A supervisor on the night shift at a manufacturing plant is told to dump chemicals used in the refining process rather than dispose of them properly according to safety regulations.The owner of the company insists that the chemicals are not harmful to the environment,but the supervisor knows that the dumping is illegal.The supervisor believes that he will lose his job if he reports the problem to authorities at the Environmental Protection Agency.This example is LEAST associated with which potential cause of unethical behavior?
A)obsession with personal achievement
B)disparity between personal and professional ethical system
C)uncertainty about whether an act is wrong
D)unwillingness to stand for what is right

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

This scenario does not seem to involve an obsession with personal achievement, as the supervisor's reluctance to report the illegal dumping is based on fear of job loss rather than a desire for personal gain or advancement. The other three potential causes - disparity between personal and professional ethical systems, uncertainty about whether an act is wrong, and unwillingness to stand for what is right - are all relevant to the situation, as the supervisor is faced with conflicting values and concerns about how to act in accordance with them.

A Supervisor on the Night Shift at a Manufacturing Plant