Deck 2: Solving Ethical Dilemmas and Personal Introspection

Question 1

Your company's policy on company vehicles is that no family members may use them or ride in them. It would be unethical to use a company car to drive you and your spouse to a movie.

Answer 1

True

Question 2

Although you are not part of your company's engineering group, you have discovered a major flaw in the company's new paper-thin solar calculator. The calculator adds when the subtract button is pressed if there are more than three figures to the right of the decimal point. Since it is not your area, you should do and say nothing.

Answer 2

False

Question 3

With respect to #10, using your work computer and paper to complete the case analyses would be unethical.

Answer 3

True

Question 4

Attending a class on company time would be unethical.

Question 5

If I discovered that I unintentionally violated a federal environmental regulation, I should just wait and see if anything happens before taking any action.

Question 6

Murry Gunty was expelled from Harvard.

Question 7

You are taking a graduate level course in management that will help you in performing your duties at work. Each week you must submit case analyses to your professor. Using work time to complete the analyses would be unethical.

Question 8

The failure to disclose that your college degree was withheld because of outstanding parking fines and violations is unethical.

Question 9

Your company has several outdated computers sitting in a storage closet that no one is using. You have taken one home and set it up for personal use. This is unethical conduct.

Question 10

Alice is a co-worker who is going through a divorce and has two small children. Alice's husband is not paying the child support the temporary court order requires. As a result, Alice is broke until she can get her court hearing. Alice has been able, through diverting checks returned to the company, to take about $2200 from the company to "temporarily help her cover her bills," as she has explained to you. You must report Alice's embezzlement.

Question 11

Taking information from a confidential file accidentally left on your desk is not unethical.

Question 12

Peter Drucker believes that those who have more education should be held to higher standards.

Question 13

You are a building inspector for the county. A friend of yours is a plumbing contractor. Under county regulations, all steps in plumbing construction from the initial dig to the final installation of sink and bathroom fixtures requires an inspection sign-off. Your plumbing contractor friend has just called and wants to take you to dinner for your birthday at a five-star restaurant. Because you are friends anyway, the dinner presents no ethical problems.

Question 14

A supplier has just been awarded a large contract by your company. As an employee in purchasing, you were largely responsible for awarding that supplier the contract. The supplier's sales representative has just called and would like to take you to lunch to thank you for the support. Going to lunch with the sale representative does not present any ethical problems.

Question 15

Murry Gunty was a Harvard MBA who rigged his election as an officer in the Finance Club.

Question 16

If my supervisor asked me to cover for him by lying about his whereabouts, I should agree to do it but remind him that I can't make it a habit.

Question 17

You work for a school district as a facilities coordinator. You drive to the various schools in the district and supervise construction and remodeling and assess various building needs. When you are traveling around to the various schools, you use a district vehicle that is clearly marked as such. One day you stop at the country club and have lunch before heading to the next school since the country club is on the way. You also stop at the bank drive-thru teller to do some personal banking business. Both the lunch and the bank stop are ethical breaches.

Question 18

The mayor owns property next to one of the proposed sites for the city's new baseball stadium. The mayor has a conflict of interest and should not vote on the location of the stadium when the city council takes action on the site.

Question 19

Your supervisor has told you that he wants to "get rid of Jane." Jane is a Hispanic female co-worker who is very bright and capable and hardworking. Your supervisor has asked you to document everything Jane does and says that will help build a case for termination. You should do as your supervisor tells you.

Question 20

Leaders who are focused on their own goals are less likely to lose their way when it comes to ethics.

Question 21

A focus on the trappings of success causes leaders to lose their way.

Question 22

Albert Carr likens business to a poker game.

Question 23

You work for a construction firm that is submitting a bid for the construction of a new company headquarters building for Smithco. A friend you have known since high school works in Smithco's capital budgeting area and has full knowledge of all the bids from all firms. It would be unethical for your friend to share that information with you before you submitted your bid.

Question 24

Albert Carr believes that a card up the sleeve is not the same as bluffing and is a form of cheating.

Question 25

Albert Carr believes that bluffing in business is justified because it is understood as part of the game of business.

Question 26

"To bribe or not to bribe" is a set-up for the either/or conundrum.

Question 27

It would not be unethical to continue interviewing for positions after you have already accepted employment with a particular firm.

Question 28

A newspaper reporter is interviewing you about your experiences in working for a member of Congress. You have indicated you have information about his private life but will not share it. The reporter responds, "Tell me, just between you and me." You share the information and a quote from you on the private life of the member of Congress appears in the newspaper the next day. The reporter was unethical in violating a trust.

Question 29

Plato believed one cannot make ethical decisions without first developing virtue.

Question 30

Your college of business is sponsoring a case competition. All teams must watch the other teams compete. The order of presentation is by luck of a draw. The team that is the last to present left during one of the presentations, went to the computer room and redid its PowerPoint slides and restructured its presentation based on what other teams had presented. This team has done nothing wrong.

Question 31

With respect to #27, it would be unethical for you to hire your friend to get him to bring the information to your company.

Question 32

Most ethical lapses are sudden and not foreseen.

Question 33

Violation of company rules would not be considered an ethical violation.

Question 34

Peter Drucker believes that the ethical obligation of business is to bluff within reason.

Question 35

With respect to #20, it is not necessary for the company to take any action to correct the problem or refund money for those who already own the new calculator.

Question 36

It would not be unethical for you to accept two employment offers in case one fell through.

Question 37

Ethical lapses involve gradual decision processes.

Question 38

Your supervisor has had a calendar with pictures of naked women on the inside panel of his desk for several months. A secretary spotted the calendar and commented to your supervisor that it was not appropriate for an office. Your supervisor took down the calendar and has asked you to back him up if any complaints are filed. He has asked you to say that you never saw the calendar. It would not be unethical for you to do as your supervisor requests because he has removed the calendar.

Question 39

Alice is a secretary in your department. Alice is also a member of the American Guild of Organists. Alice has been placed in charge of the Guild's national convention. Each time you pass by Alice's desk or go to her to have some work done, you notice she is on the phone discussing or working on the convention. Alice's work on the convention during work hours is an ethical violation.

Question 40

Increasing isolation is a part of leadership but does not affect ethical choices.

Question 41

Beth Williams is an exercise physiologist who serves as an expert consultant for Women's Walkers, Inc., a shoe company specializing in manufacturing walking shoes for women. Dr. Williams is paid an annual consulting fee along with additional fees for drafting reports and making media and public appearances for the company. Executive Woman, a national magazine, has asked Dr. Williams to serve as one of three experts on a panel that will evaluate the full market range of women's walking shoes. Dr. Williams will be paid a consulting fee by Executive Woman as well.

A) Dr. Williams has a conflict of interest and should decline the Executive Woman offer.
B) Dr. Williams can participate in the Executive Woman panel so long as her affiliation with Women's Walkers is disclosed.
C) Dr. Williams can participate in the Executive Woman panel if she waives her fee.
D) Dr. Williams is an academic with no conflict of interest and can participate in the Executive Woman panel.

Question 42

Medical Purchasing Agents (MPC) is a company that represents groups of hospitals as their agents for purchasing medical supplies. MPC is able to obtain discounts for the hospital group because of their sheer volume needs when they are grouped together. MPC's CEO, CFO and general counsel own 51% of the stock of a company called Medi-Pump. Medi-Pump is the sole supplier to the hospitals for feeding pumps, IV pumps and other forms of hi-tech medical pumps and supplies. MPC has negotiated a low-cost supply contract from Medi-Pump to the hospitals. MPC:

A) Has served its customers well with the Medi-Pump contract.
B) Has a conflict because of its ownership of Medi-Pump.
C) Cannot have a conflict so long as the Medi-Pump price is lowest.
D) Cannot have a conflict because it represents groups of hospitals.
E) None of the above

Question 43

Fabrice Tourre was aware that the CDO market was going to crash.

Question 44

Goldman's securities offerings in the 1920s were similar to its offerings in the mortgage-debt instruments sold in the 2000s.

Question 45

Professor Reba McGintry is the head of the Student Conduct Board. Charges have been brought against 3 students who are also members of the university basketball team. The charges are based on the criminal charges brought by the local district attorney against the 3 men for sexual assault. Professor McGintry's husband was one of the staff attorneys in the DA's office who made the decision to go forward with the prosecution. Professor McGintry:

A) Can proceed with the hearing because the two matters are unrelated.
B) Can proceed with the hearing because of marital privilege.
C) Must excuse herself from the students' hearing because of a conflict of interest.
D) Has no conflict, but her husband does.
E) None of the above

Question 46

During the 1990s, Goldman increased it standards for profitability before doing an IPO.

Question 47

You had quite a night last night of partying. Because of excessive drinking, you are unable to get to work today. When you call your supervisor you:

A) Should just say you have the flu.
B) Should just say you are sick.
C) Should disclose the prior night's activity.
D) None of the above

Question 48

Ben Small, a sole practitioner, has just decided to form a law partnership with his lifetime friend, Harvey Steptoe. They agree to name the firm Steptoe and Small and to split all profits. Ben is also a director for a publicly-traded telecommunications firm, NewVector, Inc. Ben has just learned that Harvey is lead counsel is a lawsuit against NewVector. Ben continues to serve as a board member and participates in sensitive discussions about the lawsuit. Ben does not disclose that Steptoe is his partner. Ben's feeling is that he and Harvey are as honest as the day is long and neither would compromise their duties to NewVector and client, respectively.

A) Ben has a conflict of interest and must either resign as a director or leave the partnership.
B) The pledge of both Ben and Harvey is sufficient to cover the ethical issues on conflict.
C) It is Harvey's obligation to take action, not Ben's.
D) None of the above

Question 49

Which of the following is not a conflict of interest?

A) A doctor's referral of a patient to an x-ray lab that he owns for a full work-up without disclosing his ownership interest
B) A purchasing agent's failure to disclose a 22% ownership interest in a supplier that would be chosen anyway
C) A bank officer's solicitation of a charitable contribution for a non-profit organization of which he is a member from a customer with a large line of credit up for renewal in 30 days
D) All of the above are conflicts of interest

Question 50

A professor for one of your courses has assigned reading materials from various publications. He tells you that the materials are on reserve and that each student should go and copy the materials individually. He notes that for him to copy the materials for students and then sell them or distribute them would be a violation of copyright law. The professor's conduct:

A) Is unethical and violates copyright law as well.
B) Is something everyone does and is accepted behavior.
C) Does not really harm anyone.
D) Is acceptable in an academic setting.

Question 51

Jeff Sanders, head of finance for Components, Inc. has just interviewed Laura Dern, an employee from the finance department of InChip, Components' chief competitor. Laura has explained that she has been passed over one too many times for a promotion at InChip and is thus in the job market. As Laura is leaving she whispers to Jeff, "Look, I have no contract at InChip that obligates me in anyway. I can begin immediately. Further, I have been able to obtain copies of our newest computer chip designs. You'll have them before InChip even begins production."

A) Jeff should hire Laura on the spot without any worries about ethical breaches since Laura is not under contract.
B) Jeff's hiring of Laura may constitute an ethical breach, but would not constitute illegal conduct.
C) Jeff should not hire Laura, and must analyze the issue of whether to disclose Laura's conduct to InChip.
D) Jeff should not hire Laura and need not worry about Laura's conduct and its impact on InChip.

Question 52

Mary Pickford is an analyst for Munford Stanley, an investment banker. She has touted the stock, an initial primary offering (IPO), of an obscure biotech firm as a "must buy." Munford Stanley is the underwriter for the IPO. Pickford:

A) Does not have a conflict of interest.
B) Has a conflict of interest, but it is acceptable in IPOs.
C) Has a conflict of interest that must be disclosed to all purchasers.
D) Does not have a conflict of interest, but Munford Stanley does.
E) None of the above

Question 53

In the equation P=ƒ(x), P stands for profits.

Question 54

Ikea fell into the either/or conundrum in solving its problems in dealing with Russian authorities.

Question 55

Goldman did not pay a fine to the SEC.

Question 56

Randy White is the executive director of a non-profit preschool for special needs children. Part of Randy's responsibilities include fundraising for the preschool. Because of his experience and success in operating specialty pre-schools, Randy is sought after as a consultant at locations around the country to assist in the start-up and operation of such facilities. Randy does so quite frequently. Randy does not take vacation time for this work, and his consultant fees (which range from $750 - $1500 per day) are kept by him as personal income. Randy uses his secretary at the preschool to book his travel arrangements and prepare his consultant reports and bills for these outside engagements.

A) Randy's activities are ethical so long as disclosed.
B) Randy is using the time and resources of his employer in an unethical manner.
C) Randy's activities are ethical whether disclosed or undisclosed.
D) There is no conflict of interest in Randy's activities.

Question 57

The SEC failed to pass the shareholder say-on-pay regulation.

Question 58

An application for graduate school admission at Arizona State University includes the following request for information: Please list all institutions attended since graduation from high school.
Marie Davis, a returning student, is applying for admissions to the Masters in Architecture program. Marie attended the University of Arizona for one semester in 1976. Marie had a substance abuse problem and did not attend many of her classes. She left the University of Arizona before classes ended that semester. She did not take her final exams and earned 15 credit hours of "E" for that semester. After 8 years, the policy of the University of Arizona is to expunge the records of non-matriculating students. Marie's record was expunged in December 1994.

A) Marie need not disclose her attendance at the University of Arizona.
B) Marie should disclose her attendance at the University of Arizona.
C) Since Marie did not matriculate according to the University, she did not attend the University of Arizona.
D) None of the above

Question 59

A radar detector:

A) If purchased legally, is not an unethical device.
B) If used only in those states in which they are permitted is an ethical device.
C) Is a legal and ethical tool for circumventing speed limits.
D) None of the above

Question 60

Goldman was originally founded as a partnership.

Question 61

Into which of the following categories do patent and copyright infringement fall?

A) Conflict of interest
B) Balancing ethical dilemmas
C) Organizational abuse
D) Interpersonal abuse
E) Taking things that don't belong to you

Question 62

An ad contains the following: "Restaurant Critic, Jose Winfrey, on Mama Leone's Italian Eatery,' Mama Leone's is simply the best. It is a surprising new entrant into the competitive Italian bistro market and it is a mighty one.'" Jose Winfrey is the cousin of the owner of Mama Leone's and knows restaurants, but is not a critic for any publication or other media outlet. The ad:

A) Creates a false impression.
B) Raises no ethical questions.
C) Is legal and ethical because it doesn't state where he is a critic.
D) Both b and c
E) None of the above

Question 63

Who was Martha Stewart's friend who was also the CEO of the company she invested in?

A) Kenneth Lay
B) Dr. John Mendelsohn
C) Dr. Sam Waksal
D) None of the above

Question 64

Suppose, with reference to #12 above, that Pickford already owns an interest in the biotech firm, but Munford Stanley is not the underwriter. Pickford:

A) Does not have a conflict of interest.
B) Has a conflict of interest, but it is acceptable in IPOs.
C) Has a conflict of interest that must be disclosed to all purchasers.
D) Does not have a conflict of interest, but Munford Stanley does.
E) None of the above

Question 65

James Dodgsen is a student in a graduate course in business. The professor in the course has given Dodgsen and his classmates a surprise quiz in class. Dodgsen did not do the reading for class that day because he had been grading papers as part of his TA position. He has been prepared for every other class that semester. As he glances as the quiz questions, he realizes that he does not know any of the answers. However, he sees that Jane Frampton, the student who sits next to him, is well prepared and answering the questions with great ease. He can see her answers because of her large, block-style printing. Dodgsen copies her answers.

A) Dodgsen is justified in using the answers because he the pop quiz was unfair.
B) Dodgsen is justified in using the answers because he was fulfilling his TA responsibilities instead of preparing for class.
C) Dodgsen is justified in using the answers if he intends to read the material eventually.
D) Dodgsen has been dishonest.
E) None of the above

Question 66

What was AIG's role in the Goldman stock offerings?

A) It was the insurer for losses on those offerings
B) It was the underwriter
C) It disclosed Goldman's conduct to the SEC
D) It had no role with Goldman

Question 67

Primum non nocere is associated as an ethical philosophy of:

A) Plato.
B) Aristotle.
C) Peter Drucker.
D) Laura Nash.

Question 68

Which of the following is NOa Goldman cultural philosophy?

A) Filthy rich by forty
B) Long-term greedy
C) The customer is first and foremost
D) Don't kill the marketplace

Question 69

In the Goldman Abacus deal, who determined what mortgages went into the investment pool?

A) Fabrice Tourre
B) ACA
C) John Paulson
D) Lloyd Blankfein

Question 70

What company did Martha Stewart invest in because of the company's great potential with an anti-cancer drug?

A) Martha Stewart Living
B) Martha Stewart Omnimedia
C) Martha Stewart Home and Health
D) ImClone

Question 71

Stephen Ambrose, a popular historian with many books to his credit, admitted that some segments of one of his recent books had language taken from the books of other historians that was not in quotes. Mr. Ambrose did footnote the work of authors he relied upon in doing his book.

A) The work of an author is protected by copyright laws.
B) The use of quotes without attribution is not a violation of the law.
C) The use of the material is fair use and need not be footnoted.
D) Both b and c
E) None of the above

Question 72

Which of the following feels that business is like a big poker game and that bluffing in business is expected and acceptable?

A) Laura Nash
B) Peter Drucker
C) Ayn Rand
D) Albert Carr

Question 73

How did Goldman avoid violation of SOX in advancing cash to two of its officers?

A) It made them a loan
B) It made them an interest-free loan
C) It purchased stock from the executives
D) It had them issue a promissory note

Question 74

Which of the following would be a breach of trust and ethics?

A) Sharing a new product idea with a prospective employer
B) Leaving your current employment for a higher paying job
C) Leaving your current employment for a job with more flexibility
D) Taking the skills you have learned at a current job to a new job
E) All of the above are breaches of trust and ethics

Question 75

Which company uses primum non nocere as its credo?

A) AIG
B) ABC TV
C) ImClone
D) Johnson & Johnson

Question 76

What was the name of the anti-cancer drug?

A) ImClone
B) MSL
C) Arbitrage
D) Erbitux

Question 77

CDOs:

A) Are illegal.
B) Are collateralized debt obligations.
C) Are not securities.
D) Could not be hedged.

Question 78

Which of the following was Martha Stewart not charged with?

A) Insider trading
B) Obstruction of justice
C) Conspiracy
D) Martha Stewart was charged with all of the above

Question 79

As a result of the Goldman "trading huddles":

A) Auction-rate securities are now illegal.
B) There are now new regulations of analysts.
C) Investment banking houses can no longer employ analysts.
D) The definition of sophisticated investors has been changed.

Question 80

When was the company aware of FDA concerns about the drug that would prevent its market entry for a time?

A) Early December 2001
B) Not until after Martha Stewart sold her shares
C) The FDA did not have any concerns
D) December 27, 2001