Deck 14: Enhancing Ethical Behaviour

Question 1

"Follow the Golden Rule" is an example of a

A) a traditional ideal.
B) legal guideline.
C) ethical guideline.
D) outmoded rule in a competitive work environment.

Answer 1

C

Question 2

Sexual harassment is considered to be an ethical issue because

A) the federal government outlaws sexual harassment.
B) it is usually only practised against young women.
C) all acts of sexual harassment flunk an ethics test.
D) of its moral intensity.

Answer 2

C

Question 3

A survey of the extent of ethical problems revealed

A) there is a low incidence of unethical behaviour in the workplace.
B) low-level workers are usually treated differently than their superiors when caught behaving unethically.
C) about 55 percent of employees admitted to unethical and/or illegal actions.
D) about 76 percent of employees have witnessed unethical and/or illegal actions.

Answer 3

D

Question 4

A key point in understanding ethical behaviour is that most people are motivated by self-interest

A) alone.
B) and a desire to do something morally right.
C) and a desire to do something co-workers perceive as morally right.
D) except when helping others is part of the job.

Question 5

Ethical screening refers to

A) running a contemplated decision or action through an ethics test.
B) evaluating job applicants based on their ethics.
C) making sure that all company employees have ethics training.
D) ensuring that the ethical code can apply to all cultures so as not to show prejudice.

Question 6

The technical meaning of conflict of interest is that

A) one person manipulates another.
B) a person's judgement or objectivity is compromised.
C) any decision a person makes is unethical.
D) two parties in an unethical dispute cannot agree on a compromise solution.

Question 7

Assume that Holly Martin works for IBM as a bookkeeper and conducts an income tax preparation service out of her home. Which of the following titles on her business card and website would represent the biggest ethical violation?

A) Holly Martin of IBM, Income Tax Preparation
B) Holly Martin, Bookkeeper and Tax Consultant
C) Holly Martin, Financial and Tax Consultant
D) Holly Martin, Helping You Pay Only Your Fair Share of Taxes

Question 8

The real issue in fairness refers to giving people equal rewards

A) whether or not one likes them.
B) for accomplishing the same amount of work.
C) no matter what their racial or ethnic group.
D) when they have equal years of experience.

Question 9

In a fair workplace, the most important factor for evaluating people is

A) whether they are easy to work with.
B) seniority.
C) whether they adhere to strong ethics.
D) qualifications and job performance.

Question 10

Step one in the eight-step guide to ethical decision-making is to

A) define the ethical issues.
B) identify the affected parties.
C) gather the facts.
D) identify the consequences.

Question 11

Which one of the following actions is the most likely to be regarded unethical work behaviour?

A) using the office computer for private email
B) buying token gifts for suppliers
C) sharing restricted records with a number of people
D) sharing public records with a number of people

Question 12

A business person would be faced with a defining moment in terms of ethics when he or she

A) had a chance to cheat on the expense account.
B) had to choose between two or more morally sound choices.
C) received recognition for outstanding ethical behaviour.
D) had to report on the unethical behaviour of a co-worker.

Question 13

A company code of ethics usually specifies

A) legal ramifications of not following ethical codes.
B) what constitutes ethical versus unethical behaviour.
C) the rewards employees can anticipate from behaving ethically.
D) which legal acts relate to employee ethics.

Question 14

Which one of the following is a likely positive consequence of ethical behaviour on the part of company management?

A) exemption from federal laws about ethical behaviour
B) offering stock at lower prices to the public
C) exemption from affirmative action regulations
D) the ability to attract quality job applicants

Question 15

Human resources director Priscilla is dating Larry who works for another company. Priscilla faces a conflict of interest on the job when

A) Larry wants to take her for lunch on a Friday.
B) Larry asks her advice about his retirement plan at his company.
C) she screens the résumé of Larry's son who applies for a job with her company.
D) she plans to quit if she and Larry decide to get married.

Question 16

It is considered ethical to divulge confidential information when

A) the action is okayed by your manager .
B) you know that a co-worker is looking for a job.
C) the company does not have an ethical code prohibiting such behaviour.
D) the welfare of others is at stake.

Question 17

A character trait is an aspect of people

A) that varies from situation to situation.
B) related to moral and ethical behaviour.
C) that hinders acceptable ethical behaviour.
D) that is usually developed on the job.

Question 18

Restaurant manager Sue has a utilitarian predisposition, so she doesn't mind serving customers food that fell on the floor so long as

A) the food was costly.
B) no customer gets sick.
C) the issue is not covered in the company code of conduct.
D) she can blame the problem on somebody else.

Question 19

An example of a well-developed corporate ethics program is the

A) yearly ethics seminars given by ethicists to top managers.
B) ethics hotline.
C) round-table discussion among teams.
D) ethics supervisor.

Question 20

With respect to ethics, moral intensity refers to how

A) strongly one feels about an issue.
B) how bad the action is.
C) deeply others might be affected by one's actions.
D) well a person's moral code is developed.

Question 21

The symbolic consequences of a decision involving ethical issues refers to the

A) importance attached to the decision.
B) timeliness of the decision.
C) fit between the decision and company philosophy.
D) message communicated by the decision.

Question 22

Obligations in the guide to ethical decision-making refer generally to

A) a company's public image.
B) consequences of the decision that will affect other people.
C) the favours the decision-maker owes people.
D) how well the decision fits the company code of conduct.

Question 23

An explanation offered for unethical behaviour dealing with personal relationships suggests that people are more likely to behave unethically toward each other when they

A) have weak ties to each other.
B) have strong ties to each others.
C) know that the other person can be easily fooled.
D) have worked together for too long.

Question 24

To use intuition when faced with an ethical dilemma, a person should ask

A) "How does the contemplated decision feel, taste, and smell?"
B) "What would my mentor do?"
C) "How do I carefully weigh each alternative?"
D) "How many people should I involve in helping me choose the best alternative?"

Question 25

According to the guide to ethical decision-making, when trying to decide on a way to resolve an ethical dilemma

A) weigh each alternative according to its financial consequences.
B) make an intuitive decision within twenty minutes.
C) imagine several possible options.
D) decide to either do or not do something.