Question 1

The best environment for high quality ethical decision making involves "thin air thinking."

Accepted Answer

It is much more effective to have the time and space in which to consider the questions of ethical decision making before we are faced with them, than when they become urgent and we must engage in "thin air thinking," not the best environment for our high quality decision making.

Question 2

The most helpful way to compare and weigh the alternatives is to try to place oneself in the other person's position.

Accepted Answer

To compare and weigh the alternatives-create a mental spreadsheet that evaluates the impact of each alternative you have devised on each stakeholder you defined. Perhaps the most helpful way to accomplish this task is to try to place oneself in the other person's position.

Question 3

Consequences or justifications are the only means for comparing alternatives.

Accepted Answer

Consequences or justifications are not the only means for comparing alternatives. Some alternatives might concern matters of principles, rights, or duties that override consequences.

Question 4

Stakeholders include only those groups and/or individuals within an organization affected by an internal decision, policy or operation of a firm or individual.

Accepted Answer

Stakeholders include all of the groups and/or individuals affected by a decision, policy or operation of a firm or individual.

Question 5

Normative myopia occurs only in business.

Accepted Answer

Normative myopia does not occur only in business.

Question 6

Responsibility for the circumstances that can encourage ethical behavior and can discourage unethical behavior falls predominantly to the business management and executive team.

Accepted Answer

Responsibility for the circumstances that can encourage ethical behavior and can discourage unethical behavior falls predominantly to the business management and executive team.

Question 7

Within a business setting, individuals must consider the ethical implications of both personal and professional decision-making.

Accepted Answer

Within a business setting, individuals must consider the ethical implications of both personal and professional decision-making.

Question 8

Inattentional blindness is the inability to recognize ethical issues.

Accepted Answer

Inattentional blindness results from focusing failures.

Question 9

In the ethical decision-making process, the issue identification step always follows the fact gathering step.

Accepted Answer

The first step in making decisions that are ethically responsible is to determine the facts of the situation. A second step in responsible ethical decision making requires the ability to recognize a decision or issue as an ethical decision or ethical issue. The first and second steps of the ethical decision-making process might arise in reverse order, depending on the circumstances. The issue identification, therefore, becomes the first step, while fact gathering is a necessary step number two.

Question 10

Kathy, your best friend and class mate, asks you to help her with a challenging ethical predicament. Which of the following would be your first step in the decision making process?
A)Identifying the ethical issue
B)Considering the available alternatives
C)Determining the facts of the situation
D)Making the decision

Accepted Answer

There may be times when you are presented with an issue from the start, say, when a colleague asks you for guidance with a challenging ethical predicament. The issue identification, therefore, becomes the first step, while fact gathering is a necessary step number two.

Question 11

A person who acts in a way that is based upon a careful consideration of the facts has acted in a more ethically responsible way than a person who acts without deliberation.

Accepted Answer

A person who acts in a way that is based upon a careful consideration of the facts has acted in a more ethically responsible way than a person who acts without deliberation.

Question 12

Decisions made on economic grounds imply the lack of ethical considerations.

Accepted Answer

We need to recognize that "business" or "economic" decisions and ethical decisions are not mutually exclusive. Just because a decision is made on economic grounds does not mean that it does not involve ethical considerations, as well.

Question 13

Which of the following is the second step of the ethical decision-making process?
A)Considering available alternatives
B)Making the decision
C)Identifying the ethical issues involved
D)Considering the impact of the on stakeholders

Accepted Answer

A second step in responsible ethical decision making requires the ability to recognize a decision or issue as an ethical decision or ethical issue.

Question 14

Within business, an organization's context sometimes makes it difficult for even the best-intentioned person to act ethically.

Accepted Answer

Within business, an organization's context sometimes makes it difficult for even the best-intentioned person to act ethically.

Question 15

When does issue identification become the first step in the ethical decision-making process?
A)When you are not accountable for the decision
B)When you are solely responsible for a decision
C)When you are presented with an issue from the start
D)Under all circumstances

Accepted Answer

There may be times when you are presented with an issue from the start, say, when a colleague asks you for guidance with a challenging ethical predicament. The issue identification, therefore, becomes the first step, while fact gathering is a necessary step number two.

Question 16

In the ethical decision-making process, identify the steps that might arise in reverse order, depending on the circumstances.
A)Identifying the ethical issues; considering the impact of the decision on stakeholders
B)Determining the facts; identifying the impact of the decision on stakeholders
C)Identifying the impact of the decision on stakeholders; considering the available alternatives
D)Determining the facts; identifying the ethical issues

Accepted Answer

The first step in making decisions that are ethically responsible is to determine the facts of the situation. Identifying the ethical issues involved is the next step in making responsible decisions. Certainly, the first and second steps might arise in reverse order, depending on the circumstances.

Question 17

The first step in making decisions that are ethically responsible is to:
A)determine the facts.
B)consider the available alternatives.
C)monitor and learn from the outcomes.
D)identify and consider the impact of the decision on stakeholders.

Accepted Answer

The first step in making decisions that are ethically responsible is to determine the facts of the situation.

Question 18

A critical element of comparing and weighing the alternatives is the consideration of ways to mitigate, minimize, or compensate for any possible harmful consequences.

Accepted Answer

The next step in the decision-making process after considering all available alternatives is to compare and weigh the alternatives. A critical element of this evaluation will be the consideration of ways to mitigate, minimize, or compensate for any possible harmful consequences or to increase and promote beneficial consequences.

Question 19

The first step in making decisions that are ethically responsible is to consider all of the people affected by a decision, the people often called stakeholders.

Accepted Answer

The first step in making decisions that are ethically responsible is to determine the facts of the situation.

Question 20

There is a role for science and theoretical reason in any study of ethics.

Accepted Answer

Given the general importance of determining the facts, there is a role for science (and theoretical reason) in any study of ethics.

Quiz 2: Ethical Decision Making: Personal and Professional Contexts

The best environment for high quality ethical decision making involves "thin air thinking."

The most helpful way to compare and weigh the alternatives is to try to place oneself in the other person's position.

Consequences or justifications are the only means for comparing alternatives.

Stakeholders include only those groups and/or individuals within an organization affected by an internal decision, policy or operation of a firm or individual.

Normative myopia occurs only in business.

Responsibility for the circumstances that can encourage ethical behavior and can discourage unethical behavior falls predominantly to the business management and executive team.

Within a business setting, individuals must consider the ethical implications of both personal and professional decision-making.

Inattentional blindness is the inability to recognize ethical issues.

In the ethical decision-making process, the issue identification step always follows the fact gathering step.

Kathy, your best friend and class mate, asks you to help her with a challenging ethical predicament. Which of the following would be your first step in the decision making process?

A person who acts in a way that is based upon a careful consideration of the facts has acted in a more ethically responsible way than a person who acts without deliberation.

Decisions made on economic grounds imply the lack of ethical considerations.

Which of the following is the second step of the ethical decision-making process?

Within business, an organization's context sometimes makes it difficult for even the best-intentioned person to act ethically.

When does issue identification become the first step in the ethical decision-making process?

In the ethical decision-making process, identify the steps that might arise in reverse order, depending on the circumstances.

The first step in making decisions that are ethically responsible is to:

A critical element of comparing and weighing the alternatives is the consideration of ways to mitigate, minimize, or compensate for any possible harmful consequences.

The first step in making decisions that are ethically responsible is to consider all of the people affected by a decision, the people often called stakeholders.

There is a role for science and theoretical reason in any study of ethics.