Question 1

________ is a process of analyzing all inputs and outputs, through the entire "cradle-to-grave" life of a product, to determine the total environmental impact of the production and use of a product.

Accepted Answer

The process described is commonly known as life-cycle analysis. It involves analyzing the environmental impact of a product throughout its entire life cycle, from production to disposal. This helps to identify areas where improvements can be made to reduce the product's overall impact on the environment.

Question 2

An insurance company faces an ethical dilemma. A faulty computer program designed to evaluate insurance claims has been denying a high number of valid claims. A meeting has been arranged where senior management would decide how to handle the situation. The people at the table have varying views of what action to take and why. Chang wants to report the error and reimburse the affected customers immediately because he believes he could end up being fired if the company's reputation suffers because of the issue.Bailey wants to report the error because it is the honest thing to do, and therefore necessary.After hearing his colleagues' opinions, Ryan says he is willing to do whatever the more experienced managers in the group recommend.Several other managers believe the company should correct the problem going forward but not do anything about the customers who lost out on past payments. ________ is the ethical system used by Bailey in her decision making.

Accepted Answer

Bailey's decision making is based on the ethical system of Universalism, which holds that ethical principles apply universally to all individuals and situations. In this case, Bailey believes that it is necessary to report the error and correct the situation because it is the right thing to do, regardless of the potential consequences for the company or its employees.

Question 3

Smithson Forest Products plants "replacement" saplings after it harvests timber from its woodlands, derives energy by burning waste wood chips in its steam boilers, maintains state-of-the-art air pollution controls on its processes, removes toxic substances from closed-loop industrial cycles, and composts leaves and other tree debris as natural fertilizer for the saplings. By these actions, Smithson demonstrates that it is a(n)________ operation.

Accepted Answer

Smithson Forest Products demonstrates a cradle-to-cradle operation, which means they strive for zero waste by recycling and reusing their resources in a closed-loop fashion. By composting leaves and other tree debris as natural fertilizer for the saplings, they are returning the nutrients to the soil and closing the loop.

Question 4

Advocates of corporate social responsibility argue that

Accepted Answer

Advocates of corporate social responsibility argue that organizations have a wider range of responsibilities that extend beyond the production of goods and services at a profit. They believe that businesses should also consider the impact of their actions on society and the environment, and that they have a responsibility to take actions that benefit stakeholders beyond just shareholders. This perspective emphasizes the importance of ethical decision-making, sustainability, and conscious efforts to make a positive impact on society.

Question 5

As one of the goals of a transcendent education, speaking out against unethical actions is called

Accepted Answer

Intolerance of inhumanity refers to the goal of transcendent education where individuals are encouraged to speak out against unethical actions and injustices.

Question 6

A(n)________ has five higher goals that balance self-interest with responsibility to others.

Accepted Answer

The five higher goals that balance self-interest with responsibility to others are part of the Transcendent Education model, which focuses on personal transformation and holistic development. The other options, such as Utilitarian Education and Compliance-based Ethics Programs, do not explicitly incorporate this balance of self-interest and responsibility to others.

Question 7

An insurance company faces an ethical dilemma. A faulty computer program designed to evaluate insurance claims has been denying a high number of valid claims. A meeting has been arranged where senior management would decide how to handle the situation. The people at the table have varying views of what action to take and why.Chang wants to report the error and reimburse the affected customers immediately because he believes he could end up being fired if the company's reputation suffers because of the issue.Bailey wants to report the error because it is the honest thing to do, and therefore necessary.After hearing his colleagues' opinions, Ryan says he is willing to do whatever the more experienced managers in the group recommend.Several other managers believe the company should correct the problem going forward but not do anything about the customers who lost out on past payments.________ is the ethical system used by Ryan in his decision making.

Accepted Answer

Ryan's decision-making approach, where he is willing to follow the recommendations of more experienced managers, aligns with relativism. This ethical system suggests that the right action depends on the cultural, societal, or situational context, rather than being absolute or universal.

Question 8

_________ is a goal of a transcendent education that involves viewing success not merely as personal gain, but as a common victory.

Accepted Answer

Mutuality is the goal of a transcendent education that involves viewing success not merely as personal gain, but as a common victory. Mutuality emphasizes the interconnectedness of individuals and society, and encourages the development of empathy and a collaborative spirit.

Question 9

________ has as its primary goal the creation of sustainable economic development and improvement of quality of life worldwide for all organizational stakeholders.

Accepted Answer

The answer of ________ has as its primary goal the...

Question 10

Alexia Jackson, CEO of a development company, is discussing her firm's proposal for a high-rise condominium project with a city official, Nick Wells. Nick reminds Alexia of the city's "green" design requirements, e.g., solar or natural lighting, recycled water systems, and low-water use landscaping. Alexia replied, "Not to worry. I am a proponent of ________. That is, I support economic growth and development, but not at the expense of harming the ability of future generations to meet their needs."

Accepted Answer

The term used by Alexia is "sustainable growth," which refers to development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. This includes incorporating environmentally friendly features like those mentioned by Nick Wells. Greenwashing refers to companies making false or exaggerated claims about their environmentally friendly practices. Natural resources and recycling are related to sustainability but do not encompass the concept of sustainable growth as a whole. There is no widely recognized concept of "ecocentric growth."

Question 11

Dan Simpson, Corporate Stewardship Manager for Ludway Products, Inc., announced at the annual shareholders' meeting, "One of our corporate strategies is ________, whose goal is the creation of sustainable economic development and improvement of quality of life worldwide for all of our organizational stakeholders."

Accepted Answer

The term "ecocentric management" aligns with the goal of sustainable economic development and improving quality of life worldwide, as it places a focus on environmental preservation and responsibility in business practices.

Question 12

Tomas Alvarez, Chief Operating Officer of QualiClean Products, Inc., told his vice president of marketing, "Certainly, I want you to emphasize green attributes in our marketing, but you need to avoid ________. That would be called 'greenwashing'."

Accepted Answer

Greenwashing refers to the act of misleading consumers about the environmental benefits of a product or service. Thus, it is important to avoid making misleading claims while emphasizing green attributes in marketing. The other options such as performing life-cycle analysis, violating environmental standards, and violating safety standards are not directly related to greenwashing. Making public service announcements may or may not be relevant to the context.

Question 13

The creation and distribution of wealth generate by-products that can cause injury, loss, or danger to people and the environment. Because of that, we are said to live in a(n)________ society.

Accepted Answer

The term "risk society" refers to a society in which risks and potential hazards are a part of everyday life due to the creation and distribution of wealth. This term was coined by German sociologist Ulrich Beck in the 1980s. The other options (A, B, C, E) are not as widely used or specifically related to the concept of risk society.

Question 14

________ in business is considered compatible with the natural ecosystems that generate and preserve life.

Accepted Answer

Sustainability refers to conducting business in a way that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. This approach considers the impact of business on the environment and natural ecosystems, and aims to preserve them for the long-term benefit of all.

Question 15

Marcia, a plant manager at SmartWear, directed her staff engineer to develop a comprehensive inventory of her facility's carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions. This inventory would represent the facility's ________. The engineer analyzed emissions at each stage of the supply chain.

Accepted Answer

A comprehensive inventory of a facility's carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions is known as its carbon footprint. The engineer's analysis at each stage of the supply chain would be part of measuring this carbon footprint. The other options, such as environmental impact study, carbon dating technique, carbon balance, and life cycle analysis, are not applicable to the given scenario.

Question 16

Ben Wolfowski, CEO of Sanderson Products, told his executive management team, "We will undergo a paradigm shift in our environmental thinking. We will 'go green', incorporating environmental values into our competitive strategy and in the operation of our facilities." A good business reason to take these steps is to

Accepted Answer

By incorporating environmental values into Sanderson Products' competitive strategy and operations, they can create a competitive advantage. Consumers are becoming more environmentally conscious and are willing to patronize businesses that prioritize sustainability. Additionally, implementing green practices can also save the company money in the long run through energy and resource conservation. Therefore, going green can benefit Sanderson Products both financially and in terms of customer appeal.

Question 17

During a job interview, the recruiting manager from EnviroGreen Fuels told Ricky that ethanol was a more efficient transportation fuel and was, therefore, environmentally superior to petroleum-derived fuel. Afterwards, in doing his own research, Ricky learned that this viewpoint was disputed. Critics of ethanol-from-corn production cited a recent ________ study, contending that ethanol was in fact more environmentally harmful than gasoline, when considering the amount of land required, the amount of chemicals (fertilizer, herbicides, and pesticides)required, the higher transportation costs incurred, and amount of agricultural wastes generated.

Accepted Answer

The disputed viewpoint of ethanol's environmental superiority over petroleum-derived fuel is related to the environmental impact of ethanol production, transportation, and waste management. Life-cycle analysis is the method used to evaluate the environmental impact of a product or process from cradle to grave, including all stages of production, transportation, use, and disposal. Hence, the best choice for the blank is E)life-cycle analysis.

Question 18

An insurance company faces an ethical dilemma. A faulty computer program designed to evaluate insurance claims has been denying a high number of valid claims. A meeting has been arranged where senior management would decide how to handle the situation. The people at the table have varying views of what action to take and why.Chang wants to report the error and reimburse the affected customers immediately because he believes he could end up being fired if the company's reputation suffers because of the issue.Bailey wants to report the error because it is the honest thing to do, and therefore necessary.After hearing his colleagues' opinions, Ryan says he is willing to do whatever the more experienced managers in the group recommend.Several other managers believe the company should correct the problem going forward but not do anything about the customers who lost out on past payments.________ is the ethical system used by Chang in his decision making.

Accepted Answer

Chang's decision-making is based on egoism because his primary concern is the potential personal consequence (being fired) if the company's reputation suffers, rather than the broader ethical implications of the situation.

Question 19

An insurance company faces an ethical dilemma. A faulty computer program designed to evaluate insurance claims has been denying a high number of valid claims. A meeting has been arranged where senior management would decide how to handle the situation. The people at the table have varying views of what action to take and why.Chang wants to report the error and reimburse the affected customers immediately because he believes he could end up being fired if the company's reputation suffers because of the issue.Bailey wants to report the error because it is the honest thing to do, and therefore necessary.After hearing his colleagues' opinions, Ryan says he is willing to do whatever the more experienced managers in the group recommend.Several other managers believe the company should correct the problem going forward but not do anything about the customers who lost out on past payments.Assume the meeting ends with the managers deciding not to do anything about the customers who are owed money for past claims. Gracie, an employee who was present in the meeting, disagrees with the decision and gives an anonymous tip to a newspaper reporter about the unethical behavior. ________ is the term that best describes the action taken by Gracie.

Accepted Answer

Gracie's action of giving an anonymous tip to a newspaper reporter about the unethical behavior is an act of whistleblowing. Whistleblowing is the act of exposing unethical or illegal behavior within an organization to outside parties, often as a last resort when internal procedures have failed. Gracie disagrees with the decision made by the managers and feels that it is her responsibility to report the wrongdoing to the public.

Question 20

"This is fact: We live in a risk society. The creation and distribution of wealth generate by-products that can cause injury, loss, or danger to people and the environment," stated Susan Warriner, CEO of Barker Industrial, to her Board of Directors. "And it is the responsibility of ________ to control and manage the risks."

Accepted Answer

The responsibility of controlling and managing risks from the creation and distribution of wealth falls on corporations and government agencies.

Quiz 5: Ethics, Corporate Responsibility, and Sustainability