Question 1

A recommended way of creating a socially responsible organizational culture is for managers to lead by example.

Accepted Answer

Managers have a significant role in shaping the culture of an organization. By demonstrating socially responsible behavior, managers can set an example for employees to follow and create a culture that values social responsibility. This can include ethical decision making, promoting diversity and inclusion, supporting community involvement, and implementing sustainable practices. By leading by example, managers can create a positive impact on both the organization and society as a whole.

Question 2

One of the many ways in which company leadership at Wal-Mart is helping create a sustainable environment is to encourage customers to purchase more of the traditional light bulbs instead of the fluorescent type.

Accepted Answer

This statement is false. In fact, Wal-Mart has been encouraging customers to purchase more energy-efficient fluorescent light bulbs and has phased out the sale of traditional incandescent light bulbs in their stores. This is because fluorescent bulbs are more energy-efficient and have a longer lifespan, making them a more sustainable option.

Question 3

Information technology manager George displays an ethical mind as a leader when he makes up a list of company workers who do not deserve to be protected against computer viruses.

Accepted Answer

This action goes against an ethical principle of treating all employees fairly and equally. It also puts the company at risk if any unprotected employee's computer becomes infected and spreads the virus to others. A responsible leader would ensure that all employees have the necessary tools and protections to do their job effectively and safely.

Question 4

Head of accounts payable, Bertha, engages in rationalization when she creates a few false invoices, and then says, "I was only trying to lower the company's tax burden.".

Accepted Answer

Bertha is engaging in rationalization as she is justifying her actions of creating false invoices by stating that it was for the benefit of the company. However, her actions are still fraudulent and unethical regardless of the intention.

Question 5

A theme to the unethical acts committed by major executives in recent years is that they diverted funds from the company so they could help less fortunate people.

Accepted Answer

This statement is false. The unethical acts committed by major executives in recent years typically involve diverting funds from the company for their own personal gain, such as using company resources for personal vacations or purchases, or falsely reporting financial information to boost company stock prices. While there may be some instances where executives claim to have diverted funds for charitable purposes, this is not the typical pattern of unethical behavior observed.

Question 6

Several psychiatrists and corporate governance experts have decided that some executives are unethical because they feel they are entitled to whatever they can get away with or steal.

Accepted Answer

Some psychiatrists and corporate governance experts have concluded that some executives have an entitlement mentality that leads them to act unethically, including stealing or taking advantage of loopholes.

Question 7

Corporate social responsibility deals with a firm's impact on society more than its impact on company employees.

Accepted Answer

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) refers to a company's responsibility to act in ways that benefit society as a whole, including the environment, community, and other stakeholders, beyond just its impact on employees.

Question 8

To maintain an ethical climate, many companies today create the position of whistleblower, and the person holding this job investigates potential ethical violations full time.

Accepted Answer

The position created by companies to investigate potential ethical violations and maintain an ethical climate is typically referred to as an ethics officer or compliance officer, not a whistleblower. Whistleblowers are individuals who expose information or activity within a private, public, or government organization that is deemed illegal, unethical, or not correct.

Question 9

When the relationship between two people is strong, they are more likely to behave ethically toward each other.

Accepted Answer

Strong relationships are built on mutual trust and respect, which promotes ethical behavior as both parties strive to maintain the relationship. When people care about each other, they are less likely to cheat, lie or engage in behaviors that could harm the other person.

Question 10

A Job Seeker's Ethical Audit is used to verify the type of ethical reputation the job seeker has developed.

Accepted Answer

The answer of A Job Seeker's Ethical Audit is used...

Question 11

Rationalization can lead to unethical behavior because the person will focus on the intention of the act rather than the act itself.

Accepted Answer

Rationalization allows people to justify their unethical behavior by convincing themselves that their intentions were good, even though their actions were wrong. This focus on intentions rather than actions can lead to a gradual erosion of ethical principles and an increased likelihood of unethical behavior in the future.

Question 12

Written codes of unethical conduct have become less important today because of the presence of so many self-managing work teams.

Accepted Answer

Self-managing work teams do not eliminate the need for ethical codes of conduct. While they may promote a culture of transparency and accountability, written codes of ethics help establish clear expectations and consequences for unethical behavior.

Question 13

One of the questions included in an ethical screen is, "How does it [the decision in question] smell?"

Accepted Answer

This is true. The "smell test" is a common way to evaluate whether a decision or action is ethical or not. It refers to whether the decision seems "fishy" or not, and whether it would pass the scrutiny of others who are not involved in the decision-making process.

Question 14

If you are at the conventional level of moral development, you probably will not cheat on this test or any other aspect of your leadership course.

Accepted Answer

At the conventional level of moral development, individuals typically follow rules and societal expectations, and would be less likely to cheat on a test or engage in unethical behavior.

Question 15

A key part of a company's designation as a "best company to work for" is an evaluation of the company's organizational culture.

Accepted Answer

Evaluating a company's organizational culture is a key factor in determining whether it is a "best company to work for." Cultural factors such as values, work/life balance, communication, inclusivity, and leadership styles can significantly impact employee satisfaction and overall company success.

Question 16

CEO Lois wants to create an ethical and socially responsible company, so it is recommended that she place personal interests over company interests.

Accepted Answer

Placing personal interests over company interests can lead to unethical and socially irresponsible behavior. An ethical and socially responsible company puts the interests of society, the environment, and stakeholders above personal interests.

Question 17

Strategic leadership of ethics and social responsibility includes the idea that senior management sets the tone for ethics and social responsibility throughout the organization.

Accepted Answer

Strategic leadership of ethics and social responsibility involves setting an ethical tone from the top-down, with senior management leading the charge and modeling ethical behavior for the rest of the organization to follow.

Question 18

An important factor of being judged a "best company to work for" is the input provided by company employees.

Accepted Answer

Employee feedback and satisfaction are key factors in determining whether a company is a "best company to work for."

Question 19

The deontological theory of ethics focuses on the consequences of a decision, such as "Who gets hurt?"

Accepted Answer

The deontological theory of ethics focuses on the morality of an action in itself, regardless of its consequences. It emphasizes adherence to a set of ethical principles or duties, such as respecting human dignity or telling the truth, rather than the consequences of those actions.

Quiz 6: Leadership Ethics and Social Responsibility