Question 1

Suppose that when making decisions with ethical content, an executive for the Coca-Cola Company always considers whether she would be comfortable explaining her decision after the fact to a national TV audience. Such thinking

Accepted Answer

Considering the potential scrutiny of a national TV audience can encourage ethical decision-making by making the executive accountable for their actions and ensuring they are making choices that align with their personal and company values.

Question 2

The American Apparel Manufacturers Association exerts pressure on its members to comply with the ethical standards of the industry and provides information and benefits for textile companies. This company is an example of a(n)

Accepted Answer

The American Apparel Manufacturers Association is a trade association, which is a voluntary group of businesses in a particular industry that work together to promote the interests of the industry and its members. They do not have regulatory or government authority, but they do provide information and benefits to their members.

Question 3

A whistle-blower is a person who

Accepted Answer

A whistle-blower is someone who reports illegal or unethical conduct within their organization. This can include disclosing information about illegal or unethical actions to the public or law enforcement agencies.

Question 4

When faced with an ethical conflict, a manager should always

Accepted Answer

When faced with an ethical conflict, a manager should consider all stakeholders involved and weigh their own ethics and the company's ethics before making a decision. This approach ensures that decisions are not only legally compliant but also ethical, fair, and responsible.

Question 5

Tom stormed into the office, exclaiming, "That's the last straw! I've experienced unethical behavior at this company one time too many. I'll be calling the press immediately." It appears that Tom is about to engage in

Accepted Answer

Tom's statement suggests that he is about to report or expose unethical behavior within the company to the press, which is known as whistle-blowing.

Question 6

The human resources manager at Swingline, Inc., a manufacturer of office staplers, wants to encourage a more ethical climate in the organization. A likely way for Swingline to do this is to

Accepted Answer

Making certain that Swingline has a company code of ethics that is enforced is a likely way to encourage a more ethical climate in the organization. This gives employees a clear understanding of what is expected of them and what behaviors are acceptable in the workplace. Adding an ethics department whose job is to constantly watch employees or developing a system of surveillance would likely make employees feel mistrusted and would not be effective in creating a positive and ethical work environment. Avoiding the topic of ethics altogether is not a proactive solution and does not address the issue at hand. The statement about these practices being illegal and violating an employee's constitutional rights is not accurate. While there may be certain legal considerations to take into account when implementing policies related to ethical behavior, it is not a violation of an employee's rights to establish expectations and standards for behavior in the workplace.

Question 7

At Victoria's Secret, managerial approval is required whenever an employee makes a purchase at the store using an employee discount. Which factor affecting ethical behavior is Victoria's Secret seeking to control?

Accepted Answer

Victoria's Secret is seeking to control the factor of opportunity by requiring managerial approval for employee purchases with a discount. This helps to prevent employees from taking advantage of their position to receive discounts for friends, family, or other personal reasons, which would be unethical. This control also minimizes the opportunity for unethical behavior related to the employee discount.

Question 8

Megan Miller is an ethics officer at a large financial institution. She likely performs all of the following duties except

Accepted Answer

Encouraging all employees to be whistle-blowers is not typically a duty of an ethics officer. Their role is more about promoting ethical conduct, advising on ethical dilemmas, and determining consequences for violations, rather than encouraging whistle-blowing as a primary function.

Question 9

What is probably the most effective way for a company to encourage ethical behavior?

Accepted Answer

Developing and enforcing a written code of ethics for the organization provides clear guidelines for employees on what is considered ethical behavior and helps to hold them accountable for their actions. This can also establish a culture of ethical behavior within the company. While hiring ethical employees and providing ethics training may also contribute to a culture of ethical behavior, a written code of ethics is likely the most effective way to ensure consistency and clarity in ethical decision-making. Threatening employees with termination or posting signs alone may not be sufficient to promote ethical behavior.

Question 10

Informing the press or government officials about unethical practices within one's organization is called

Accepted Answer

Whistle-blowing is the act of informing the press or government officials about unethical or illegal activities within an organization. It is a way for employees to expose wrongdoing and hold their employers accountable for their actions. While it can be controversial and may have personal and professional consequences, whistle-blowing is often seen as a courageous and ethical act.

Question 11

Publix, a southeastern grocery store chain, has signs saying that tips are not accepted and employees are all informed of this policy. However, many of the baggers commonly accept tips from customers anyway and they often compare to see who makes the most. The factor affecting the ethical behavior of Publix's employees is

Accepted Answer

The factor affecting the ethical behavior of Publix's employees in this scenario is social. The baggers are influenced by their peers and the social environment in which they compare their tips, leading them to accept tips despite the company policy.

Question 12

Which of the following is the most effective way to encourage ethical business behavior?

Accepted Answer

Establishing and enforcing a corporate code of ethics is the most effective way to encourage ethical business behavior. This provides a clear set of guidelines for employees to follow and ensures that the company takes ethical behavior seriously. It also establishes consequences for unethical behavior, which can serve as a deterrent. While the other options may also have some impact, they are typically not as effective as a strong, enforced code of ethics.

Question 13

After consulting his company's code of ethics, Mark is still unsure of whether or not the decision he is about to make is ethical. Which of the following actions would be most appropriate?

Accepted Answer

Determining whether coworkers, suppliers, and customers would approve of the decision can give insight into whether the action aligns with the company's ethical standards and values. It also indicates a willingness to consider the impact of the decision on stakeholders beyond just the company's profits or personal feelings.

Question 14

Rose Martinez walked into her office and found a large, extravagant bouquet on her desk. Before she had time to read the card, her secretary said it was from Mr. Tanner at Zero Corporation. The secretary knew Mr. Tanner was trying to negotiate a sales deal with the company. Thus, she remarked that the beautiful flowers should help Ms. Martinez make her decision. Although Ms. Martinez did not know how to respond to Mr. Tanner's gift, she thought an answer might be in her company's

Accepted Answer

The code of ethics outlines the company's ethical standards and guidelines for conducting business. Ms. Martinez may be able to find guidance on whether or not it is acceptable to accept gifts from potential customers or vendors in the code of ethics.

Question 15

Which of the following scenarios provides the best example of whistle-blowing?

Accepted Answer

Whistle-blowing involves reporting illegal or unethical activities within an organization to outside authorities. Marie reporting her company's unsafe practices to OSHA fits this definition, making it the best example of whistle-blowing among the given scenarios.

Question 16

The Healthcare Financial Management Association expects its code of ethics to provide all of the following benefits except

Accepted Answer

The healthcare financial management association's code of ethics can describe ethical policies and standards, encourage ethical behavior in employees, and communicate the company's expectations to employees. However, it cannot provide a single solution for every ethical situation. Ethical dilemmas can be complex and unique, and require thoughtful consideration and analysis. Additionally, the code of ethics may outline consequences for ethical violations, but does not typically detail a specific punishment for each possible breach of ethics.

Question 17

As a result of the Bhopal incident, in which a toxic gas leak killed thousands of people, leading officials at Union Carbide have dedicated themselves to operating their business ethically. Ways in which the company can encourage ethical behavior include all of the following except

Accepted Answer

Requiring that ethical behavior be profitable goes against the fundamental principles of ethical behavior, which prioritize doing what is right and just, even if it is not necessarily profitable. The other options are valid ways in which the company can encourage ethical behavior.

Question 18

If a company deals with violations of its ethical codes ____, the opportunity to be unethical will be reduced.

Accepted Answer

Dealing with violations of ethical codes firmly and consistently sends a strong message to employees that unethical behavior will not be tolerated. This creates a culture of accountability and reduces the opportunity for individuals to engage in unethical behavior.

Question 19

What are the three sets of factors that influence the standards of behavior in an organization?

Accepted Answer

The three sets of factors that influence the standards of behavior in an organization are opportunity, individual factors, and social factors. Opportunity refers to the circumstances that make unethical behavior possible. Individual factors include personal values, beliefs, and attitudes that can influence behavior. Social factors include peer pressure, group norms, and the overall culture of the organization. Historical factors and financial factors may also have an impact, but they are not included in the three sets of factors mentioned in the question.

Question 20

Ed works in a position where there is very little supervision. In fact, although he considers himself ethical, he figures he could go away for a week without anyone noticing. Which general set of factors is most likely to influence Ed's ethical behavior?

Accepted Answer

Ed's ethical behavior is most likely to be influenced by the opportunity factor, as he has the opportunity to engage in unethical behavior without being caught due to the lack of supervision. The other factors may still play a role, but the opportunity factor is the most relevant in this situation.

Quiz 2: A: Being Ethical and Socially Responsible