Deck 4: Making Decisions in Business Ethics: Descriptive

Question 1

Which of the following is not one of the factors that Crane et al identify as the most important in deciding whether a situation should be assigned a moral status?

A) The decision is likely to have significant effects on others.
B) The decision is likely to be open to legal challenges.
C) The decision is likely to be characterized by choice, in that alternative courses of action are open.
D) The decision is perceived as ethically relevant by one or more parties.

Answer 1

B

Question 2

Schwartz (2016) identifies two broad perspectives on ethical decision making. The _______ perspective assumes that ethical decision making occurs in a logical, reasoned manner. This contrasts with the _________ perspective which impresses the importance of moral intuition occurring, without the application of distinct, reasoned logic.

Answer 2

Rationalist, Intuitionist

Question 3

Match the individual factors with their likely influence on ethical decision making.
-Personal values

A) Significant influence - empirical evidence citing positive relationship.
B) Significant influence likely, but lack of inclusion in models and empirical tests.
C) A new issue for inclusion with potential, but largely untested.
D) Limited effect on decision-making, but can be important in predicting the apportioning of blame/approbation.

Answer 3

A

Question 4

Match the individual factors with their likely influence on ethical decision making.
-Personal integrity

A) Significant influence - empirical evidence citing positive relationship.
B) Significant influence likely, but lack of inclusion in models and empirical tests.
C) A new issue for inclusion with potential, but largely untested.
D) Limited effect on decision-making, but can be important in predicting the apportioning of blame/approbation.

Question 5

Match the individual factors with their likely influence on ethical decision making.
-Moral imagination

A) Significant influence - empirical evidence citing positive relationship.
B) Significant influence likely, but lack of inclusion in models and empirical tests.
C) A new issue for inclusion with potential, but largely untested.
D) Limited effect on decision-making, but can be important in predicting the apportioning of blame/approbation.

Question 6

Match the individual factors with their likely influence on ethical decision making.
-Locus of control

A) Significant influence - empirical evidence citing positive relationship.
B) Significant influence likely, but lack of inclusion in models and empirical tests.
C) A new issue for inclusion with potential, but largely untested.
D) Limited effect on decision-making, but can be important in predicting the apportioning of blame/approbation.

Question 7

Hofstede (1980, 1994) suggests that differences in cultural knowledge and beliefs across countries can be explained in terms of six dimensions. Read the following description carefully and indicate which of Hofstede's six dimensions it describes:
"The extent to which an emphasis is placed on valuing money and things versus valuing people and relationships."

A) Uncertainty avoidance
B) Individualism/collectivism
C) Masculinity/femininity
D) Power distance

Question 8

Match each of the following explanations of cognitive moral development with one of the stages identified by Kohlberg (1969).
-Instrumental purpose and exchange

A) Individuals are concerned with their own immediate interests and define right according to whether there is fairness in exchange or deals they make.
B) Individuals live up to what is expected of them by their immediate peers and those close to them.
C) Individuals' consideration of the expectations of others broadens to social agreement more generally.
D) Individuals assess right and wrong according to the upholding of basic rights, values and contracts of society.

Question 9

Match each of the following explanations of cognitive moral development with one of the stages identified by Kohlberg (1969).
-Interpersonal accord, conformity and mutual expectations

A) Individuals are concerned with their own immediate interests and define right according to whether there is fairness in exchange or deals they make.
B) Individuals live up to what is expected of them by their immediate peers and those close to them.
C) Individuals' consideration of the expectations of others broadens to social agreement more generally.
D) Individuals assess right and wrong according to the upholding of basic rights, values and contracts of society.

Question 10

Match each of the following explanations of cognitive moral development with one of the stages identified by Kohlberg (1969).
-Social accord and system maintenance

A) Individuals are concerned with their own immediate interests and define right according to whether there is fairness in exchange or deals they make.
B) Individuals live up to what is expected of them by their immediate peers and those close to them.
C) Individuals' consideration of the expectations of others broadens to social agreement more generally.
D) Individuals assess right and wrong according to the upholding of basic rights, values and contracts of society.

Question 11

Match each of the following explanations of cognitive moral development with one of the stages identified by Kohlberg (1969).
-Social contract and individual rights

A) Individuals are concerned with their own immediate interests and define right according to whether there is fairness in exchange or deals they make.
B) Individuals live up to what is expected of them by their immediate peers and those close to them.
C) Individuals' consideration of the expectations of others broadens to social agreement more generally.
D) Individuals assess right and wrong according to the upholding of basic rights, values and contracts of society.

Question 12

Werhane (1998) sees moral imagination as the creativity with which an individual is able to reflect about an ethical dilemma. Why is this significant?

A) It allows the individual to prioritise ethical issues more easily.
B) It allows the individual to develop alternative solutions.
C) It allows the individual to better rank the importance of stakeholders.
D) It helps the individual move towards a post-conventional level of cognitive moral development.

Question 13

Match the following context-related situational influences with the descriptions of their influence on ethical decision-making.
-Rewards

A) Strong evidence of relationship between rewards/punishments and ethical behaviour, although other stages in ethical decision-making have been less investigated.
B) Good general support for influence from immediate superiors and top management on ethical decision-making of subordinates.
C) Significant influence on ethical decision-making well documented, but actually exposed to only limited empirical research. Specific consequences for ethical decision-making therefore remain contested.
D) Strong overall influence, though implications of relationship between culture and ethical decision-making remain contested.

Question 14

Match the following context-related situational influences with the descriptions of their influence on ethical decision-making.
-Authority

A) Strong evidence of relationship between rewards/punishments and ethical behaviour, although other stages in ethical decision-making have been less investigated.
B) Good general support for influence from immediate superiors and top management on ethical decision-making of subordinates.
C) Significant influence on ethical decision-making well documented, but actually exposed to only limited empirical research. Specific consequences for ethical decision-making therefore remain contested.
D) Strong overall influence, though implications of relationship between culture and ethical decision-making remain contested.

Question 15

Match the following context-related situational influences with the descriptions of their influence on ethical decision-making.
-Bureaucracy

A) Strong evidence of relationship between rewards/punishments and ethical behaviour, although other stages in ethical decision-making have been less investigated.
B) Good general support for influence from immediate superiors and top management on ethical decision-making of subordinates.
C) Significant influence on ethical decision-making well documented, but actually exposed to only limited empirical research. Specific consequences for ethical decision-making therefore remain contested.
D) Strong overall influence, though implications of relationship between culture and ethical decision-making remain contested.

Question 16

Match the following context-related situational influences with the descriptions of their influence on ethical decision-making.
-Organizational culture

A) Strong evidence of relationship between rewards/punishments and ethical behaviour, although other stages in ethical decision-making have been less investigated.
B) Good general support for influence from immediate superiors and top management on ethical decision-making of subordinates.
C) Significant influence on ethical decision-making well documented, but actually exposed to only limited empirical research. Specific consequences for ethical decision-making therefore remain contested.
D) Strong overall influence, though implications of relationship between culture and ethical decision-making remain contested.

Question 17

Bird and Waters (1989) describe the phenomenon of moral muteness, in which managers reframe moral actions and motives in non-moral terms. Managers do this, say Bird and Waters, because they are worried about perceived threats. Which of the following do managers not feel is under threat through the use of moral terms?

A) Harmony - fear of disturbing organizational harmony.
B) Efficiency - fear of making decision-making more difficult, time-consuming and inflexible.
C) Credibility - fear of losing organizational credibility with stakeholders, particularly shareholders.
D) Images of power and effectiveness - fear that own image might suffer for being too idealistic and insufficiently robust.

Question 18

Anand and colleagues (2004) identify six different strategies of rationalizing unethical behaviour. What strategy am I using if I make the following argument? "It's OK for me to use the internet for personal reasons at work - after all, I do work overtime a lot:"

A) Denial of victim
B) Metaphor of the ledger
C) Denial of injury
D) Appeal to higher loyalties

Question 19

The bureaucratic dimension of organizations has been argued to have negative effects on ethical decision-making. Read the following carefully and indicate which is not one of these negative effects.

A) Instrumental morality
B) Denial of responsibility
C) Denial of moral status
D) Suppression of moral autonomy

Question 20

Personal values have, for a long time, been considered to have a limited and insignificant role in organisational decision making.

Question 21

According to Kohlberg (1969), cognitive moral development refers to:
Correct

A) The different levels of moral reasoning that an individual can apply to ethical issues and problems, depending on their cognitive capacity.
B) The theory regarding the underlying reasons why the highly educated typically think in consequentialist manners.
C) The theory that intelligent persons are less likely to be moral.
D) The theory that intelligent persons are much more likely to be morally courageous.

Question 22

An individual's adherence to a consistent set of moral principles or values is known as _______.

Question 23

The Sarbanes-Oxley Act requires companies listed on __________ to adopt methods for ________ ethical and legal violations to an ________ committee made up of members of the board of directors.

A) US stock exchanges, Anonymously reporting, Audit
B) European stock exchanges, Transparently reporting, Remuneration
C) European stock exchanges, Anonymously reporting, Audit
D) US stock exchanges, Transparently reporting, Remuneration

Question 24

_______ is the exercise of hierarchical power to compel a subordinate to act in a certain way and therefore is a key factor in shaping ethical decision making.