Chapter 2

Inattentional blindness is the inability to recognize ethical issues. True or False

false inattentional blindness results from focusing failures

Focusing failures result in moments where we ask ourselves, "How could I have missed that?" According to Bazerman and Chugh, this phenomenon is known as: A. descriptive ignorance. B. change blindness. C. inattentional blindness. D. normative myopia.

C. inattentional blindness. Bazerman and Chugh warn of inattentional blindness, which they suggest results from focusing failures. These focusing failures then result in a moment where we ask ourselves, "How could I have missed that?"

Which of the following considerations can sometimes override consequences when comparing and weighing alternatives for ethical decision making? A. Apprehensions B. Ideas C. Assumptions ! D. Principles

D. Principles Sometimes matters of principles, rights, or duties might override consequences when comparing and weighing alternatives for ethical decision making. For example, how an employee compares and weighs alternatives for ethical decision making could depend on the duties associated with his position.

Normative myopia occurs only in business. True or False

False

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. True or False

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

Ethical decisions cannot be made on economic grounds. True or False

False It needs to be recognized 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.

We tend to give in to ________ in our professional environments, both because we want to "fit in" and to achieve success in our organizations, and also because our actual thinking is influenced by our peers.

Peer Pressure We tend to give in to peer pressure in our professional environments, both because we want to "fit in" and to achieve success in our organizations, and also because our actual thinking is influenced by our peers.

In an ethical decision-making process, creativity in identifying options is called "________."

moral imagination Creativity in identifying options—also called "moral imagination"—is one element that distinguishes good people who make ethically responsible decisions from good people who do not.

Which of the following is the first step in making an ethically responsible decision? A. Determining the facts of the situation B. Considering the available alternatives C. Comparing and weighing alternatives D. Monitoring and learning from the outcomes

A. Determining the facts of the situation The first step in making decisions that are ethically responsible is to determine the facts of the situation. Making an honest effort to understand the situation, to distinguish facts from mere opinion, is essential.

In the ethical decision-making process, once one examines the facts and identifies the ethical issues involved, one should next ________. A. identify the stakeholders B. monitor and learn from the outcomes C. make the decision D. consider the available alternatives

A. identify the stakeholders The third step involved in ethical decision making involves one of its more critical elements. We are asked to identify and to consider all of the people affected by a decision, the people often called stakeholders.

Missing a highway turn-off as a result of speaking on a cell phone while driving is an example of ________. A. inattentional blindness B. change blindness C. normative myopia D. rational ignorance

A. inattentional blindness Bazerman and Chugh warn of inattentional blindness, which they suggest results from focusing failures. These focusing failures then result in a moment where we ask ourselves, "How could I have missed that?" You may recall speaking on a cell phone while driving and perhaps missing a highway turn-off by mistake.

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

B. Identifying the ethical issues involved The second step in responsible ethical decision making requires the ability to recognize a decision or issue as an ethical decision or ethical issue.

Identify the final step in the ethical decision-making process? A. Listing out the eventualities that may result from the decision B. Monitoring and learning from outcomes C. Corresponding with the stakeholders D. Identifying new ethical dilemmas to tackle

B. Monitoring and learning from outcomes Once you have explored the variables, it is time to make a decision. However, the process is not yet complete. To be accountable in our decision making, it is not sufficient to deliberate over this process, only to later throw up our hands once the decision is made: "It's out of my hands now!" Instead, we have the ability as humans to learn from our experiences. That ability creates a responsibility to evaluate the implications of our decisions, to monitor and learn from the outcomes, and to modify our actions accordingly when faced with similar challenges in the future.

The omission known as change blindness occurs when ________. A. a decision maker wants to bring about a change on a whim B. decision makers fail to notice gradual changes over time C. decision makers are adamant on maintaining status quo due to a fear of change D. a sudden change is overlooked by decision makers

B. decision makers fail to notice gradual changes over time According to Bazerman and Chugh, change blindness is one of the means by which ethical issues might go unnoticed. This omission occurs when decision makers fail to notice gradual changes over time.

In an ethical decision-making process, moral imagination helps individuals make ethically responsible decisions. Identify the step in which moral imagination is critical. A. Identifying and considering impact of decision on stakeholders B. Identifying the ethical issues C. Considering the available alternatives D. Determining the facts

C. Considering the available alternatives Once we have examined the facts, identified the ethical issues involved, and identified the stakeholders, we need to consider the available alternatives. Creativity in identifying options—also called "moral imagination"—is one element that distinguishes good people who make ethically responsible decisions from good people who do not.

Which of the following is true of moral imagination? A. It denotes reasonable ethical judgments that a person makes without regard for facts. B. It refers to the positive impact a hypothetical decision is projected to have on the stakeholders involved in the decision. C. It distinguishes good people who make ethically responsible decisions from good people who do not. Once we have examined the facts, identified the ethical issues involved, and identified the stakeholders, we need to consider the available alternatives. Creativity in identifying options—also called "moral imagination"—is one element that distinguishes good people who make ethically responsible decisions from good people who do not. D. It occurs when decision makers fail to notice gradual variations over time.

C. It distinguishes good people who make ethically responsible decisions from good people who do not. Once we have examined the facts, identified the ethical issues involved, and identified the stakeholders, we need to consider the available alternatives. Creativity in identifying options—also called "moral imagination"—is one element that distinguishes good people who make ethically responsible decisions from good people who do not.

Which of the following is the reason why normative myopia is especially liable to occur in a business context? A. Business attracts people from diverse backgrounds, which makes it difficult to identify ethical standards agreeable to everybody. B. The fast paced world of business allows little time for contemplation on ethics. C. Ethics can justifiably be allowed to take a backseat in a business context. ! D. People are more likely to focus on the technical aspects of the task at hand in a business context, and thus, fail to recognize the ethical aspect.

D. People are more likely to focus on the technical aspects of the task at hand in a business context, and thus, fail to recognize the ethical aspect. In a business context, people may be especially likely to focus on the technical aspects of the task at hand and experience normative myopia in the process. Chugh and Bazerman similarly warn of inattentional blindness, which they suggest results from focusing failures.

If we are told specifically to pay attention to a particular element of a decision or event, we are likely to miss all of the surrounding details, no matter how obvious. According to Bazerman and Chugh, this phenomenon is known as ________. A. change blindness B. descriptive ignorance C. normative myopia D. inattentional blindness

D. inattentional blindness Bazerman and Chugh warn of inattentional blindness, which they suggest results from focusing failures. If we happen to focus—or if we are told specifically to pay attention to a particular element of a decision or event—we are likely to miss all of the surrounding details, no matter how obvious.

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

True

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

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