Modules 4, 5 & 6

When handling a conflict situation, it is important for a leader to realize that the other party's concerns are _________. A. unproven B. superior C. correct D. legitimate E. wrong

legitimate

According to the information shared in this section, ________ might provide a solution to a disagreement, but it is unlikely that both parties will be happy with the decision. A. intimidation B. verbal threats C. mediation D. collaboration E. litigation

litigation

Separating the people from the issue in an ethical conflict situation allows the leader to approach the conflict situation with more __________. A. resources B. power C. objectivity D. superiority E. compromise

objectivity

In a rigid hierarchical organization, communication generally consists of ______________. A. listening B. employee feedback C. two-way communication D. dialogue E. one-way communication

one-way communication

Ethical leaders should consider their employees to be ____________ in contributing to the firm's values. A. equal leaders B. partners C. detrimental D. followers E. superior

partners

Good communication skills __________. A. are usually verbal B. do not contribute to ethics C. come naturally D. promote leader-follower congruence E. promote decentralization in organizations

promote leader-follower congruence

Which of the following is a step companies take in the recovery process? A. attempting to discover misconduct situations B. reinforcing the firm's reputation with positive messages C. shifting blame onto other stakeholders D. developing a crisis management plan E. avoiding media reports that portray the firm in an unfavorable light

reinforcing the firm's reputation with positive messages

How can ethical leaders increase employee empowerment? A. Discipline employees who violate the firm's ethical policies. B. Make discussions about ethics commonplace. C. Discourage conflicts within the organization. D. Avoid identifying an issue as being unethical. E. Develop a detailed code of conduct.

Make discussions about ethics commonplace.

__________ occurs when ethical leaders observe and identify ethical risk areas. A. Disciplining B. Recognizing C. Responding D. Avoiding E. Discovering

Recognizing

Which of the following is an important part of an organizational culture? A. Economic conditions B. Individual beliefs C. Moral philosophies D. Values E. Regulations

Values

An ethical leader with good interpersonal communication skills should ____________. A. avoid delivering negative news B. never reprimand employees C. demonstrate both respect and firmness in communication D. place employee needs over organizational needs E. give up authority to maintain beneficial relationships

demonstrate both respect and firmness in communication

What should an ethical leader do if a conflict begins to escalate? A. Agree to a compromise. B. Reprimand those causing the conflict. C. Bring the discussion back to the core issues. D. Take the other party's side. E. Decide the conflict is not worth pursuing.

Bring the discussion back to the core issues.

Why are leaders important even in a democratic organization? A. Employees are ill equipped to make ethical decisions. B. Leaders are the only ones with both character and competence. C. It is hard to motivate employees to make decisions. D. Employee morale is low in these organizations. E. Leaders often make the final call on major decisions.

Leaders often make the final call on major decisions.

Which leadership style is likely to be ineffective at promoting ethical conduct? A. Transactional leadership B. Authentic leadership C. Transformational leadership D. Coercive leadership E. Charismatic leadership

Coercive leadership

____________ occurs when both the communicator and receiver considers the unique worth of the other party and tries to understand what the other is communicating. A. Nonverbal communication B. Diatribe C. Monologue D. Dialogue E. Listening

Dialogue

Which of the following statements is true regarding organizational conflict? A. Conflicts are rarely beneficial in the workplace. B. Organizational conflicts indicate that the firm is unethical. C. A zero-sum approach to conflict is the most beneficial. D. Conflicts provide an opportunity to listen to the other party's viewpoints. E. Avoiding conflicts is the best approach.

Conflicts provide an opportunity to listen to the other party's viewpoints.

An effective team should possess which characteristic? A. Ambiguity B. Extroversion C. Uniformity D. Diversity E. Skepticism

Diversity

How should ethical leaders manage their employees? A. Meet all of their employees' needs B. View them as subordinates with little competence C. Micromanage their employees' activities D. Increase penalties for employee mistakes E. Demonstrate ethical values through role modeling

Demonstrate ethical values through role modeling

Which of the following is important in catching misconduct internally before it becomes a major issue? A. The use of teams B. Monologue C. Disciplinary procedures D. A response plan E. Employee feedback

Employee feedback

According to Ethics Consultant, David Gebler, most unethical behavior is committed ______________. A. For personal gain B. Because employees generally dislike following rules C. Due to boredom D. On Tuesday afternoons E. To meet performance goals

To meet performance goals

Which situation demonstrates reciprocity? A. You shout at someone who has done nothing wrong. B. You avoid a conflict whenever possible. C. You do not thank your boss for your raise. D. In response to co-workers help making a deadline, you assist them with a similar crisis E. You violate the rules by taking home office supplies.

In response to co-workers help making a deadline, you assist them with a similar crisis

What is a disadvantage of small group communication and decision making? A. It destroys group cohesion. B. It can lead to excessive risk taking. C. Most individuals are too timid to participate. D. Decision making is usually uncreative. E. No leader is present in the discussion.

It can lead to excessive risk taking.

Why would organizations prefer that employees provide their personal information when making reports? A. The organization can retaliate against the employees. B. Legally, it's impossible to take action without identifying the parties involved. C. The accused party needs to know who made the report. D. It is easier to handle a conflict situation when all parties have been identified. E. So that board members can know of the level and nature of the accusations.

It is easier to handle a conflict situation when all parties have been identified.

What do zero-sum leaders believe? A. Different approaches should be adapted depending upon the situation. B. There should be zero tolerance for misconduct in the organization. C. Both sides of an ethical conflict can obtain a favorable outcome. D. Conflict resolution is unimportant for maintaining ethical conduct. E. There always has to be a winner and a loser in a conflict situation.

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

What actions can teams take to aid in the ethical decision making process? A. Collectively look for ethical solutions or alternatives B. Have the final say on ethical decisions C. Answer the public regarding ethical misconduct issues D. Collectively determine whether an illegal activity should be addressed E. Report on a team member's lack of performance contributions

Collectively look for ethical solutions or alternatives

Which of the following factors impact the length of time it takes for companies to recover from ethical misconduct? A. All three answer options impact the length of time it takes for companies to recover B. The length of time it takes for the company to resolve the issues C. How the company responds after discovering the misconduct D. How stakeholders perceive the company's response E. None of these answer options impact the length of time it takes for companies to recover

All three answer options impact the length of time it takes for companies to recover

Which statement about organizational ethical role models is true? A. Ethical role models always occupy positions of superior authority. B. The influence of ethical role models is less important than codes of conduct. C. Lower-level employees cannot be ethical role models. D. Employees look up to managers they don't interact with on a daily basis. E. Co-workers can be ethical role models, especially when the manager is distant.

Co-workers can be ethical role models, especially when the manager is distant.

Which of the following is part of the discovery process? A. planning B. response C. answering D. assuring E. assessment

assessment

To help prevent misconduct, ethical leaders should: A. Immediately fire any employee who is accused of misconduct B. Develop and manage systems to maintain an ethical culture C. Maintain at least 10 attorneys on staff at all times D. Write a new code of conduct each month E. Maintain a ratio of 3:1 for supervisors to employees

Develop and manage systems to maintain an ethical culture

What is a potential downside of overusing the compromising style of conflict management? A. Resolution becomes impossible. B. The two sides avoid talking to one another. C. Each side has to give something up. D. Misconduct can be ignored. E. One side of the conflict always loses.

Each side has to give something up.

Why might ethical conflicts be important to an ethical culture? A. Ethical conflicts often warrant government intervention. B. Ethical conflicts in an organization are always the result of misconduct. C. Ethical conflicts are the most important way to create an ethical culture. D. Ethical conflicts can be used to identify ethical issues. E. Ethical conflicts are used to root out unethical employees.

Ethical conflicts can be used to identify ethical issues.

Which of the following is true about dissent in organizations? A. Dissent should be eliminated as it harms group cohesion. B. Hotlines are the preferred mechanism for reporting dissent. C. External reporting is the best way of resolving misconduct. D. Those that report concerns are unlikely to experience retaliation. E. Ethical cultures are likely to have strong internal dissent mechanisms.

Ethical cultures are likely to have strong internal dissent mechanisms.

Why is an organization characterized by workplace politics perceived negatively by employees? A. Leaders of these firms never distribute rewards and focus on retribution. B. These companies do not have ethical codes. C. Followers are rewarded based on whether they serve the leader's best interests. D. The leader almost always faces scrutiny and ends up departing the organization. E. Nonverbal communication is not considered to be important.

Followers are rewarded based on whether they serve the leader's best interests.

What do all effective ethical leaders share in common? A. Good communication skills B. Commitment to maximize profitability at all costs C. Types of reward systems D. Leadership styles E. Perfect performance records

Good communication skills

What is the best way to avoid an ethical misconduct disaster? A. Create a solid defense to explain why the firm engaged in misconduct. B. Avoid addressing ethical issues until they become more serious. C. Fire all employees who violate company standards. D. Identify a potential ethical issue before it snowballs into a crisis. E. Hire managers who will use negative reinforcement to get employees to act ethically.

Identify a potential ethical issue before it snowballs into a crisis.

What should an employee do after discovering illegal conduct? A. Try to handle the situation internally. B. Begin to improve the firm's ethics program. C. Transfer guilty employees to other positions. D. Immediately terminate all employees involved in the misconduct. E. Immediately report to your immediate supervisor.

Immediately report to your immediate supervisor.

What does external whistle blowing often indicate about a firm's corporate culture? A. Internal reporting is perceived to be ineffective. B. It has effective internal reporting mechanisms. C. It is performing poorly financially. D. It is supportive of employee dissent. E. It has ethical leadership.

Internal reporting is perceived to be ineffective.

Why is the mixed-motive conflict management style considered to be the most effective? A. It is the most effective way to achieve productivity. B. It seeks win-win situations for everyone involved. C. It seeks to win at any cost necessary. D. It bases decisions on the goals and values of the firm. E. It pursues profits above all else.

It bases decisions on the goals and values of the firm.

Why might listening be just as important as speaking for an ethical leader? A. It allows leaders to convey important information. B. It can keep leaders from having to speak much. C. It can establish credibility and increase morale among employees. D. It is a good way to hide a leader's bad communication skills. E. It enables leaders to avoid a complex decision making process.

It can establish credibility and increase morale among employees.

Which statement is true about employee feedback? A. It is not as important as feedback from employers. B. It trains employees in ethical conduct. C. It helps to eliminate the need for managers in the organization. D. It tricks employees into believing their opinions matter. E. It helps leaders identify the firm's strengths and weaknesses.

It helps leaders identify the firm's strengths and weaknesses.

Which of the following statements about nonverbal communication is false? A. It can signal whether an employee is truly paying attention. B. It can be complex when different cultures are involved. C. It can be harder to control than verbal communication. D. It provides important clues about an individual's emotional state. E. It is less trustworthy than verbal communication.

It is less trustworthy than verbal communication.

Why is the collaborating style of management most favorable to ethical conflict resolution? A. It enables the company to meet the needs of all its stakeholders. B. Leaders are willing to compromise their values for favorable outcomes. C. Leaders desire to meet the needs of others but adhere to their own goals and values. D. It creates a solution in which both parties to a conflict can win. E. It totally disregards the zero-sum approach to conflict resolution.

Leaders desire to meet the needs of others but adhere to their own goals and values.

What is the problem with an accommodating style of conflict management? A. Leaders are unwilling to collaborate or compromise. B. Leaders are likely to actively engage in misconduct themselves. C. Leaders might allow unethical employees to continue their misconduct. D. Leaders will do whatever they can to make sure the other side loses. E. Leaders will seek to avoid conflict at any cost necessary.

Leaders might allow unethical employees to continue their misconduct.

Which of the following is a barrier to communication between leaders and followers? A. Disciplinary procedures B. Power differentials C. Regulation D. Groupthink E. The presence of hotlines

Power differentials

What should an ethical leader do in managing an ethical dilemma? A. Coordinate all decision making with the board of directors. B. Minimize the dilemma so that stakeholders won't understand its significance. C. Select the most desirable path in a situation in which no decision is optimal. D. Discipline the stakeholders involved in the ethical dilemma. E. Find a solution that will offer positive benefits to all stakeholders involved.

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

What does an effective ethics program require? A. Approval from secondary stakeholders B. Transactional leadership to control behavior of employees C. Obeying the existing laws and regulations D. Support from top management and frequent communication with employees E. A coercive corporate culture

Support from top management and frequent communication with employees

How might a comprehensive code of conduct prove ineffective in curbing misconduct? A. The code of conduct is communicated to too many stakeholders. B. The code of conduct discourages nonverbal communication. C. The code of conduct has too many examples. D. The code of conduct is not effectively communicated to employees. E. The code of conduct focuses on global versus domestic issues.

The code of conduct is not effectively communicated to employees.

What is one of the disadvantages higher-level executives face when overseeing an ethical climate of the organization? A. Their lack of power in the organization B. Their inability to make all of the key organizational decisions C. Their inability to control employees D. Their tendency to be socially isolated from employees E. Their negative relationships with employees

Their tendency to be socially isolated from employees

According to most companies' ethics codes, what happens to whistle blowers if their reportings are wrong? A. They do not face retaliation for good faith reporting. B. They are looked upon with suspicion. C. They are severely reprimanded. D. They are terminated. E. They are promoted for speaking up.

They do not face retaliation for good faith reporting.

Why are managers reluctant to engage in the discovery process? A. They fear uncovering misconduct could harm the firm's reputation. B. They are required to hire outside auditors, which is costly. C. Discovery forces leaders to acknowledge financial losses. D. Discovery usually involves having to lay off employees. E. Most discovery mechanisms are ineffective in detecting misconduct.

They fear uncovering misconduct could harm the firm's reputation.

Which statement best describes how autocratic leaders communicate? A. They tend to establish open communication cultures. B. They tend to use more nonverbal signals. C. They engage in highly transparent communication. D. They do not communicate with subordinates. E. They limit communication to need-to-know information.

They limit communication to need-to-know information.

What is a downside to being a variable-sum leader? A. They try to avoid compromise at all costs. B. They might give in to employees making unethical decisions. C. They measure success by how much the other side loses. D. They refuse to collaborate on an acceptable solution. E. There is zero tolerance for dissent among employees.

They might give in to employees making unethical decisions.

What might be true of leaders who adopt a competing style of conflict management? A. They score high on cooperativeness. B. They score high on assertiveness. C. They are more willing to compromise. D. They are flexible and adaptable. E. They are usually considered to be ethical.

They score high on assertiveness.

When might a zero-sum conflict approach be necessary? A. When both sides need to be appeased. B. When compromise would break a law. C. When a conflict requires collaboration. D. When the situation requires compromise. E. When winning is more important than ethics.

When compromise would break a law.

What is group polarization? A. When the group moves toward a more extreme position than what each member would have done individually. B. When the group focuses on the needs of individuals and on building relationships between the parties. C. When individuals go along with group decisions even when those decisions conflict with their own values. D. When the communicator takes little account of the needs of the receiver. E. When the leader attempts to balance the needs of all the parties involved.

When the group moves toward a more extreme position than what each member would have done individually

Why is external whistle blowing a serious decision? A. Regulators view whistle blowers negatively. B. Whistle blowers will be fired for going outside with their concerns. C. Whistle blowers have been fired for reporting. D. Whistle blowing is toxic to a firm's ethical culture. E. Whistle blowing destroys an organization's ethics program.

Whistle blowers have been fired for reporting.

As a lower-level employee, how might you be able to ethically influence new hires? A. You can take charge of developing the firm's ethics code. B. You can become the new hire's immediate boss or supervisor. C. You can communicate organizational principles and values. D. You can point out the employee's unethical behavior. E. You can teach the employee to pursue success.

You can communicate organizational principles and values.

In order to promote an open communication culture, leaders should ____________________. A. establish a reprimand system for employees who do not meet performance goals B. discourage dissent as it can disrupt operations and expose wrongdoing C. secure employee input for every decision D. adopt more of a democratic process toward ethical decision making E. encourage employees to use the hotline rather than report to managers

adopt more of a democratic process toward ethical decision making

What does mediation involve? A. the conflict is settled by a jury of peers B. a judge becomes involved to rule on the case C. an independent third party determines the settlement D. an independent third party forces the losing party to pay a fine E. an objective third party helps two parties settle their differences

an objective third party helps two parties settle their differences

Which characteristic best describes a mixed-motive approach to handling conflict? A. competing B. compromising C. arguing D. collaborating E. accommodating

collaborating

Leaders with an avoiding conflict management style are more likely to exhibit ______________. A. ethical behavior B. high assertiveness C. a win-at-all-cost attitude D. ethical complacency E. high levels of cooperation

ethical complacency

What is the first step toward making an ethical decision? A. identifying the ethical issue B. listening to both sides of a conflict C. considering alternatives D. solving the ethical issue E. reporting the ethical issue

identifying the ethical issue

An effective ethics program should show _____________________. A. that it pays for itself B. intolerance of misconduct C. less of a relationship with compliance D. inflexibility toward change E. support for short-term profits

intolerance of misconduct

Training employees in leadership techniques _________________. A. is a form of employee empowerment B. teaches employees important moral philosophies C. eliminates the need for managers D. is a good way to establish a leadership hierarchy E. encourages employees to listen to their personal values

is a form of employee empowerment

Which mediation skill is important for an ethical leader to have in a conflict situation? A. analytical skills B. a zero-sum approach C. use of neutral language D. defensiveness E. the ability to impose penalties

use of neutral language