Q&A Hero

Q: Achieving and maintaining an ethical business corporation is a laudable but difficult task. What are some of the obstacles that a corporation faces, by its very nature, in seeking an ethical culture?

Q: Even with a code of ethics, why is it important for top management in a corporation to set an example for ethical conduct?

Q: How has the role of government changed the ethical environment of businesses?

Q: Of the two main systems of ethics, which do you think is better for a corporate philosophy? Compare the two, giving examples of each and potential problems.

Q: How could a utilitarian argue for the view that the tobacco industry is a positive part of society?

Q: What roles do regulations serve in promoting ethical decisions in the business world? Do you think there should be more or fewer regulations on business?

Q: Is the concept of due care a formalist or consequentialist concept? What are the difficulties in applying this to business actions?

Q: Peter is an 84-year-old with a heart condition. He has no family and has minimal health insurance. He is on a fixed income and barely has enough money to survive. His doctor tells him that he needs to take a particular medicine for three months or his condition will severely worsen. The medicine will cost $450, and only $150 of the cost is covered by insurance. Peter goes to the bank and hands the teller a note saying, Give me $300, or I will detonate a bomb. When Peter is later apprehended, he tells the police that he stole the money to buy needed medicine. Understanding that bank robbery is a crime, is there an ethical theory that can serve to justify Peters actions?

Q: How does the 2008 economic recession illustrate the potential problems of economic interdependence?

Q: How would a formalist and a consequentialist view an employer secretly monitoring an employees e-mail messages?

Q: What potential problems arise from the modern corporate structure and its dependence on separation of the managers from the owners?

Q: Civil rights leaders in their quest to promote civil rights and equality often held peaceful marches and non-violent sit-ins that they understood to be at times illegal. Their justification for their actions was to promote and give focus to inequities with the ultimate aim of reducing discrimination and establishing equal rights for all. Were these leaders acting ethically? Fully explain your answer citing the ethical theory you believe to apply.

Q: In the context of the social contract theory, explain the ethical principles proposed by John Rawls.

Q: Which of the following statements is true about the role and effect of profits on ethical corporate behavior? A. In many modern business corporations, the responsibility for profit making is decentralized. B. Making a profit usually deteriorates the common good. C. Profit earning is the least important goal in the contemporary business environment. D. A decline in the Protestant ethic reduces the emphasis on corporate profit. E. In many situations, focusing on profits hinders managers from engaging in any unethical behavior.

Q: According to the Spanish journal Boletn Crculo, which of the following is true about business ethics? A. Profits and business ethics are usually contradictory. B. Unethical behavior is hardly a business liability. C. Immoral behavior often flows from ignorance. D. Business ethics reflect business leadership. E. Ongoing reevaluations of ethics are insignificant and time-consuming.

Q: Which of the following statements is true of the effect of the group on ethics in a corporate organization? A. Individuals hardly do unethical things when they are part of a group. B. Coupled with an overemphasis on profit, the group effect reduces the difficulty of achieving an ethical business corporation. C. Individuals in groups may feel a diminished sense of responsibility for actions taken, which invites ethical compromise. D. In corporate life, it is difficult to overlook the unethical behavior of a superior when many fellow employees are also overlooking it. E. Individuals feel more responsible for what happens in a group than in their individual lives.

Q: Which of the following belongs to the category of involuntary stakeholders? A. The employees B. The top management C. The shareholders D. The suppliers E. The community

Q: Stakeholder theory suggests that through its managers, an ethical corporation __________. A. considers primarily the concerns of top- and mid-level managers B. restricts stakeholders to communicate with decision makers so as to ensure smooth functioning of business C. acknowledges the potential conflict between managerial self-interest and the ethical responsibility of managers to other stakeholders D. focuses and remains within the responsibilities of corporate governance and not to focus on legal responsibilities of managers to society E. discourages open procedures that aid managers to monitor their own ethical performance

Q: _____ means honesty in intent and honesty in fact. A. Acting in good faith B. Acting in due care C. Acting in conflict of interest D. Acting in confidentiality E. Acting in liberty and rights of individuals

Q: In which of the following situations is there a conflict of interest? A. A judge who occasionally shops in a store that is involved in a case before the same judge B. A real estate agent representing the buyer and seller of a house with permission from the buyer and seller C. An agent of one principal who secretly works for another whose interest competes with that of the first principal D. A bank regulator using a credit union E. A lawyer discussing a case with his or her boss

Q: Which of the following is a national group of senior business leaders that has identified a general list of topics that organizational codes of business ethics should cover? A. The Corporate Deciders B. The Business Roundtable C. The National Business Ethics Survey D. The Board of Review E. The Springfield Armory

Q: Hannah Arendt believed that evil often comes from a kind of _____. A. apathy B. ignorance C. thoughtlessness D. boredom E. anger

Q: Plato wrote that immoral behavior often flows from _____. A. apathy B. ignorance C. thoughtlessness D. boredom E. anger

Q: Stakeholder theory suggests that ethical corporate behavior __________. A. strongly relies on government interaction B. focuses primarily on whether corporate actions take the interests of all employees into account before making significant business decisions C. depends on managers who recognize and take into account the various stakeholders whose interests a corporation affects D. takes unacceptable risks only when the risk has a reasonable likelihood of enriching the stakeholders net worth substantially E. requires interaction specifically between managers and customers to promote profit sharing

Q: The primary goal or end of business leaders is to produce a profit. This orientation reflects _____. A. deontology B. formalism C. consequentialism D. the Protestant ethic E. Darwinism

Q: Which of the following statements is true of consequentialism? A. It focuses primarily on individual rights. B. It views lying as an unethical practice. C. It is found in the way in which managers use cost-benefit analysis to evaluate alternative courses of action. D. It is primarily a duty-based view of ethics. E. It asserts that individuals have rights, and that these rights should not be infringed, even at the expense of society as a whole, because they have an intrinsic moral value to them.

Q: The Protestant ethic was rooted in a(n) _____. A. utilitarian approach B. consequentialist approach C. relativist approach D. formalist approach E. epistemological approach

Q: According to sociologist Robert Jackalls view of the modern bureaucratic managerial system, how has the Protestant ethic changed over time? A. The Protestant ethic has become the only viable ethical system for American corporations. B. The profiteering of the Protestant ethic became a justification for economic excess. C. The religious consequentialism of the Protestant ethic became the dominant system of formalistic morality. D. The Protestant ethic collapsed as a viable ethical system. E. The religious formalism of the Protestant ethic has become a type of utilitarian consequentialism.

Q: Opponents of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 inserted the prohibition against _____ in employment in hopes of preventing its passage, thinking that such discrimination was acceptable and that many others agreed with them. A. age discrimination B. religious discrimination C. sex discrimination D. race discrimination E. ethnic discrimination

Q: Which of the following acts prohibits employment discrimination based on race, sex, color, religion, and national origin? A. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 B. The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 C. The GlassSteagall Act D. The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act E. The Commodity Futures Modernization Act of 2000

Q: According to the Ethical Norms and Values for Marketers from the American Marketing Association, which of the following ethical values states that a marketer should accept the consequences of the marketing decisions and strategies taken by him or her? A. Honesty B. Responsibility C. Fairness D. Openness E. Respect

Q: According to the Ethical Norms and Values for Marketers from the American Marketing Association, which of the following ethical values requires marketers to try to balance justly the needs of a buyer with the interests of a seller? A. Honesty B. Responsibility C. Fairness D. Openness E. Respect

Q: Which of the following ethical principles focuses on the common good rather than on individual rights? A. Formalism B. Hedonism C. Utilitarianism D. Narcissism E. Libertinism

Q: The dominant form of consequentialism is _____. A. utilitarianism B. hedonism C. libertinism D. narcissism E. Marxism

Q: The values-based management approach to business ethics illustrates consequentialism through its emphasis on __________. A. teaching ethical values that enhance the profitability of a company specifically to the top management and supervisory personnel B. teaching ethical values that enhance the profitability of a company to all employees C. teaching ethical values to management and supervisory personnel with the aim of avoiding ethical issues, whether profitability is affected or not D. teaching ethical values to all employees with the aim of avoiding ethical issues, whether profitability is affected or not E. teaching ethical values to employees to punish them for unethical conduct

Q: For utilitarians, the __________. A. individual rights of a person are integral to analyzing the morality of actions B. common good is of the least importance C. formalist approach is the basis of every moral action D. ethical focus is on the self-worth of an individual E. end justifies the means

Q: _____ derives from societys expectations about how fair and reasonable actions are. A. Good faith B. Due care C. Utilitarianism D. Conflict of interest E. Liberty

Q: Which of the following statements is true of the Protestant ethic? A. It was a massive threat to capitalism. B. It was rooted in a consequentialist approach. C. It has become a type of utilitarian consequentialism. D. It has remained unaffected by rising wealth and increasing mass consumption. E. It has become an organizational ethics that discourages the modern bureaucratic managerial system.

Q: Which of the following occurs when one attempts to serve two masters? A. A conflict of interest B. A veil of ignorance C. A writ of certiorari D. Ratio decidendi E. Voir dire

Q: For a consequentialist, the __________. A. act of lying itself is unethical B. end results of lying are of little important C. harm done by lying is unethical D. harm done by lying makes it unethical E. act of lying is justified if it is concealed well

Q: Which of the following is a similarity between ethical and legal systems? A. Both systems are institutions of the state. B. In both systems, the motivation to observe moral values comes from within an individual. C. Both systems are based on utilitarian views. D. Both systems consist of rules to guide conduct and foster social cooperation. E. In both systems, ethical behavior is based on just meeting minimum legal requirements.

Q: Which of the following statements is true of the role of economic interdependence on business ethics and society? A. It reduces concerns about business ethics. B. It sometimes gives opportunities to executives who control what stockholders own to manipulate corporate actions for their own benefit. C. It reduces any transparency problems in an organization as corporate leaders are usually the real owners of corporations. D. It predominantly results in utilitarianism. E. It ensures that the decision taken by stockholders have little effect on others.

Q: In the context of ethical issues, modern economic theory reflects __________. A. formalism B. the categorical imperative C. the monopolistic approach D. consequentialism E. utilitarianism

Q: Which of the following statements is true of ethical systems? A. They are institutions of the state. B. They believe that the motivation to observe moral values usually comes from within an individual. C. They set a bare minimum standard acceptable to a society, and violations of the standards are punishable under the legal system. D. They are based on just meeting minimum legal requirements. E. They hold that every ethical value is enforced by the state.

Q: Which of the following is a difference between ethical and legal systems? A. The moral values are observed from within the legal system, whereas the moral values are observed in the form of state transaction in an ethical system. B. An ethical system consists of rules to guide conduct, whereas the legal system consists only of rules to foster social cooperation. C. An ethical system primarily deals with what is wrong, whereas the legal system primarily deals with what is right. D. The legal system involves a broader-based commitment to proper behavior than an ethical system. E. The legal system is an institution of state, whereas an ethical system is not an institution of state.

Q: Which of the following statements is true of the legal system? A. The state enforces legal rules through civil and criminal sanctions. B. The motivation to observe moral values in a legal system comes from within an individual. C. It sets moral standards but does not legally prosecute in instances of breach. D. It involves a broader-based commitment to proper behavior than does the ethical system. E. It sets the highest ethical standards acceptable to a society.

Q: Which of the following refers to the collection of values that guides human behavior? A. Divinity B. Morality C. Utility D. Integrity E. Legality

Q: Which of the following statements is true of the sharing of moral values? A. It usually fails to set limits on unethical behavior. B. It is a significant means of social control. C. It creates an atmosphere of mistrust and suspicion among people. D. It disrupts social harmony. E. It stifles social cooperation as many people fail to accept others.

Q: The end result of ethical examination is what philosophers call _____. A. the good B. the categorical imperative C. a veil of ignorance D. the Protestant Ethic E. due diligence

Q: According to Rawls, which of the following serves as the first step in determining the ethical values on which a just society can be built? A. To assume that one is not aware of ones own age, gender, race, intelligence, strength, wealth, or social status B. To weigh the effects of ones decisions on the society and oneself and thereby choose the path that brings in maximum benefit C. To be completely self-aware of ones ambitions and goals D. To test the morality of actions done by others in a society E. To use formalism to formulate acceptable codes of conduct

Q: Which of the following is one of the ethical principles proposed by Rawls? A. People from the lower strata of a society should be given special opportunities for achievement. B. Social inequalities should be based on a person and not on his or her actions. C. Everyone is entitled to certain equal basic rights, including liberty, freedom of association, and personal security. D. The concerns of an individual are more important than the concerns of a society. E. Economic inequalities should be based on a person and not the persons actions.

Q: Which of the following statements is true about a formalist? A. A formalist places ethical focus on the worth of an individual. B. A formalist predominantly believes and works for the common good. C. A formalist attempts to achieve utilitarianism as fast as possible. D. A formalist evaluates the consequence or end result of lying and not lying itself. E. A formalist lays less emphasis on duty or moral obligation.

Q: Which of the following statements best defines ethics? A. Ethics is a legal system for evaluating who profits in a business transaction. B. Ethics is merely a different term for the laws and regulations created by a government. C. Ethics is an irrational method used specifically in examining the morality of lives. D. Ethics is a simplified term given to the momentary decisions one makes regarding which answer will lead to the most personally successful solution. E. Ethics is a formal system for deciding what is right and wrong and for justifying moral decisions.

Q: In the context of ethics, the good is most likely to be defined as __________. A. a sustained way of producing high-quality goods and services B. the moral goals and objectives people choose to pursue C. the acquisition of the things necessary for having a good life D. a formal system of examining ones moral life E. a formalized, duty-based approach to achieving ones targets

Q: For the formalist thinker Immanuel Kant, to be ethical requires that people act with a good intent. To have a good intent, people have to act in ways that are ethically consistent. This emphasis on consistency Kant called the _____. A. protestant ethic B. categorical imperative C. pure reason D. practical reason E. hypothetical imperative

Q: Which of the following statements is an example of ethical formalism? A. Openness in communications is deemed fundamental. B. There is no doubt that the standards of morality are flexible. C. The greatest happiness of the greatest number is the foundation of morals and legislation. D. The strongest argument for raising the ethics bar boils down to self-interest. E. Loss of confidence in an organization is the single greatest cost of unethical behavior.

Q: According to Rawls, it is important to forget ones own age, gender, race, intelligence, strength, wealth, or social status when determining the ethical values on which a just society can be built. What purpose does this step serve? A. It permits one put oneself first before considering others. B. It keeps one from being self-interested in the ethical values he or she considers. C. It ensures that one acts for ones self-esteem and identity rather than on the perception of others. D. It makes it easier to consider the usefulness of ones actions. E. It promotes the assumption that what one personally needs or wants is morally correct.

Q: Rawlss veil of ignorance means that to think ethically people must __________. A. lose the assumption that what they personally want or need is necessarily morally correct B. recognize that they cannot make valid ethical decisions unless they are totally unaware of the other parties involved so as to eliminate bias C. recognize that they cannot make valid ethical decisions unless they are totally unaware of the circumstances leading to the ethical dilemma so as not to be influenced by unchangeable history D. put themselves in the position of those affected by their decision and act as they would want them to act E. make every ethical decision as if they did not have any education in ethical or moral history to color their decision

Q: Who among the following developed the theory of the categorical imperative? A. Socrates B. Plato C. John Rawls D. Immanuel Kant E. Robert Jackall

Q: Which of the following statements is true of the categorical imperative? A. It allows one to make an exception for ones own benefit. B. It propagates that there is hardly any need to act in the way one believes everyone should act. C. It holds that one can choose to be unethical if a situation demands it. D. It requires one to act with good intent to be ethical. E. It holds that one can hold contradictory opinions and act on them without having to ensure consistency with what others believe.

Q: Isla fakes a headache to skip her classes. Few weeks later, when her friend, Isaac, lies to the teacher about being sick, Isla reports him to the teacher. She tells the teacher that she is not in favor of lying. According to Immanuel Kant, Isla would most likely be in violation of _____. A. utilitarianism B. the categorical imperative C. a veil of ignorance D. the Protestant Ethic E. due diligence

Q: Who developed the social contract theory? A. John Rawls B. Immanuel Kant C. John Locke D. Robert Jackall E. Plato

Q: The social contract theory concerns itself with how to construct a just society given __________. A. the many inequalities of wealth, knowledge, and social status B. the difficulty of acting toward others as people would have them act toward themselves C. the many logical fallacies contained in legal contracts D. the implicit agreement that the powerful are best suited to govern E. the inherent nature of those in a society to argue and reject consensus

Q: Which of the following statements is true of the social contract theory? A. It lays minimal emphasis on individual rights and self-worth. B. It is based on duty. C. It has its origins in formalism. D. It has given rise to utilitarianism. E. It is based on agreements between people.

Q: Which of the following statements is true of formalism? A. It is primarily concerned with the consequences of a persons action rather than the action itself. B. It lays more emphasis on end results and their evaluation. C. It focuses more on common good rather than on individual rights. D. It is an approach to ethics that affirms an absolute morality. E. Its dominant form is utilitarianism.

Q: Dan is a supporter of the formalist view. Which of the following is most likely to be his belief about lying? A. He is likely to support a lie that is told for personal gain. B. He is likely to condemn all forms of lying. C. He is likely to support a lie that is told for the common good. D. He is likely to disapprove of lying only in instances that hurt people. E. He is likely to support a lie that is harmless.

Q: Ethical formalists maintain that __________. A. harm to an individual is acceptable as long as it serves the greater good B. values are situational and change based on circumstance C. individuals have rights that should not be infringed even at the expense of society D. the good of the many always supersedes the good of the few E. the focus should be more on the consequence than on the act of an individual

Q: The _____, proposed by Kant, says that a person has a moral duty to act in the way he or she believes everyone should act. A. social contract theory B. deontological imperative C. categorical imperative D. consequentialist theory E. relativistic approach

Q: That individuals will do unethical things as part of a mob, which they would never do alone, is widely recognized, and the same pattern can be observed in corporate behavior.

Q: In a modern corporation, the very nature of corporate structure gives managers the opportunity to abuse and misappropriate corporate resources owned ultimately by shareholders.

Q: For ethical corporate values to make their most significant effect on decision making, corporate employees must be willing to talk with each other about ethical issues.

Q: The Wealth of Nations was written by _____. A. Adam Smith B. Karl Marx C. Immanuel Kant D. Euripides E. Socrates

Q: Stakeholder theory suggests that through its managers, an ethical corporation avoids risks to stakeholders which, if explained, would be clearly unacceptable.

Q: For businesses, merely to observe the law is sufficient as legal regulations are flexible and adequately informed to be the only social guide for business decision making.

Q: To judge the utility of a particular action, it is necessary to consider alternative courses of action.

Q: Ambrose Bierce posited that individuals in large groups such as corporations feel more responsibility for what happens in the group than they do for what happens in their individual lives.

Q: Coupled with an overemphasis on profit, the group effect increases the difficulty of achieving an ethical business corporation.

Q: One of the observations made by the Spanish journal Boletn Crculo is that profits and business ethics are contradictory.

Q: The legal requirement of honoring confidences contains both formalist and consequentialist ethical values.

Q: It is a conflict of interest for a judge or administrative regulator to make a decision involving a company in which he or she owns stock.