Deck 10: Ethics of It Organizations

Question 1

The cost advantage of offshore outsourcing to India is continuing to increase.

Answer 1

False

Question 2

Contingent workers, H-1B workers, and outsourced offshore workers are examples of nontraditional workers.

Answer 2

True

Question 3

If a particular project requires only temporary help, and the workers will not be needed for future projects, the use of contingent workers is a poor approach.

Answer 3

False

Question 4

There is no evidence that the hiring of H-1B workers has affected the salaries of U.S. IT workers.

Question 5

Depending on how closely workers are supervised and how the job is structured, contingent workers may be viewed as permanent employees by the Internal Revenue Service, the Labor Department, or a state's workers' compensation and employment agencies.

Question 6

If a whistle-blower wants to remain unknown, the safest course of action is to leak information anonymously to the press.

Question 7

A key requirement for using H-1B workers is that employers must pay H-1B workers the prevailing wage for the work being performed.

Question 8

According to the Computing Research Association, the number of undergraduate degrees awarded in computer science at doctoral-granting computer science departments has declined dramatically from 2004 to 2009.

Question 9

After a worker's H­1B visa expires, the foreign worker must remain outside the United States for six years before
another H-1B will be approved.

Question 10

Contingent work is a job situation in which an individual has an implicit contract for long-term employment.

Question 11

A firm is likely to use contingent IT workers if it experiences pronounced fluctuations in its technical staffing needs.

Question 12

A person can work for a U.S. employer as an H-1B employee for a maximum continuous period of ten years.

Question 13

The United States has several federal laws prohibiting the export of toxic waste.

Question 14

When an organization decides to use contingent workers for a project, it is making a trade-off between completing a single project quickly and cheaply versus developing people within its own organization.

Question 15

The Electronic Industry Citizenship Coalition established a system that enables purchasers to evaluate, compare, and select electronic products based on a total of 51 environmental criteria.

Question 16

It is fairly simple to prevent contingent workers from passing on corporate processes and strategies to subsequent employers.

Question 17

Electronics manufacturing employees and suppliers at all steps along the supply chain and manufacturing process are at risk of unhealthy exposure to potentially harmful materials.

Question 18

Unethical companies cannot use H-1B visas to exploit the average salary requirements for H-1B workers.

Question 19

The deciding factor in whether workers are considered contractors is the agreement signed by the workers, not the degree of control the company exercises over them.

Question 20

In a coemployment relationship, two employers have actual or potential legal rights and duties with respect to the same employee or group of employees.

Question 21

After a worker's H­1B visa expires, the foreigner must .

A) return to school to get an advanced degree before applying for another H-1B visa
B) apply to become a U.S. citizen
C) remain outside the United States for one year before another H-1B petition will be approved
D) never again apply for an H-1B visa

Question 22

The in Egypt reduced the attractiveness of that country as a source of IT outsourcing.

A) spike in oil prices
B) political unrest
C) limited number of resources
D) lack of education

Question 23

To be classified as a truly green PC, the PC must meet other criteria than simply use less electricity to run than the standard computer.

Question 24

Temporary employees must be treated like official employees of the company and are eligible for vacation, sick pay, and retirement benefits.

Question 25

According to A.T. Kearney, the most attractive offshoring destination is .

A) China
B) Egypt
C) Mexico
D) India

Question 26

Since contingent workers are already specialists in a particular task, the hiring firm does not customarily incur _____.

A) relocation expenses
B) start-up costs
C) training costs
D) travel expenses

Question 27

The EICC was established to promote a common code of conduct for the electronics and ICT industry.

Question 28

Which of these statements about contingent workers is true?

A) They typically work as a separate, independent group of workers and move from project to project working for the same firm.
B) They are often paid a lower hourly wage than full-time employees doing equivalent work.
C) They are eligible for most company benefits such as vacation, sick pay, and medical insurance.
D) They have neither an explicit nor an implicit contract for continuing employment.

Question 29

The lawsuit dramatically illustrated the cost of misclassifying employees and violating laws that cover compensation, taxes, unemployment insurance, and overtime.

A) McClain v. Hewlett-Packard
B) Vizcaino v. Microsoft
C) Wainwright v. IBM
D) Brown et al v. Oracle

Question 30

Violators of the False Claims Act are liable for the exact dollar amount for which the government was defrauded.

Question 31

Which of the following statements is true about the Bureau of Labor Statistics forecast for employment between 2010 and 2020?

A) Business is facing a long-term excess of trained and experienced IT workers.
B) Organizations using IT products and services are concerned about the excess of U.S. workers available to fill IT related positions.
C) 750,000 new jobs are expected to be added to IT related positions.
D) IT firms are more likely to turn to traditional sources than nontraditional sources to find IT workers.

Question 32

The EICC has developed a(n) for member organizations in which areas of improvement are assessed by certified, third-party firms.

A) application
B) governing body
C) audit program
D) mandate

Question 33

The European Union's Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive restricts the use of many hazardous materials in computer manufacturing.

Question 34

The requires manufacturers to use at least 65 percent reusable or recyclable components and reduce or eliminate toxic material in their packaging.
A) Electronic Industry Citizenship Coalition Directive

A) European Union's Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive
B) ?Electronic Product and Environmental Hazards Restriction Directive
B) Greenpeace Environmental Restriction of Hazardous Substances

Question 35

A(n) visa is a temporary work visa granted by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services for people who work in specialty occupations.

A) H-1B
B) L-1
C) B-1
D) B-2

Question 36

A qui tam plaintiff can receive between 15 and 30 percent of the total recovery from the defendant, depending on how helpful the person was to the success of the case.

Question 37

The U.S. Congress has approved the granting of an unlimited number of H-1B visas.

Question 38

Outsourcing is a short-term business arrangement in which a company contracts for services with an overseas organization that has expertise in providing a specific function.

Question 39

Companies can use the Statement on Auditing Standards No. 70, Service Organizations to ensure that company data is protected in an outsourcing arrangement.

Question 40

The EICC has established a code of conduct that defines performance, compliance, auditing, and reporting guidelines across five areas of social responsibility.

Question 41

The is an internationally recognized standard that companies can use to ensure that company data is protected in an outsourcing arrangement.

A) CMMI
B) Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
C) Foreign Corrupt Practices Act
D) Statement on Auditing Standards No. 70

Question 42

When considering the use of H-1B workers, companies should take into account that even highly skilled and experienced H-1B workers may require help with .

A) finding adequate housing
B) their English
C) obtaining a driver's license
D) dealing with financial institutions

Question 43

A disadvantage of using contingent workers is that they .

A) may pass on information about corporate processes and strategies to subsequent clients who could be competitors
B) may attempt to form a union
C) can demand payment for health insurance and retirement benefits
D) create the need to hire new employees when staffing needs increase

Question 44

The was established to promote a common code of conduct for the electronics and ICT industry.
A) Electronic Industry Citizenship Coalition

A) Electronic Produce Environmental Assessment Tool
B) European Union's Restriction of Hazardous Substances

Question 45

Before a company can apply for an H-1B visa worker, it must file .

A) a statement of intent to hire a foreign worker
B) a petition to hire an H-1B worker
C) a Labor Condition Application
D) a visa request with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

Question 46

The cost advantage for offshore outsourcing to India used to be 6:1 or more. It is estimated that once this advantage shrinks to or less, cost savings would no longer be an incentive for U.S. offshore outsourcing to India.

A) 4.5:1
B) 3.0:1
C) 2.0:1
D) 1.5:1

Question 47

Companies applying for H-1B visas must offer a wage that is not less than the average salary for the occupation.

A) 5%
B) 10%
C) 15%
D) 20%

Question 48

The False Claims Act was enacted during .

A) the U.S. Civil War
B) World War I
C) World War II
D) the Vietnam War

Question 49

The key lesson from Vizcaino v. Microsoft is that even if contractors sign an agreement indicating that they are contractors and not employees, the deciding factor about whether or not they are viewed as employees is not the agreement but .

A) how many hours per week they are asked to work
B) who oversees their work
C) the degree of control the company exercises over the employees
D) who performs their performance appraisal

Question 50

One potential disadvantage of using contingent workers is that .

A) the costs for their health care, paid time off, and contributions to a retirement plan can be considerable
B) the company may have to adjust the number of contingent workers that it uses to meet business needs
C) there can be substantial training expenses
D) they may not feel a strong connection to the company for which they are working

Question 51

An H-1B visa is a temporary visa granted for people who .

A) only work in the IT field
B) were educated outside the U.S. and wish to work in the U.S.
C) work in specialty occupations that require at least a four­year bachelor's degree
D) were born and educated outside the U.S. but have relatives living in the U.S.

Question 52

An H-1B worker can work for a U.S. employer for a maximum continuous period of years.

A) two
B) four
C) six
D) eight

Question 53

The company with the highest 2010 rating by Greenpeace based on its policies on toxic chemicals, recycling, and climate change was .

A) Apple
B) Dell
C) Hewlett Packard
D) Wipro

Question 54

is a form of outsourcing in which services are provided by an organization whose employees are in a foreign country.

A) Consulting
B) Employee leasing
C) Offshore outsourcing
D) Employing H-1B workers

Question 55

The United States has federal law(s) protecting against the export of toxic waste.

A) no
B) just one
C) two
D) several

Question 56

Which of the following is a true statement about the number of declared undergraduate computer science majors at doctoral-granting computer science departments?

A) There was an increase in enrollment in spite of the forecast for a decreased number of workers in this field.
B) There was a 50% decline in degrees awarded between 2004 and 2009.
C) There has been a steady decline in enrollment for the past twelve years.
D) The level of enrollment has remained about the same for the past ten years.

Question 57

Congress has set the number of H-1B visas to be granted at per year each year since 2004 with another 20,000 visas available for only foreign graduates of U.S. universities with advanced degrees.

A) 55,400
B) 30,000
C) 71,000
D) 65,000

Question 58

The of the False Claims Act allows a private citizen to file a suit in the name of the U.S. government, charging fraud by government contractors and other entities who receive or use government funds.

A) qui tam provision
B) Affordable Care Act
C) Foreign Corrupt Practices Act
D) roving wiretap provision

Question 59

Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT) is a system that enables purchasers to evaluate, compare, and select electronic products based on a total of 51 criteria.

A) economic
B) performance
C) environmental
D) ethical

Question 60

A situation in which two employers have actual or potential legal rights and duties with respect to the same employee or group of employees is called .

A) contingent employment
B) employee leasing
C) a coemployment relationship
D) outsourcing

Question 61

Successful outsourcing projects require day-to-day interaction between software development and business teams, so it is essential for the hiring company to take a(n) approach to project management.

Question 62

Firms that outsource must take precautions to protect , regardless of where it is stored or processed or who handles it.

Question 63

A firm is likely to use contingent IT workers if it experiences pronounced fluctuations in its needs.

Question 64

The , also known as the Lincoln Law, was enacted to combat fraud by companies that sold supplies to the Union Army.

Question 65

Personal computers are composed of many different materials known to be potentially harmful to humans and the environment. These materials include beryllium, cadmium, lead, mercury, selenium, polyvinyl chloride, and .

Question 66

An employee who identifies an illegal or unethical practice should begin to compile to establish wrongdoing.

Question 67

and language differences can cause misunderstandings among project members in different countries.

Question 68

Many states have created laws that prevent workers from being fired because of an employee's participation in
activities including the filing of a qui tam lawsuit under the provisions of the False Claims Act.

Question 69

is the most common charge in qui tam cases.

Question 70

Organizations often find that it can take years of ongoing effort and a large up-front investment to develop a good
with an offshore outsourcing firm.

Question 71

The passed the Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive which restricts the use of many hazardous materials in computer manufacturing.

Question 72

The EICC has established a code of conduct that defines performance, compliance, auditing, and reporting guidelines across five areas of social responsibility: labor, health and safety, environment, management system, and .

Question 73

As more businesses move their key processes offshore, U.S. IT service providers are forced to in order to compete.

Question 74

Violators of the False Claims Act are liable for times the dollar amount for which the government was defrauded.

Question 75

Offshore outsourcing has the potential to dramatically development efforts and enable workers to make progress on the project around the clock.

Question 76

The environmental activist organization issues a quarterly ranking of the top manufacturers of personal computers, mobile phones, TVs, and game consoles according to the manufacturers' polices on toxic chemicals, recycling, and climate change.

Question 77

Because wages in the IT field vary greatly, unethical companies can get around the .

Question 78

is a system that enables purchasers to evaluate, compare, and select electronic products based on a total of 51 environmental criteria.

Question 79

The False Claims Act provides strong protection.

Question 80

Offshore outsourcing is a form of outsourcing in which the services are provided by an organization whose .