Deck 2: Deciding Whats Right: a Prescriptive Approach

Question 1

Creativity and thinking out of the box are just a scoundrel's way of saying that coming up with alternatives in solving how you handle ethical issues are valuable skills to keep you from being caught.

Answer 1

False

Question 2

A virtue ethics perspective requires a moral actor to look to the community that will hold the moral actor to the highest ethical standard and support the moral actor's intention to be a virtuous person.

Answer 2

True

Question 3

According to Lawrence Kohlberg, developer of a key theory of moral reasoning, role taking is useless as nothing is gained by putting yourself in the shoes of others.

Answer 3

False

Question 4

Despite the disclosure rule, making decisions in private to avoid negative reaction is generally best for a business as it safeguards your firm's reputation and keeps competitive information away from your competitors.

Question 5

In business, concerning yourself with how your decision making affects stakeholders is useless given the number of stakeholders and their different interests.

Question 6

A major challenge of deontological approaches is deciding which duty, obligation, right, or principle takes precedence because ethical dilemma often pit these against each other.

Question 7

A virtue ethics approach is particularly useful for individuals who work within a professional community, such as the accounting profession, that has developed high standards of ethical conduct for community members.

Question 8

If you are asked to make hastily a decision that you believe raises potential ethical issues you should be a good team player and proceed with the decision.

Question 9

A stakeholder is any person who only owns stock in a company.

Question 10

American political philosopher John Rawls proposed that decision makers use a veil of ignorance exercise to arrive at fundamental principles of justice that should guide ethical decision making.

Question 11

An appearance of a conflict of interest can be as damaging as an actual conflict.

Question 12

A utility ethics perspective considers the actor's character, motivations, and intentions.

Question 13

An ethical dilemma is defined as a situation where two or more "right" values are in conflict.

Question 14

Most business managers rely on a deontological approach.

Question 15

The consequentialist approach protects the rights of the minority.

Question 16

Business managers generally rely on the consequentialist approach.

Question 17

The Golden Rule asks, "How would you feel if your behavior appeared publicly on _____? You fill in the blank.

Question 18

It is good advice to go with your gut.

Question 19

A challenge involved in using a strictly consequentialist approach is that it is often difficult to obtain the information required to evaluate all of the consequences for all stakeholders who may be directly or indirectly affected by an action or decision.

Question 20

Ethical dilemmas represent conflicts in values.

Question 21

The _____ approach focuses more on the integrity of the moral actor (the person) than on the moral act itself (the decision or behavior).

A) utilitarian
B) deontological
C) teleological
D) virtue ethics

Question 22

The __________ challenges one to ask, "how would you feel if your behavior appeared in The Wall Street Journal?"

A) veil of ignorance
B) categorical imperative
C) disclosure rule
D) confession constraint

Question 23

A major challenge of _____ approaches is deciding which duty, obligation, right, or principle takes precedence because, as we said earlier, ethical dilemmas often pit these against each other.

A) utilitarian
B) deontological
C) teleological
D) consequentialist

Question 24

In her desire to make sound ethical decisions, Maggie was advised to "Do your homework" by her mentor. This is part of which step in the sound ethical decision making in business?

A) Define the ethical issues
B) Gather the facts
C) Identify the affected parties
D) Check your gut

Question 25

A ________ focuses on doing what is "right" (based on moral principles or values such as honesty), whereas a _________ focuses on doing what will maximize societal welfare.

A) utilitarian; virtue follower
B) deontologist; consequentialist
C) virtue follower; utilitarian
D) consequentialist; deontologist

Question 26

The ___________ approach to ethical decision making focuses on how people actually make ethical decisions.

A) prescriptive
B) descriptive
C) illustrative
D) regulatory

Question 27

A _______________ is any person or group with a stake in the issue at hand.

A) stakeholder
B) large customer
C) community committee
D) government party

Question 28

______ is probably the best-known consequentialist theory.

A) Utilitarianism
B) The disclosure rule
C) Deontological
D) Principle of value

Question 29

The ___________ states that an ethical decision should maximize benefits to society and minimize harms.

A) principle of value
B) theory of cost-benefit analysis
C) principle of efficacy
D) principle of utility

Question 30

Utilitarianism is the best known example of a consequential theory.

Question 31

Which of these is the first step in the sound ethical decision making in business?

A) Define the ethical issues
B) Gather the facts
C) Identify the affected parties
D) Check your gut

Question 32

The prescriptive approach is to ____________ as the descriptive approach is to _____________.

A) psychology; philosophy
B) philosophy; psychology
C) would; does
D) none of these

Question 33

"Role taking" is a skill appropriate in which step in the sound ethical decision making in business?

A) Define the ethical issues
B) Gather the facts
C) Identify the affected parties
D) Check your gut

Question 34

Bianca focuses on the consequences when deciding what is right or wrong. Which of these theories is Bianca focused on?

A) Virtue-based
B) Deontological
C) Teleological
D) Principled

Question 35

Jerome abides by the "Golden Rule -- Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." This is an example of which of these approaches to ethical decision making?

A) Utilitarian
B) Deontological
C) Teleological
D) Consequentialist

Question 36

The ___________ approach to ethical decision making focuses on what decision an individual should make.

A) prescriptive
B) descriptive
C) illustrative
D) regulatory

Question 37

Generally, ethical dilemmas are not routine. Therefore, there is no way that an individual can be prepared or informed for a problem ahead of time.

Question 38

Although all of the philosophical approaches have limitations, an individual must choose one approach and follow its guidance in every situation.

Question 39

Disclosure rule is appropriate to explore in which step in the sound ethical decision making in business?

A) Define the ethical issues
B) Gather the facts
C) Consider your character and integrity
D) Check your gut

Question 40

Rachael likes to win. She also holds the value of being honest and having high levels of integrity. Given that these two values, winning and integrity, are in conflict, Rachael likely confronts which of these often?

A) Consequentialist theory
B) Utility approach
C) Ethical dilemma
D) Principled position

Question 41

Reference: Matching Approach and Weakness (each can be used more than once)
a) Deontological approach
b) Teleological approach
c) Virtue ethics approach
The rights of a minority group can easily be sacrificed for the benefit of the majority (for example, slavery in the United States).

Question 42

Discuss the disclosure rule and the ethical role model rule. When might the disclosure rule be most helpful? When might the role model rule be most helpful?

Question 43

Reference: Matching Approach and Weakness (each can be used more than once)
a) Deontological approach
b) Teleological approach
c) Virtue ethics approach
A major challenge is deciding which duty, obligation, right, or principle takes precedence.

Question 44

Reference: Matching Approach and Weakness (each can be used more than once)
a) Deontological approach
b) Teleological approach
c) Virtue ethics approach
This approach that stresses community standards is limited in business because in many areas of business there is limited agreement about what the standards are.

Question 45

Reference : Matching Key Terms and Descriptions (each can be used more than once)
a) Deontological approach
b) Teleological (or Consequential) approach
c) Virtue ethics approach
Focuses on the integrity of the moral actor.

Question 46

Reference : Matching Approach and Weakness (each can be used more than once)
a) Step one: gather the facts
b) Step two: define the ethical issues
c) Step three: identify the affected parties (the stakeholders)
d) Step four: identify the consequences
e) Step five: identify the obligations
f) Step six: consider your character and integrity
g) Step seven: think creatively about potential actions
h) Step eight: check your gut
Being able to see the situation through others' eyes is a key moral reasoning skill.

Question 47

Reference : Matching Key Terms and Descriptions (each can be used more than once)
a) Deontological approach
b) Teleological (or Consequential) approach
c) Virtue ethics approach
For example, followers of this approach would rely on Western biblical tradition or moral intuition for guidance.

Question 48

Reference : Matching Key Terms and Descriptions (each can be used more than once)
a) Deontological approach
b) Teleological (or Consequential) approach
c) Virtue ethics approach
The______________ approach best known as consequentialist theory is Utilitarianism.

Question 49

Reference: Matching Approach and Weakness (each can be used more than once)
a) Deontological approach
b) Teleological approach
c) Virtue ethics approach
It is difficult to obtain the information required to evaluate all of the consequences for all indirect and direct stakeholders.

Question 50

Reference : Matching Approach and Weakness (each can be used more than once)
a) Step one: gather the facts
b) Step two: define the ethical issues
c) Step three: identify the affected parties (the stakeholders)
d) Step four: identify the consequences
e) Step five: identify the obligations
f) Step six: consider your character and integrity
g) Step seven: think creatively about potential actions
h) Step eight: check your gut
________ Or put another way, "Do your homework!"

Question 51

Reference : Matching Key Terms and Descriptions (each can be used more than once)
a) Deontological approach
b) Teleological (or Consequential) approach
c) Virtue ethics approach
A philosophical tradition that began with Aristotle and primarily considers the actor's character, motivations, and intentions.

Question 52

Which of these is the final step in the sound ethical decision making in business?

A) Define the ethical issues
B) Gather the facts
C) Identify the affected parties
D) Check your gut

Question 53

Reference: Matching Approach and Weakness (each can be used more than once)
a) Deontological approach
b) Teleological approach
c) Virtue ethics approach
An individual's principles may be in conflict with what is best and causes the least amount of harm to another individual. For example, an individual who believes that he or she should not lie would be conflicted about telling the Nazi's he or she is hiding Jews in the basement.

Question 54

Reference : Matching Approach and Weakness (each can be used more than once)
a) Step one: gather the facts
b) Step two: define the ethical issues
c) Step three: identify the affected parties (the stakeholders)
d) Step four: identify the consequences
e) Step five: identify the obligations
f) Step six: consider your character and integrity
g) Step seven: think creatively about potential actions
h) Step eight: check your gut
In which step you ask yourself what a person of integrity would do in this situation. In attempting to answer this question, you may find it useful to identify the relevant moral community and consider what that community would advise.

Question 55

Reference : Matching Key Terms and Descriptions (each can be used more than once)
a) Deontological approach
b) Teleological (or Consequential) approach
c) Virtue ethics approach
Focuses on doing what is "right" based on broad, absolute and universal moral principles or values

Question 56

Reference : Matching Key Terms and Descriptions (each can be used more than once)
a) Deontological approach
b) Teleological (or Consequential) approach
c) Virtue ethics approach
Focuses on the results or consequences of the decision or action.

Question 57

Reference : Matching Key Terms and Descriptions (each can be used more than once)
a) Deontological approach
b) Teleological (or Consequential) approach
c) Virtue ethics approach
"What kind of world would this be if everyone behaved this way or made this kind of decision in this type of situation?"

Question 58

You are working with an important vendor who has offered you a "sweet" deal. However, the vendor has made it clear that he wants a decision now and your internal warning system (i.e. your gut) is telling you that this deal might be an ethical dilemma. Using what you have learned from this chapter, briefly describe how you should proceed. Will you answer him now? How will you think about the "dilemma" and respond to the vendor?

Question 59

Reference : Matching Approach and Weakness (each can be used more than once)
a) Step one: gather the facts
b) Step two: define the ethical issues
c) Step three: identify the affected parties (the stakeholders)
d) Step four: identify the consequences
e) Step five: identify the obligations
f) Step six: consider your character and integrity
g) Step seven: think creatively about potential actions
h) Step eight: check your gut
In business, it's also extremely important to think about the potential symbolic consequences of an action. Every decision and action sends a message; it stands for something. What message will a particular decision or action send? What will it mean if it is misunderstood?

Question 60

Reference : Matching Approach and Weakness (each can be used more than once)
a) Step one: gather the facts
b) Step two: define the ethical issues
c) Step three: identify the affected parties (the stakeholders)
d) Step four: identify the consequences
e) Step five: identify the obligations
f) Step six: consider your character and integrity
g) Step seven: think creatively about potential actions
h) Step eight: check your gut
We can't always say exactly why we're uncomfortable in a situation, but years of socialization have likely made us sensitive to situations where something just doesn't feel quite right.