Comprehensive Exam

Which of the following is a barrier to communication between leaders and followers? a. regulation b. power differentiation c. the presence of hotlines d. groupthink e. disciplinary procedures

b. power differentiation

An "ethical blind spot" refers to ___________________. a. a person's underestimation of his or her own potential to commit misconduct b. the feeling that many people have of being less ethical than their peers c. the lack of an ethical corporate culture or a formal ethics program in the workplace d. a tendency to overlook ethical misconduct in other people e. the inability of peers to recognize an ethical issue in an organizational context

a. a person's underestimation of his or her own potential to commit misconduct

Which leadership style is likely to be ineffective at promoting ethical conduct? a. coercive leadership b. authentic leadership c. transactional leadership d. charismatic leadership e. transformational leadership

a. coercive leadership

What is the problem with an accommodating style of conflict management? a. leaders might allow unethical employees to continue their misconduct b. leaders will do whatever they can to make sure the other side loses c. leaders are unwilling to collaborate or compromise d. leaders will seek to avoid conflicts at any cost necessary e. leaders are likely to actively engage in misconduct themselves

a. leaders might allow unethical employees to continue their misconduct

When handling a conflict situation, it is important for a leader to realize that the other party's concerns are ________________. a. legitimate b. unproven c. correct d. superior e. wrong

a. legitimate

What should an ethical leader do in managing an ethical dilemma? a. select the most desirable path in a situation in which no decision is optimal b. find a situation that will offer positive benefits to all stakeholders involved c. coordinate all decision making with the board of directors d. discipline the stakeholders involved in the ethical dilemma e. minimize the dilemma so that stakeholders won't understand its significance

a. select the most desirable path in a situation in which no decision is optimal

This approach emphasizes obedience to legal requirements. a. integrity-based approach b. compliance-based approach c. caring approach d. apathetic approach e. values-based approach

b. compliance-based approach

Which statement is true about employee feedback? a. it helps to eliminate the need for managers in the organization b. it helps leaders identify the firm's strengths and weaknesses c. it trains employees in ethical conduct d. it is not as important as feedback from employers e. it tricks employees into believing their opinions matter

b. it helps leaders identify the firm's strengths and weaknesses

Leaders who display good character _____________________. a. always achieve their goals and objectives b. take responsibility for ethically meeting stakeholder needs c. place individual values over organizational values d. know how to perform most tasks within the organization e. value character over competence

b. take responsibility for ethically meeting stakeholder needs

What is the definition of an ethics audit? a. a program to help employees know how to act in ethical dilemmas b. a review of your board of directors and top executives c. an investigation into the ethical climate of the firm d. behavioral expectations that dictate appropriate behavior e. a way of analyzing a firm's financial situation

c. an investigation into the ethical climate of the firm

An ethical leader with good interpersonal communication skills should ___________________. a. never reprimand employees b. give up authority to maintain beneficial relationships c. demonstrate both respect and firmness in communication d. plan employee needs over organizational needs e. avoid delivering negative news

c. demonstrate both respect and firmness in communication

What is organizational ethics? a. a moral code developed thorough interactions with family, friends and society b. gray areas within the workplace that do not have a right or wrong answer c. right or wrong, acceptable of unacceptable conduct in an organizational environment d. corporate policies and procedures that are used to detect and analyze ethical risk e. an understanding of whether a particular action in the workplace is legal or illegal

c. right or wrong, acceptable of unacceptable conduct in an organizational environment

What should an employee do after discovering illegal conduct? a. determine the best way to cover up the illegal conduct b. begin to improve the firm's ethics program c. transfer guilty employees to other positions d. immediately report to your immediate supervisor e. immediately terminate all employees involved in the misconduct

d. immediately report to your immediate supervisor

What do zero-sum leaders believe? a. conflict resolution is unimportant for maintaining ethical conduct b. both sides of an ethical conflict can obtain a favorable outcome c. there should be zero tolerance for misconduct in the organization d. there always has to be a winner and a loser in a conflict situation e. different approaches should be adopted depending upon the situation

d. there always has to be a winner and a loser in a conflict situation

According to most companies' ethics codes, what happens to whistle blowers if their reportings are wrong? a. they are severely reprimanded b. they are terminated c. they are looked upon with suspicion d. they do not face retaliation for good faith reporting e. they are promoted for speaking up

d. they do not face retaliation for good faith reporting

What is a necessary component of an ethical corporate culture? a. rewards for financial performance b. a socially dominant leader c. elimination of counter disciplinary procedures d. exacting management e. an ethics program

e. an ethics program

Which of the following items tends to be the most observed misconduct in the workplace? a. sexual harassment b. wide-scale fraud c. bribery d. stealing company secrets e. time theft

e. time theft

Why are principles and values so important to companies? a. they are important in maintaining operational excellence b. they always result in the correct ethical decision c. they prevent a firm from engaging in misconduct d. they provide guidance for employees and leaders in making ethical decisions e. they allow a firm to avoid costly fines from regulation

d. they provide guidance for employees and leaders in making ethical decisions

Why might ethics mistakes actually improve an organization in the long-run? a. they allow a firm to increase profits from misconduct b. they allow the firm to test how far it can go before getting into trouble c. they give the firm an opportunity to learn from its mistakes d. they enable the firm to get rid of its current management e. they learn how to navigate 'gray areas' in such a way as to not get penalties and scrutiny

c. they give the firm an opportunity to learn from its mistakes

What is one disadvantage higher-level executives face when overseeing an ethical climate of the organization? a. their tendency to be socially isolated from employees b. their inability to make all of the key organizational decisions c. their lack of power in the organization d. their negative relationships with employees e. their inability to control employees

a. their tendency to be socially isolated from employees