imagination
D)Normative imagination

Question 58

Putting ethics into practice requires not simply decision-making, but _____ decision-making.

Question 59

When faced with a situation that suggests two clear alternative resolutions, we often consider only those two clear paths, missing the fact that other alternatives might be possible. Considering limited alternatives is a stumbling block to responsible action that can be categorized as a(n) ____.

A)personality barrier
B)perceptual barrier
C)cognitive barrier
D)individuality barrier

Question 60

Identify the barrier where individuals or groups select the option that meets the minimum decision criteria, the one that people can live with, even if it might not be the best.

A)Considering simplified decision rules
B)Satisficing
C)Optimizing
D)Selecting easy decisions

Question 61

Explain the role of sciences in the study of ethics.

Question 62

What are the consequences of not looking at various perspectives and the interests of other people involved while making a responsible ethical decision?

Question 63

Explain the importance of moral imagination with an example.

Question 64

Give three examples each of social and institutional roles.

Question 65

Identify the means for comparing and weighing alternatives.

Question 66

Selecting the alternative that meets minimum decision criteria is known as ____.

Question 67

A long tradition in philosophical ethics argues that a key test for _____ is whether or not a decision would be acceptable from the point of view of all parties involved.

Question 68

Within a business setting, individuals must consider the ethical implications of both personal and professional decision making. Manager, teacher, and student-body president are examples of _____ roles.

Question 69

How does a business decision become an ethical one?

Question 70

In an ethical decision-making process, creativity in identifying options is called "_____."

Question 71

Explain how the ethical decision-making process does not end with making a decision.

Question 72

Elaborate on the concept of perceptual differences in ethics.

Question 73

Outline the thought process of responsible persons comparing and weighing alternatives while considering the effects of a decision on their own integrity and character.

Question 74

Explain the importance of determining the facts when making a responsible ethical decision.

Question 75

What is normative myopia?

Question 76

We tend to give in to _____ in our professional environments, both because we want to "fit in" and to achieve success in our organizations, and also because our actual thinking is influenced by our colleagues.

Question 77

Discuss the various types of intellectual or cognitive stumbling blocks that one can face when trying to make a responsible ethical decision.

Question 78

Outline the importance of "walking a mile in another's shoes" and associate it with the fifth step of the ethical decision-making process.

Question 79

What is moral imagination? How is it important?

Question 80

What is the test for ethical legitimacy in philosophical ethics?