Deck 5: Ethics As Organizational Culture

Question 1

Research has found that employees working in organizations with an enforced code of ethics report that they engage in less unethical behavior.

Answer 1

True

Question 2

Reference: Matching Key Terms and Definitions
a)Heroes
b)Norms
c)Rituals
d)Myths
Anecdotes about a sequence of events drawn from an organization's history.

Answer 2

d

Question 3

Reference: Matching Key Terms and Definitions
a)Strong organizational culture
b)Weak organizational culture
c)Socialization (or enculturation)
Standards and guidelines that are known and widely shared by all.

Answer 3

a

Question 4

The US Sentencing Guidelines call for more attention to developing and maintaining the ethical culture of the organization.

Question 5

An ethical culture is maintained through alignment between the formal and informal systems.

Question 6

Reference: Matching Key Terms and Definitions
a)Heroes
b)Norms
c)Rituals
d)Myths
Symbolic figures who set standards of performance by modeling certain behaviors.

Question 7

The more a firm demands unquestioning obedience to authority,the more likely the firm will experience higher levels of unethical conduct among their employees.

Question 8

Reference: Matching Key Terms and Definitions
a)Strong organizational culture
b)Weak organizational culture
c)Socialization (or enculturation)
Process promoted through formal and informal transmission of norms.

Question 9

Reference: Matching Key Terms and Definitions
a)Strong organizational culture
b)Weak organizational culture
c)Socialization (or enculturation)
Subcultures within divisions or departments that are more likely to guide behavior.

Question 10

Because common ethical problems exist across virtually all organizations,formal programs designed for ethics work well as "one size fits all."

Question 11

Reference: Matching Key Terms and Definitions
a)Heroes
b)Norms
c)Rituals
d)Myths
Symbolically tells employees what the organization wants them to do and how it expects them to do it.

Question 12

Companies that look for advice from consultants will do well to find a "spray and pray" plan.

Question 13

Organization cultures vary widely,even within the same industry.

Question 14

Reference: Matching Key Terms and Definitions
a)Heroes
b)Norms
c)Rituals
d)Myths
Standards of behavior that are accepted as appropriate by members of a group.

Question 15

Unethical leaders can just as negatively affect the culture of a company as ethical leaders can affect the ethical culture.

Question 16

An ethically neutral leader is not clearly unethical,but is perceived to be more self-centered and more focused on the bottom line.

Question 17

Organization cultures are maintained through formal systems alone.

Question 18

Describing the decision-making process in the language of ethics does not help individuals make more ethical decisions.

Question 19

It is sufficient for executive leaders to be ethical persons and make ethical decisions.Employees do as they see.

Question 20

A 2006 study found that 82 percent of Americans would prefer to be paid less but work for an ethical company than be paid more and work for an unethical company.

Question 21

Given the less hierarchical organizational structures that are more common place today,it is less important for to have strongly aligned ethical culture to guide employees in their independent decision-making.

Question 22

Loyalty is paramount in business and employees who question unethical direction or an unethical boss are doomed.

Question 23

Briefly describe and provide examples of three steps involved in changing an organization's culture.

Question 24

According to the Executive Ethical Leadership Reputation Matrix,___________ is an executive characterized as a weak "moral person" and a strong "moral manager."

A)Unethical leader
B)Ethical leader
C)Ethically neutral leader
D)Hypocritical leader

Question 25

According to the Executive Ethical Leadership Reputation Matrix,___________ is an executive characterized as a strong "moral person" and a strong "moral manager."

A)Unethical leader
B)Ethical leader
C)Ethically neutral leader
D)Hypocritical leader

Question 26

The "moral person" component of ethical leadership:

A)Tells employees how the leader expects them to behave.
B)Tells employees how the leader is likely to behave.
C)Shows that ethics and values are an important part of the leader's message.
D)Demonstrates a reputation for ethical leadership among employees.

Question 27

Cognitive moral development tells us that most people are looking outside of themselves for guidance on decision-making.This means that stated organizational policy can be an important source of guidance foe employees in making decisions.

Question 28

Why did the US Sentencing Commission begin to focus on the ethical culture of the organization in 2004?

A)Researchers had just recently introduced the idea of an "ethical culture" in 2002.
B)More and more consultants were discussing "ethical culture" in their programs.
C)Prior to the change,organizations used formal programs as "window dressing".
D)None of the above

Question 29

Alignment of the goals and rewards of an organization with the organization's values is essential because employees will generally do what is measured and rewarded.

Question 30

Briefly describe what is meant by alignment of ethical culture.Provide an example of how an ethical culture might be misaligned.

Question 31

Weak organizational cultures are:

A)desirable if an organization has many subcultures.
B)desirable if an organization wants diversity of thought and action.
C)desirable if an organization wants behavioral consistency.
D)undesirable in all situations.

Question 32

Which of the following is false?

A)Any attempt to change an organization's ethics must consider the entire cultural system.
B)A cultural system includes both formal and informal systems.
C)An effective culture change may take as long as 1 to 2 years.
D)New rules and values must be reinforced via training programs and reward systems.