Question 1

A supervisor of a business organization must act in a way that supports the accomplishment of the mission of his or her organization,even at the cost of ignoring its social responsibility.

Accepted Answer

A supervisor of a business organization should not ignore its social responsibility while striving to accomplish the mission of the organization. Social responsibility is an integral part of the success of a business, and it should be considered as a strategic objective. Ignoring social responsibility can have negative consequences for the organization in the long run, such as damage to its reputation and loss of public trust. Therefore, a responsible supervisor should always balance the achievement of the organization's mission with its social responsibilities.

Question 2

Ethical behavior tends to reduce public pressure for government regulation.

Accepted Answer

Ethical behavior can lead to increased trust and confidence in a company, reducing the need for government regulation to ensure its actions are in line with ethical standards. This is because consumers and the public can feel assured that the company is acting in their best interests and not engaging in behavior that could harm them.

Question 3

Kyra,the supervisor of ATB Inc.,suspects that one of the employees is indulging in unethical practices.She gathers the required evidence to support her case.Which of the following should Kyra's next step be?

Accepted Answer

Kyra's next step should be to confront the concerned employee with the evidence. This is important to ensure that the unethical practices are stopped and do not continue in the future. Ignoring the incident or protecting the employee will only lead to further unethical practices and a negative impact on the company's reputation. Additionally, immediately correcting the conditions that led to the problem can be done in conjunction with confronting the employee, as it will help prevent future incidents.

Question 4

Sustainability is best defined as:

Accepted Answer

Sustainability refers to an organization's ability to meet its present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. This involves balancing environmental, social, and economic factors to ensure long-term viability and resilience. Option B relates to ethics and corporate governance, while option C refers to cross-cultural competence. Option D is related to compliance and employee protection, but it does not address sustainability.

Question 5

The Davis Model of Corporate Social Responsibility states that businesses have little impact on societal issues.

Accepted Answer

The Davis Model of Corporate Social Responsibility actually states that businesses have a responsibility to contribute to societal issues, but their primary responsibility is to generate profit for shareholders.

Question 6

Making ethical decisions ideally involves:

Accepted Answer

Ethical decision-making involves first determining what is right and then figuring out how to implement it. Focusing solely on profits, hard-and-fast rules, or preventing whistle-blowing can all lead to unethical behavior.

Question 7

To be known as an ethical individual or organization is a satisfying way of maintaining a reputation for high standards.

Accepted Answer

Being known as an ethical individual or organization is indeed a satisfying way of maintaining a reputation for high standards, as it reflects positively on one's values and principles. It can also lead to increased trust and loyalty from customers, employees, and other stakeholders.

Question 8

Which of the following is most likely to be one of the primary objectives of a sustainable organization?

Accepted Answer

One of the primary objectives of a sustainable organization is to conserve natural resources, including reducing waste and promoting environmentally friendly practices. Maximizing profits may be a goal, but not necessarily the primary one, and certainly not at the expense of sustainability. Maximizing the emission of VOCs and energy use are not consistent with sustainability goals.

Question 9

The supervisor can most effectively promote ethical decision making by:

Accepted Answer

Involving the employees in ethical decision making promotes transparency, accountability, and ownership of the decisions made. It also creates a culture of ethical behavior and encourages employees to raise concerns and report misconduct. Practicing nepotism, giving gifts, and discouraging whistle-blowers are all unethical practices that can negatively affect the organization's culture and reputation.

Question 10

Which of the following is the first step a supervisor should take when he/she suspects that an employee is behaving unethically?

Accepted Answer

Before any action is taken, it is important for the supervisor to gather and record evidence of the unethical behavior in order to ensure that any disciplinary action taken is fair and based on facts. This also helps protect the organization from potential legal issues. Once there is sufficient evidence, the supervisor can then decide on the appropriate course of action, which may include confronting the employee, following disciplinary procedures, or addressing any underlying conditions that may have contributed to the unethical behavior.

Question 11

Which of the following acts forbids employers from retaliating against an employee who reports possible accounting,auditing,or reporting misdeeds that deceive investors?

Accepted Answer

The Sarbanes-Oxley Act, also known as the Public Company Accounting Reform and Investor Protection Act, was enacted in response to accounting scandals such as Enron and WorldCom. Among other provisions, the act contains protections for employees who report suspected accounting or securities fraud, including protection against retaliation by their employer.

Question 12

Business institutions,as citizens,have the responsibility to become involved in certain social problems that are outside their normal areas of operation.

Accepted Answer

As members of society, business institutions have a responsibility to contribute to addressing and solving social problems, even if they are not directly related to their day-to-day operations. This can involve activities such as supporting community causes or charitable organizations, advocating for social and environmental issues, or engaging in corporate social responsibility initiatives.

Question 13

Many employees are afraid to be ethical because doing so would:

Accepted Answer

Employees may fear that being ethical could lead to decreased performance metrics or conflict with company practices, potentially risking their job security.

Question 14

A whistle-blower should typically contact a government agency about the violation:

Accepted Answer

Whistle-blowers should first bring the matter to the attention of their management before contacting a government agency. However, if the management seems unresponsive or ignores the issue, then the whistle-blower should contact a government agency. Waiting until after quitting the job or only after the matter has been resolved by the human resources department may not be effective in resolving the violation.

Question 15

The act of deciding what behavior is ethical:

Accepted Answer

The act of deciding what behavior is ethical does not always provide a clear solution to an ethical dilemma. It may still require further action or decision-making. The other options are not necessarily related to the act of deciding what behavior is ethical.

Question 16

Typically,a whistle-blower brings ethics related issues first to a:

Accepted Answer

It is advisable for a whistle-blower to first bring the ethics related issues to the attention of the manager(s) or the higher-ups within the organization, as they may have the power and responsibility to address the issue internally. Going to a government agency or media may cause unnecessary harm to the organization and its reputation. Going to a rival organization can be seen as unprofessional and may backfire on the whistle-blower. Hence, the best choice is to approach the organization's management first.

Question 17

A whistle-blower is best defined as a person who:

Accepted Answer

A whistle-blower is someone who exposes wrongdoing or illegal activity within an organization, usually for ethical or moral reasons. This could include reporting fraudulent activity, health and safety violations, and other types of misconduct. The term "whistle-blower" stems from the practice of using a whistle to alert others to danger or inappropriate behavior.

Question 18

Christie,the supervisor of a library,suspects Ernie,one of the librarians,of selling library books to second-hand book shops.She watches him for the next few days and gathers the required evidence to confirm her suspicion.Then Christie decides to meet with Ernie and discuss the situation.In the context of the course of action to be followed when an employee is suspected of unethical behavior,which step is Christie involved in at present?

Accepted Answer

Christie is currently in the step of confronting the employee with the evidence. This is an important step in addressing unethical behavior as the employee needs to be made aware of the evidence against them and given an opportunity to respond. Only after this step can further action be taken.

Question 19

The supervisor should bear in mind that the typical whistle-blower is a:

Accepted Answer

Studies have shown that majority of whistle-blowers are individuals with high moral and ethical standards, and are often competent and committed employees. They blow the whistle on illegal and unethical activities out of a sense of responsibility towards society and their organization. It is important for supervisors to understand and protect such whistle-blowers.

Question 20

If someone complains about a genuine case of ethical violation,a supervisor should:

Accepted Answer

The supervisor has a responsibility to investigate any genuine ethical violation brought to their attention. Ignoring the complaint or advising the whistle-blower to call the police without conducting an internal investigation would not be appropriate. Bringing it to the attention of the media can harm the company's reputation and may not be necessary if the violation can be effectively handled internally. Therefore, option A is the best choice.

Quiz 4: Corporate Social Responsibility, ethics, and Sustainability