Question 1

All of the following are factors that affect the level of ethical behavior in an organization except

Accepted Answer

Demographic factors are not typically considered as a factor that affects the level of ethical behavior in an organization. The other factors listed (individual factors, social factors, opportunity, moral values) are commonly recognized as important contributors to ethical behavior within organizations.

Question 2

You are the decision maker for purchasing office equipment in your organization. One sales representative privately offers you season tickets to the Chicago Bears if you help him out. This tactic is

Accepted Answer

Offering a personal gift or incentive in exchange for business is unethical and constitutes bribery. It is important to make business decisions based on the best interests of the organization rather than personal gain. Accepting such an offer may also jeopardize the individual's professional reputation and potentially lead to legal consequences.

Question 3

What specific area of business communications presents ethical questions by sometimes containing false and misleading messages for adults and especially children?

Accepted Answer

Advertising often presents ethical questions by using false or misleading messages to manipulate consumers into making purchases. This is especially concerning when the target audience is children, who may not fully understand the tactics being used to persuade them.

Question 4

A large computer manufacturer forbids its executives and managers from serving as directors or officers for Intel Corporation or any other corporation from which it might purchase component parts. The company is trying to prevent

Accepted Answer

The company is trying to prevent a conflict of interest by not allowing its executives and managers to serve as directors or officers for Intel Corporation or any other corporation from which it might purchase component parts. This is to ensure that they make decisions solely in the best interest of the company and not potentially benefit from their involvement with another organization.

Question 5

At Ledbetter Industries, employees are allowed one-hour lunches, but it has become common that most stroll back fifteen minutes late every day. The factor affecting the ethical behavior of Ledbetter's employees is

Accepted Answer

The factor affecting the ethical behavior of Ledbetter's employees is social because it has become a common practice among the employees to come back 15 minutes late from lunch. This suggests that there is a social norm at play where employees feel comfortable following this practice.

Question 6

Metabo-Miracle offers a guaranteed weight loss of 10 pounds in one week without dieting or exercise. Thousands of customers purchase the products and about 200 call in with complaints that the product was ineffective. What action should Metabo-Miracle take?

Accepted Answer

The most ethical and appropriate action for Metabo-Miracle to take is to discuss the product failure with the customers and provide a full refund. Ignoring the complaints or using persuasive techniques to reduce refunds is not ethical and may damage the company's reputation further. Explaining that the customers misused the product is also not appropriate as the product guarantees weight loss without diet or exercise, making it clear that the product, not the customer, did not work as promised. Providing a full refund shows that the company values customer satisfaction and is transparent about its product's limitations.

Question 7

For health-related companies such as Weight Watchers, one of the most frequent ethical issues related to communications that they face is

Accepted Answer

Weight Watchers and other health-related companies often face ethical dilemmas related to deception in their marketing and advertising. They may make exaggerated claims about the effectiveness of their products or services, withhold important information from consumers, or use deceptive tactics to sell their products. This can be harmful to consumers who rely on these companies for accurate health information and may lead to legal or reputational risks for the companies themselves.

Question 8

You are the executive vice president for Cooper Tire, the sixth largest U.S. tire maker. You have the responsibility to locate land for a new distribution center in Mississippi, and you own over 1,000 acres of land near one site in Tupelo. This could create for you

Accepted Answer

As the executive vice president for Cooper Tire, owning over 1,000 acres of land near the site in Tupelo creates a conflict of interest. The decision must be made based on what is best for Cooper Tire, rather than personal gain. Therefore, it is not ethical to use personal connections or benefits for business decisions.

Question 9

Bribes are

Accepted Answer

Bribes involve the act of offering or accepting something of value in exchange for influence or action, and therefore constitute a form of corruption. Acting in unethical ways at any time is not acceptable.

Question 10

Brant promised to repair Carolyn's car on Thursday. After picking up the necessary part at a junkyard, he discovered he could not do the job after all and that the junkyard would not buy back the part. Carolyn does not know about these developments. However, she thinks Brant will be finished with her car sometime today. What should Brant do?

Accepted Answer

Brant should be honest with Carolyn and inform her about the problem. He should recommend a reputable repair shop so that Carolyn can get her car repaired properly. Trying to repair the car himself, even though he does not know how, could potentially make the situation worse and cause further damage to the car. Faking an emergency and contacting Carolyn on Monday would only delay the inevitable and potentially damage their relationship. Stalling for time to practice on Carolyn's car is not only irresponsible, but it also brings up potential safety risks for Carolyn. Therefore, the best choice for Brant is to call Carolyn and be honest about the situation, while also recommending a reputable repair shop.

Question 11

Ranee is a businessperson who works for a successful and admired Fortune 500 company. About how often is Ranee likely to encounter ethical issues in the workplace?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Ranee is a businessperson who works for...

Question 12

Employees of Copley Pharmaceutical, Inc., falsified drug manufacturers' reports to the FDA. These actions taken by Copley's employees were

Accepted Answer

Falsifying reports to the FDA is a clear violation of ethical standards and an illegal act. It can harm consumers and negatively impact the reputation of the company. Therefore, this action is unethical.

Question 13

When medical research indicated that a high-fiber diet might help reduce one's risk of colon cancer, a few producers of fiber cereals suggested in their advertisements that if you eat fiber cereal, you will not get cancer. This is an example of

Accepted Answer

The advertisement is making a false claim and using unethical communication tactics by suggesting that eating their specific brand of fiber cereal guarantees immunity from cancer. This type of misleading information can contribute to public misinformation and harm people's health decisions.

Question 14

Investors expect management to do all of the following except

Accepted Answer

While investors want to see a company behave ethically, they do not necessarily expect management to consult them on ethical decisions. It is management's responsibility to make ethical decisions on behalf of the company, and investors trust that management will do so. The other options listed are all common expectations of investors.

Question 15

Publisher's Clearing House has a policy that no employees or their family members are eligible to win the big sweepstakes. This policy was likely implemented to

Accepted Answer

The policy avoids an apparent conflict of interest by preventing employees and their family members from winning the sweepstakes. This ensures that the winners are selected fairly and impartially, without any bias or advantage towards employees or their families.

Question 16

Tony Shinn is applying for a mortgage to purchase his first home. His credit rating is mediocre due to several late payments on his credit cards and car loan. He is upset because his friend Jerry was offered an interest rate 3 percent less than what Tony was offered by the same mortgage company. This mortgage company's actions were

Accepted Answer

It is ethical for the mortgage company to offer different interest rates based on credit history as it is an important indicator of future payments. It would be unfair for customers with good credit histories to be charged the same interest rates as those with poor credit histories. This is a common practice in the lending industry.

Question 17

Taking credit for others' ideas or work or not meeting one's commitments in a mutual agreement are ethical issues concerning

Accepted Answer

The answer of Taking credit for others' ideas or work...

Question 18

Mattel, the maker of Barbie dolls, frequently shows television ads aimed at children on Saturday mornings, when many children are known to watch cartoons. Some of these ads mix cartoon-type animation and "real" shots of the dolls so that it is sometimes difficult for even an adult to determine what the doll can or cannot do. This most likely represents

Accepted Answer

Mixing animation and "real" shots of the dolls in a way that can be misleading to children is an ethical problem because it may deceive children about the capabilities of the doll. This can lead to false expectations and disappointment, which may be harmful to children's well-being. Mattel should be transparent in their advertising to avoid misleading children and their parents.

Question 19

Customers expect a firm's products to

Accepted Answer

Customers expect products to be safe, reliable, and reasonably priced. While boosting sales and being profitable are important for the firm's success, these are not necessarily customers' expectations. Similarly, earning a reasonable return on investment is more important for investors and stakeholders, rather than customers. While availability is important, it is not the top priority for customers, as they might be willing to wait or search for a product that meets their expectations.

Question 20

The ____ factor affecting ethical behavior includes one's moral values and central attitudes.

Accepted Answer

The individual factor includes one's own personal values, beliefs, and attitudes towards what is right and wrong. This factor is internal and affects the personal behavior and decisions of an individual. It is a major factor in determining ethical behavior.

Quiz 2: A: Being Ethical and Socially Responsible