MGT 455 Ch. 9
According to the advocates of ethical relativism, A. if the use of underage labor and/or the payment of bribes/kickbacks are acceptable in a particular culture/society/country, then a case can be made that it is morally correct and ethical for a company to use these practices in conducting its business activities in that culture/society/country. B. each company should have the flexibility to set its own standards for deciding whether the use of underage labor and/or the payment of bribes/kickbacks are ethically acceptable or not. C. if the use of underage labor and/or the payment of bribes/kickbacks are not legal but locally acceptable in a particular country, then it is morally correct and ethical for a company to use these practices in that country. D. each industry should go by standards established by competitors for deciding whether the use of underage labor and/or the payment of bribes/kickbacks are ethically acceptable or not. E. it is very clear that the use of underage labor or the payment of bribes and kickbacks are ethically impermissible—local customs, behavioral norms, and traditions absolutely cannot be taken into account.
A
According to the ethical relativism school of thinking, A. there can be no one-size-fits-all template (set of authentic ethical norms) against which to gauge the conduct of company personnel, due to cross-cultural differences in ethical standards. B. a company should have a different set of ethical standards for each country in which it operates. C. only respected religious experts can provide companies with a higher order moral compass. D. the best source of ethical standards in each country where the company operates is that country's adopted Code of Required Ethical Conduct. E. since there can be no one-size-fits-all set of authentic ethical norms, it is appropriate for each company to hold company personnel to observing the company's code of ethical conduct.
A
How do good corporate citizens function? A. They pursue discretionary activities that contribute to the betterment of society, especially in areas where government has chosen not to focus its efforts or has fallen short. B. They are active participants in the political processes. C. They identify up-and-coming managers who have a future in local- or state-level politics. D. They create a democratic workplace where the voices of lower-level employees are heard through representation on the board of directors. E. They seek to replace government functions with more efficient, market-driven solutions.
A
If one concurs with the school of ethical universalism, then one believes that A. many basic moral standards travel well across cultures and countries and really do not vary significantly according to local cultural beliefs, social mores, religious convictions, and/or the circumstances of the situation. B. since ethical standards are subjectively determined, each company has a window within which it can define and implement its own ethical principles of right and wrong. C. what is deemed right or wrong, fair or unfair, moral or immoral, ethical or unethical in business situations should be judged in light of local customs and social mores and can legitimately vary from one culture or nation to another. D. each country should have some degree of latitude in setting its own ethical standards for judging the ethical correctness of business actions/behaviors within its borders.
A
Internal administrative costs which are incurred by companies for ethical wrongdoing include all of the following EXCEPT A. costs attached to adverse effects on employee productivity. B. costs of remedial education and ethics training to company personnel. C. costs incurred in taking corrective actions. D. administrative costs associated with future compliance. E. legal and investigative costs.
A
Senior executives can ensure compliance with the ethical code of conduct by considering whether A. the proposed action is fully compliant and in harmony with the code of ethical conduct and whether stakeholders would consider anything ethically objectionable. B. the code of conduct is rejected by the market and accepted by employees. C. the code of conduct was accepted by rivals. D. the creation of the code of conduct should be handled by executives or employees. E. to eliminate the need to execute a code of conduct at all.
A
The "triple bottom line" refers to what three performance metrics a company should simultaneously succeed in? A. economic, social, and environmental B. pay, power, and performance C. planning, execution, and results D. legal, social, and economical E. legal, social, and environmental
A
The business case for why companies should act in a socially responsible manner includes such reasons as it A. generates internal operating benefits (as concerns employee recruiting, workforce retention, employee morale, and training costs). B. increases the risk of reputation-damaging incidents. C. is not in the best interest of shareholders. D. can lead to decreased buyer patronage. E. can increase costs and reduce employee retention.
A
The contention that since there are cross-country or cross-cultural differences in ethical standards, it is appropriate to judge behavior as ethical/unethical in the light of local customs and social mores should take precedence over a single set of ethical standards or what may be applicable in a company's home market A. defines what is meant by ethical relativism. B. defines what is meant by ethical universalism. C. is the foundation of a social contract. D. is the basis for the theory of ethical variation. E. is the guiding principle for religious and moral standards across countries and cultures.
A
The essence of socially responsible business behavior is A. balancing strategic actions to benefit shareholders against the duty to be a good corporate citizen. B. pursuing actions to keep prices low enough that the company's profits will not be viewed by the general public as obscenely high or exorbitant. C. making sizable contributions to political action committees representing the interests of the industry. D. undertaking actions to balance the interests of all company stakeholders rather than just exclusively working to protect the interests of shareholders. E. providing jobs for the local community rather than outsourcing them to low wage labor countries.
A
What is the function of the Global Reporting Initiative? A. It promotes greater transparency and facilitates benchmarking CSR efforts across firms and industries. B. It promotes and establishes mutual funds investment opportunities comprised of companies that excel on the basis of the triple bottom line. C. It promotes greater awareness of the Dow Jones World Index, which comprises companies that are engaged in environment sustainability. D. It promotes corporate governance, climate change, and labor practices. E. It is a nonprofit reporting organization that ranks companies on habitat protection.
A
When a company's social responsibility initiatives become part of the way it operates its business every day, these initiatives are A. likely to be fully effective in creating a competitive advantage. B. normally based on a corporate social agenda. C. ambiguous and rarely make a difference in the way the company does business. D. implausible to advance a positive, high-energy workplace environment. E. heavily dependent on encouraging employee morality.
A
Which of the following is NOT NECESSARILY a consequence of pursuing a strategy that has unethical or shady components? A. sharp drops in the price of company stock B. devastating public relations and the need for damage control C. sizable government fines and penalties D. attracting investors who think the company's industry will grow E. criminal indictments and convictions of culpable company executives
A
Which of the following is NOT a key question that senior executives must ask whenever a new strategic initiative is under review? A. Would the potential outcome of the proposed action pose a risk of embarrassment? B. Is what we are proposing to do fully compliant with our code of ethical conduct? C. Is there anything in the proposed action that could be considered ethically objectionable? D. Is it apparent that this proposed action is in harmony with our core values? E. Are any conflicts or concerns evident between the proposed action and our core values?
A
Which of the following is NOT a part of the business case for why companies should act in a socially responsible manner? A. Every business has a moral duty to be a good corporate citizen. B. Acting in a socially responsible manner reduces the risk of reputation-damaging incidents. C. Acting in a socially responsible manner is in the overall best interest of shareholders. D. To the extent that a company's socially responsible behavior wins applause from consumers and fortifies its reputation, a company may win additional patronage. E. Acting in a socially responsible manner can generate internal benefits (as concerns employee recruiting, workforce retention, employee morale, and training costs).
A
Which of the following is NOT something a company should usually consider in crafting a strategy of social responsibility? A. actions to benefit shareholders such as raising the dividend or boosting the stock price B. making charitable contributions and supporting community service endeavors and reaching out to make a difference in the lives of the disadvantaged C. actions to ensure the company has an ethical strategy and operates honorably and ethically D. actions that promote good stewardship (by protecting and enhancing) the environment E. actions to enhance workforce diversity
A
Which of the following is true of the school of ethical universalism? A. They are ethical principles that set forth the traits and behaviors considered virtuous and that a good person is supposed to believe in and display. B. They are ethical principles embodied in international law that all societies and countries are obliged practice. C. All societies and countries apply essentially the very same set of universally defined ethical principles of right and wrong in judging the ethical correctness of business behavior. D. It is mandatory that the standards of what's ethical and what's unethical be applied universally to all businesses in all countries irrespective of local business traditions and local business norms. E. The standards of what constitutes ethical and unethical behavior in business situations are partly universal, but in the main are governed by local business norms.
A
Which of the following statements regarding a company's CSR and sustainability strategies is FALSE? A. A company is not demonstrating an adequate degree of social responsibility or endeavoring to be a model corporate citizen unless it spends 5 percent (or more) of pretax profits on social responsibility initiatives. B. Corporate social agendas that address generic social issues may help boost a company's reputation but are unlikely to improve its competitive strength in the marketplace. C. Cost savings and improved profitability can be drivers of corporate sustainability strategies. D. Social responsibility strategies linked to a company's customer value proposition or key value chain activities may help build competitive advantage. E. While the strategies and actions of all socially responsible companies have sameness in the sense of drawing on the same categories of socially responsible behavior, each company's version of being socially responsible is unique.
A
Which of the following would increase the likelihood of ethical lapses as well as poor long-term company performance? A. dramatic cuts in research and development expenditures in years when low earnings are reported by the company B. increases in research and development expenditures in years when low earnings are reported by the company C. executive commitment to implementing strategic suggestions from the board of directors D. attracting investors who think the company's industry will grow E. hiring and maintaining a skilled and diverse workforce
A
Which one of the following is NOT a part of the business case for why companies should act in a socially responsible manner? A. Every business has a moral duty to be a good corporate citizen. B. Acting in a socially responsible manner reduces the risk of reputation-damaging incidents. C. Acting in a socially responsible manner is in the overall best interest of shareholders. D. To the extent that a company's socially responsible behavior wins applause from consumers and fortifies its reputation, a company may win additional patronage. E. Acting in a socially responsible manner can generate internal benefits (as concerns employee recruiting, workforce retention, training, and improved worker productivity).
A
A company that sets aside 2 percent of its pre-tax profits to build and then fund a cancer-recovery facility for teens is an example of a corporate social responsibility action to A. enhance employee well-being. B. support philanthropy. C. protect and sustain the environment. D. ensure honorable and ethical action. E. promote workforce diversity.
B
A company's strategy needs to be ethical because A. of the dangers that top management will get embarrassed if the company's unethical behavior is publicly exposed. B. it is good business and in the best interest of shareholders. C. everyone is an ethics watchdog and somebody is sure to blow the whistle on the company's unethical behavior. D. of the inevitable risks of getting caught and prosecuted by governmental authorities if an unethical strategy is used. E. unethical strategies boost long-termism in corporate culture.
B
According to integrated social contracts theory, the ethical standards a company should try to uphold A. are governed by the school of ethical universalism. B. are governed both by a limited number of universal ethical principles and the circumstances of local cultures, traditions, and shared values. C. are governed by each country's Code of Required Ethical Conduct, which sets forth that each individual/group/business/organization has a "social contract" to observe the ethical and moral standards that the country has adopted. D. should be determined by the company's moral managers. E. should be absolute and avoid wiggle room according to the circumstances of the situation.
B
An environmental sustainability strategy consists of a company's deliberate actions to A. operate in an honorable manner, provide good working conditions for employees, and actively work to enhance the quality of life in the local communities where it operates and in society at large. B. meet the current needs of customers, suppliers, shareholders, employees, and other stakeholders in a manner that protects the environment, provides for the longevity of natural resources, maintains ecological support systems for future generations, and guards against ultimate endangerment of the planet. C. protect and enhance natural resources and ecological support systems, taking into account the current consumption for the current generation. D. apply universal norms regarding the protection of the environment to its everyday operations and to function below the levels required by prevailing environmental regulations. E. balance commonly held views about what constitutes environmentally appropriate actions against its ability to make a profit.
B
Companies that adopt the principle of ethical relativism in providing ethical guidance to company personnel A. base their standards of what is ethical and what is unethical in the company's home market. B. may quickly find themselves on a slippery slope with no higher order moral compass if they operate in countries where ethical standards vary considerably from country to country. C. have no fair way to judge the ethical correctness of the conduct of company personnel. D. have a one-size-fits-all set of ethical standards. E. end up allowing each company employee to determine what set of ethical standards to observe.
B
Good corporate citizens A. create a democratic workplace whereby the voices of lower-level employees are heard through representation on the board of directors. B. go beyond meeting society's expectations for ethical strategies and business behavior by fostering social benefit and balancing the interests of all. C. provide work-from-home options to working mothers residing in distant locations. D. develop and market only products that are "environmentally friendly." E. identify up-and-coming managers who have a future in local- or state-level politics.
B
How does a company's unethical behaviors risk doing direct damage to a company's creditors? A. It could result in diminished business reputation. B. It could lead to default on loans due to potential business fallout. C. It could result in lower stock prices and lower returns. D. It could lead to shunning by customers. E. It could make recruiting and retaining talented employees difficult.
B
Notions of right and wrong, fair and unfair, moral and immoral, ethical and unethical A. are governed mainly by religious views held in different geographic regions of the world. B. are present in all societies, organizations, and individuals. C. vary enormously from country to country across the world. D. ultimately depend on the circumstances—nothing is really black or white when it comes to ethical standards. E. ultimately depend on a person's own values and beliefs.
B
Short-termism is defined as A. making assessments of the moral character of a company's managers. B. the tendency for managers to focus on immediate performance objectives at the expense of longer-term strategic objectives. C. assessing the costs and damages to the company's reputation as a result of ethical violations. D. weighing the short-term costs of regulatory compliance with the long-term costs of noncompliance. E. assessing the short-term costs of complying with government regulations.
B
Studies done on the correlation of between good corporate behavior and good financial performance have generally found A. no correlation. B. a small positive correlation. C. a small negative correlation. D. a large positive correlation. E. a large negative correlation.
B
The business case for CSR and environmentally sustainable business practices suggests such actions could lead to all of the following EXCEPT A. increased buyer patronage. B. shorter supply chain. C. lower costs and enhanced employee recruiting and workforce retention. D. opportunities for revenue enhancement and best long-term profits for shareholders. E. reduced risk of reputation-damaging incidents.
B
The contentions that (1) many of the same standards of what's ethical and what's unethical resonate with peoples of most societies regardless of local traditions and cultural norms and (2) to the extent there is common moral agreement about right and wrong actions, common ethical standards can be used to judge the conduct of personnel at companies operating in a variety of country markets and cultural circumstances, are defining beliefs of which of the following? A. the school of ethical relativism but not the school of ethical universalism B. the school of ethical universalism but not the school of ethical relativism C. integrative social contracts theory but not the school of ethical universalism D. the school of ethical relativism and the school of ethical universalism E. the school of ethical relativism but not integrative social contracts theory
B
The litmus test of a company's code of ethics is A. the degree to which it is connected to a company's statement of core values. B. the extent to which it is embraced in crafting strategy and in the day-to-day operations of the business. C. the extent to which a company's approach to ethical behavior mirrors the ethical principles for society at large. D. based on the rules a company's top management and board of directors make about "what is right" and "what is wrong." E. determined by the ethical behaviors expected of company personnel in the course of doing their jobs.
B
The school of ethical relativism holds that A. what constitutes ethical or unethical conduct should be determined by the religious convictions of each society or each culture within a country. B. when there are cross-country or cross-cultural differences in what is deemed ethical or unethical in business situations, it is appropriate for local moral standards to take precedence over what the ethical standards may be elsewhere. C. concepts of right and wrong are always governed by business norms in each country, culture, or society. D. concepts of right and wrong are always a function of each individual's own set of values, beliefs, and ethical convictions. E. concepts of right and wrong as they apply to business behavior are always absolute and usually more stringent than universal ethical principles.
B
The strength of integrated social contracts theory is that it A. correctly recognizes that all soundly reasoned ethical standards are universal. B. accommodates the best parts of ethical universalism and ethical relativism. C. puts no absolute limits on what actions and behaviors fall inside the boundaries of what is ethically or morally right and which actions/behaviors fall outside. D. recognizes the importance of allowing local ethical norms to always take precedence over universal ethical norms. E. recognizes that individuals and businesses have a basic right to "moral free space" and that it is inappropriate to specify ethically permissible and ethically impermissible actions and behaviors.
B
Triple-bottom-line (TBL) reporting is emerging as an important way for companies to A. conceal their initiatives and accomplishments in the areas of diversity, environment, community, and ethics to increase profitability. B. make the results of their CSR strategies apparent to stakeholders and for stakeholders to hold companies accountable for their impact on society. C. minimize transparency and facilitate benchmarking CSR efforts across firms and industries. D. minimize the use of standard reporting frameworks and metrics. E. attract profit-oriented investors.
B
Unethical managerial behavior tends to be driven by such factors as A. a lack of training in what is ethical and what is not. B. overzealous or obsessive pursuit of personal gain, wealth, and other self interests; a company culture that puts the profitability and good business performance ahead of ethical behavior; and heavy pressures on company managers to meet or beat performance targets. C. widespread managerial belief in the ethical relativism school of thinking. D. widespread managerial belief in the ethical universalism school of thinking. E. confusing differences between what is ethical behavior in one's personal life and what is ethically permissible in business.
B
Which of the following activities does NOT reflect short termism? A. decreasing spending on research and development B. avoiding stock repurchases made to increase earnings-per-share of a company C. maintaining and hiring critical employees with compensations tied to annual company earnings D. taking into consideration all tangible future cash flows over intangible brand value appreciation E. carrying business operations with existing technologies in all markets to cut costs and increase profits
B
Which of the following is FALSE as it concerns the merits of why acting in a socially responsible manner is good business? A. The higher the public profile of a company or brand, the greater the scrutiny of its activities and the higher the potential for it to become a target for pressure group action. B. Acting in a socially responsible manner nearly always results in higher profits and a higher stock price for shareholders. C. To the extent that a company's socially responsible behavior wins applause from consumers and fortifies its reputation, a company may win additional patronage. D. Some employees feel better about working for a company committed to improving society—a condition that can contribute to lower turnover and better worker productivity. E. Companies with deservedly good reputations for contributing time and money to the betterment of society are better able to attract and retain employees compared to companies with tarnished reputations.
B
Which of the following is NOT a particularly sound or valid reason why a company's strategy should be ethical? A. An unethical strategy reflects badly on the character of the company personnel involved. B. Senior executives fear public embarrassment if caught doing something perceived as unethical. C. An ethical strategy is in the self-interest of shareholders, partly because an unethical strategy can damage a company's reputation and partly because unethical behavior can be very costly in terms of fines and penalties. D. Customers shun companies known for their shady behavior and ethically upstanding company personnel are repulsed by a work environment where unethical behavior is condoned. E. A strategy that is unethical in whole or in part is morally wrong.
B
Which of the following is an activity a company engages in to enhance the quality of life for its employees in an attempt to fulfill its corporate social responsibility? A. It fires suppliers that use child labor. B. It provides work-at-home opportunities. C. It donates a percentage of its profits to a national charity. D. It pays to have litter removed from a state highway. E. It sells its products at a discounted price in underdeveloped countries.
B
Which one of the following is false as concerns the merits of why acting in a socially responsible manner is "good business"? A. Companies with good reputations for contributing time and money to bettering society are better able to attract and retain employees compared to companies with tarnished reputations. B. There is a high correlation between socially responsible behavior that addresses social issues and a firm's competitive advantage and financial performance. C. To the extent that a company's socially responsible behavior wins applause from consumers and fortifies its reputation, a company may win additional patronage. D. Operating in a socially responsible manner protects the company from consumer, environmental, and human rights activist groups that are quick to criticize businesses whose behavior they consider to be out of line.
B
A belief in ethical relativism leads to the conclusion that A. since ethical standards are subjective, it is perfectly appropriate for each company to define and implement its own ethical principles of right and wrong as concerns the use of underage labor and the payment of bribes and kickbacks. B. ethical standards are determined objectively (rather than subjectively). C. whether the use of underage labor and the payment of bribes/kickbacks should be deemed ethical or unethical depends on the moral standards, values, and business norms that prevail in particular cultures, societies, countries, or circumstances. D. ethical standards are objective and universal—thus whether the use of underage labor and the payment of bribes and kickbacks should be deemed ethical or unethical is definitely not dependent on the moral standards, values, and business norms that prevail in particular cultures, societies, countries, or circumstances. E. standards of right and wrong are governed by what is legal in a given country—thus whether the use of underage labor and the payment of bribes and kickbacks are ethical or unethical is governed by local law.
C
A multinational automobile manufacturer issues a public statement that the company's vehicle emissions tests had been falsified to meet environmental compliance standards over recent years using software specifically designed for that purpose. Following the news, the CEO is replaced, vehicle sales plummet, and the company's stock price sharply declines. Which of the following has the company incurred? A. only visible and internal administrative costs B. visible but not intangible costs C. visible and intangible costs D. internal administrative costs but not visible costs E. internal administrative costs but not intangible costs
C
Although exposing children to hazardous work and long work hours is unquestionably deplorable, which of the following, if true, leads to a moral dilemma? A. Use of adult workers instead leads to higher labor costs. B. Children are not as efficient as adults in doing physically demanding work. C. Many child laborers come from poverty-stricken families. D. Banning child labor increases school attendance. E. Working children learn independence.
C
Ethical principles in business A. are generally less stringent than the ethical principles for society at large. B. are generally more stringent than the ethical principles for society at large. C. are not materially different from ethical principles in general. D. concern the rules each company's top management and board of directors make about "what is right" and "what is wrong." E. deal chiefly with the actions and behaviors required to operate companies in a socially responsible manner.
C
Following a public outcry, the CEO of a nationwide consumer bank was forced to apologize to and recompense customers for whom the bank had set up false credit card and auto loan accounts, over 100,000 account managers were terminated, and the company's stock price also sharply declined. Which of the following did the company incur? A. only visible and internal administrative costs B. visible but not intangible costs C. internal administrative costs, tangible costs, and intangible costs D. internal administrative costs but not visible costs E. visible and intangible costs
C
Multinational companies that forbid the payment of bribes and kickbacks in their codes of ethical conduct and that are serious about enforcing this prohibition A. are generally advocates of the ethical relativism school of thought. B. are misguided in their efforts because bribes and kickbacks are really no different from tipping for service at restaurants as you pay for a service rendered. C. face a particularly vexing problem of losing business to competitors that have no scruples—an outcome that penalizes ethical companies and company personnel. D. are out-of-step with business reality given that the preponderance of company managers are immoral. E. are in a distinct minority compared to companies that view the payment of bribes and kickbacks as a legitimate or permissible practice.
C
Striving to be socially responsible entails touching such bases as A. what actions to take to moderate workforce diversity and make the company a great place to work. B. whether to shrink charitable contributions and trim down the time commitment of company personnel to community service endeavors to increase earnings. C. what, if any, actions to take to protect or enhance the environment (beyond what is legally required). D. exerting conscious efforts to ensure that all elements of the company's strategy are executed diligently. E. prioritizing stock repurchases over dividends.
C
The contention that ethical standards should reflect the collective views of multiple societies in establishing a set of universal ethical principles (that are widely recognized as laying legitimacy to ethical boundaries on actions and behavior in all situations) and in allowing inclusion of a set of prevailing customary actions of local cultures or groups (with their traditions and shared values), that further prescribe to what represents ethically permissible behavior and what does not, constitutes the basic principles of A. the school of ethical relativism. B. the school of ethical universalism. C. integrated social contracts theory. D. corporate social responsibility. E. the triple bottom line.
C
The moral case for why a company should actively promote the betterment of society and act in a manner benefitting all its stakeholders A. is based on the principle of treating people fairly and with respect. B. is based on the conviction that improving the well-being of society ranks higher in priority and is certainly nobler than making a profit and serving the interests of shareholders. C. boils down to "it's the right thing to do." D. rests on the principle that a business is duty bound to fulfill its social contract to serve the interests of all stakeholders in a business enterprise. E. is based on the principle that business activities lack real legitimacy and have few socially redeeming qualities unless and until a company exerts a significant and sincere effort to give something back to the community.
C
Which of the following is NOT generally an action for a company to consider in crafting a strategy of social responsibility? A. devoting efforts to employ an ethical strategy and observe ethical principles in operating the business B. making charitable contributions, donating money and the time of company personnel to community service endeavors, supporting various worthy organizational causes C. taking steps to provide suppliers, distributors, and other value chain partners with handsome profit margins D. initiating actions to build a workforce that is diverse with respect to gender, race, national origin, and other aspects that different people bring to the workplace E. pursuing actions to protect the environment and, in particular, to minimize or eliminate any adverse impact on the environment stemming from the company's own business activities
C
Which of the following is true of ethical relativism? A. Concepts of ethically right and ethically wrong are relative across countries and cultures but are universal within countries or cultures. B. Individuals and businesses have a basic right to "moral free space" and it is inappropriate to specify ethically permissible and ethically impermissible actions and behaviors. C. There are important occasions when local cultural norms and morality and the circumstances of the situation determine whether certain behaviors are right or wrong, for there are no absolutes when it comes to business ethics. D. Concepts of right and wrong as applied to business situations are always a function of each company's own set of values, beliefs, and ethical convictions (as stated in the company's code of ethical conduct). E. Standards of what is ethically right and ethically wrong as applied to business behavior are determined solely by whatever business norms prevail in a particular company's home country and are applicable to its operations in all other countries.
C
Which of the following statements about the ethical relativism school of thinking is FALSE? A. In a multinational company, application of ethical relativism equates to multiple sets of ethical standards. B. There are few absolutes when it comes to business ethics and thus few ethical absolutes for consistently judging a company's conduct in various countries and markets. C. When there are cross-country or cross-cultural differences in ethical standards, it is appropriate for ethical standards in a company's home market to take precedence over what the local ethical standards may be. D. A company that adopts the principle of ethical relativism and holds company personnel to local ethical standards necessarily assumes that what prevails as local morality is an adequate guide to ethical behavior. E. According to the ethical relativism school of thinking, a "one-size-fits-all" template for judging the ethical appropriateness of business actions and the behaviors of company personnel does not exist.
C
Which one of the following is NOT a part of the business case for why companies should act in a socially responsible manner? A. increased buyer patronage B. internal benefits such as improved workforce retention and operational efficiency C. aggressive pursuit of market share, revenues, and profits D. reduced risk of reputation-damaging incidents E. shareholder benefits such as increased stock price and financial performance
C
A company that promotes carpooling among its employees, has cut its printer-paper usage in half, and has installed solar panels on its roof is an example of a corporate social responsibility action to A. promote workforce diversity. B. ensure the company operates honorably and ethically. C. support philanthropy and participate in community service. D. protect and sustain the environment. E. enhance workplace amenities and employee well-being.
D
According to the school of ethical universalism A. concepts of what constitute ethical behavior and unethical behavior are dictated by subjectively provable moral principles but not by objectively provable moral principles. B. concepts of right and wrong are universal within countries/societies but not across countries or cultures. C. concepts of what is ethical and what is unethical are socially determined, leaving room for variation from country to country or circumstance to circumstance. D. to the extent there is common moral agreement about right and wrong actions and behaviors across multiple cultures and countries, there exists a set of universal ethical standards to which all societies and all individuals can be held accountable. E. all societies and countries are obligated to apply universally defined ethical principles of right and wrong as set forth by a global body that formulates the Code of Ethical Behavior for the world.
D
Cultural demands to employ unethical means if circumstances become challenging can prompt A. otherwise dishonorable people to behave ethically. B. increased observance of ethical strategic actions. C. a moral work climate. D. clever ways to operate outside established policies to boost profits. E. company authorization to observe what's right.
D
Ethical principles as they apply to the conduct of personnel and business decisions A. deal chiefly with standards a company has about what is right and wrong insofar as the conduct of its business is concerned and about what behaviors are expected of company personnel. B. deal chiefly with the behaviors that a company's board of directors expects of all company personnel in both their conduct on the job and off the job. C. involve the rules a company's top management and board of directors make about "what is right" and "what is wrong." D. deal primarily with the company's duty to comply with legal requirements and conform to ethical norms of society, in general. E. are generally less stringent than the ethical principles for society at large because it is well understood that businesses should not be expected to operate any differently than what the law requires of them.
D
Integrated social contracts theory maintains that A. there is no such thing as "moral free space"—all ethical standards are determined by societal norms, and individuals have an implied social contract to live up to these standards. B. few nations or cultures have common moral agreement on what is ethically right and wrong. C. there should be no absolute limits put on what actions and behaviors fall inside the boundaries of what is ethically or morally right and which actions/behaviors fall outside. D. adherence to universal ethical norms always takes precedence over local ethical norms. E. ethical relativism should always be adhered to before ethical universalism when dealing within boundaries of a country's culture and norms.
D
The contention that ethical standards should be governed both by (1) a limited number of universal ethical principles that are widely recognized as putting legitimate ethical boundaries on actions and behavior in all situations and (2) the circumstances of local cultures, traditions, and shared values that further prescribe what constitutes ethically permissible behavior and what does not are the basic principles of A. the school of ethical relativism. B. the school of ethical universalism. C. the global corruption standards published by Transparency International. D. integrative social contracts theory. E. the Global Code of Ethical and Social Morality developed by the United Nations.
D
The degree of cross-country variability in paying bribes and kickbacks to grease business transactions A. violates ethical principles of right and wrong in all countries. B. is ethically acceptable according to the principle of ethical universalism and ethically unacceptable according to the principle of ethical relativism. C. is acceptable to immoral managers but not to amoral managers. D. is one of the thorniest ethical problems that multinational companies face because paying bribes is normal and customary in some countries and ethically or legally forbidden in others. E. is more acceptable in dealing with a company's suppliers than in dealing with a company's customers.
D
The school of ethical universalism holds that A. concepts of right and wrong are not absolute and leave room for deviation from country to country or circumstance to circumstance. B. concepts of right and wrong are universal within countries but not across countries and cultures. C. concepts of right and wrong are governed by the Global Code of Ethical and Social Morality. D. the most fundamental conceptions of right and wrong are universal and apply to members of all societies, all companies, and all businesspeople. E. there are multiple sets of standards concerning what is ethically right or wrong that are universally applicable to citizens of a country.
D
The strength of the beliefs underlying ethical universalism is that A. ethical universalism recognizes significant variation in basic moral standards according to local cultural beliefs, local religious beliefs, and social mores. B. ethical standards are objectively determined by religious and moral experts. C. what is deemed right or wrong, fair or unfair, moral or immoral, ethical or unethical is (or should be) grounded in religious doctrine and applied strictly to all business situations. D. it draws upon the collective views of multiple societies and cultures to put some clear boundaries on what constitutes ethical business behavior and what constitutes unethical business behavior no matter what country or culture a company is operating in. E. it leaves room for thinking that concepts of right and wrong can be varying shades of gray.
D
The theory of corporate social responsibility concerns A. a company's duty to establish socially acceptable core values and to have a strictly enforced code of ethical conduct. B. a company's duty to maximize shareholder value. C. the blending of shareholder interests and employee interests. D. the company's responsibility to balance between strategic actions to benefit shareholders against the duty to be a good corporate citizen. E. top management's responsibility to ensure that the company's actions and decisions are in the best interest of society at large.
D
Which of the following companies incurs mainly internal administrative costs due to unethical practices? A. Company A loses its customer loyalty by selling low-quality products for a high cost. B. Company B's tax evasion practices are revealed, leading to a drastic fall in stock prices. C. Company C incurs penalties of $1.5 billion for discharging toxic wastes into a river. D. Company D must retrain its employees who are using their Twitter accounts to post workplace frustrations. E. Company E pays men higher wages than women while at the same time propagating messages of equality and fair play.
D
Which of the following is NOT part of the moral case for why a company should actively promote the betterment of society? A. Every action a company takes can be interpreted as a statement of what it stands for. B. Most business leaders can be expected to acknowledge that socially responsible actions and environmental sustainability are important and that businesses have a duty to be good corporate citizens. C. In return for society granting a business a "license to operate" and not be unreasonably restrained in its pursuit of a fair profit, a business is obligated to act as a responsible citizen and do its fair share to promote the general welfare. D. Acting in a socially responsible manner is in the best financial interest of shareholders. E. Every business has a duty to do what's best for shareholders while operating honorably, provide good working conditions to employees, and be a good environmental steward.
D
Which of the following is NOT something a company should consider in crafting an environmental sustainability strategy? A. actions to protect the environment that will guard against the ultimate endangerment of the planet B. actions to maintain ecological support systems for future generations C. actions to provide for the longevity of natural resources D. actions to couple environmental degradation and economic growth E. actions to contain the adverse effects of greenhouse gases
D
A company's environmental sustainability strategy consists of its deliberate actions to A. shelter the environmental impacts from the company's resources and competitive capabilities. B. provide for the defense of natural resources usage within cross-border commitments. C. moderate assurance for ecological support systems for future generations. D. guard against ultimate endangerment of the business. E. operate the business in a manner that promotes the longevity of sustainability effects.
E
A company's social responsibility strategy typically comprises all of the following EXCEPT A. actions to enhance workforce diversity and make the company a great place to work. B. making charitable contributions and donating money and the time of company personnel to community service endeavors. C. actions to protect or enhance the environment. D. conscious efforts to ensure that all elements of the company's strategy are ethical and that its actions protect or enhance the environment (beyond what is legally required). E. actions to keep the company's profits at a reasonable and acceptable level to ensure the company's products/pricing will not be viewed by the general public as obscenely high or exorbitant.
E
Which of the following factors does NOT necessarily drive unethical managerial behavior? A. the pervasiveness of immoral and amoral businesspeople B. overzealous pursuit of personal gain, wealth, and other selfish interests C. a company culture that puts the profitability and good business performance ahead of ethical behavior D. heavy pressures on company managers to meet or beat earnings targets E. executive compensation independent of company performance
E
A manufacturer and marketer of prescription pharmaceuticals decided to raise the price of its anti-malaria drug from $15.00 per dose to $750.00 per dose, a price increase of 5,000%. Following a public outcry, the CEO was forced to resign, the company was forced to retract the price hike, and the company's stock price sharply declined. Which of the following has the company incurred? A. only visible and internal administrative costs B. visible but not intangible costs C. internal administrative costs but not intangible costs D. internal administrative costs but not visible costs E. visible and intangible costs
E
According to integrative social contracts theory, the ethical standards a company should try to uphold A. are governed by the school of ethical universalism. B. should be determined by the company's board of directors. C. should never be absolute but rather always provide some wiggle room according to the circumstances of the situation. D. are governed by each country's Code of Required Ethical Conduct, which sets forth that each individual/group/business/organization has a "social contract" to observe the ethical and moral standards that the country has adopted. E. are governed both by (1) a limited number of universal ethical principles that are widely recognized as putting legitimate ethical boundaries on actions and behavior in all situations and (2) the circumstances of local cultures, traditions, and shared values that further prescribe what constitutes ethically permissible behavior and what does not—but universal norms always take precedence over local ethical norms.
E
If one accepts the tenets of the school of ethical relativism, then which of the following is NOT true? A. There are multiple sets of ethical standards rather than a single universal set. B. At least some ethical standards are governed by local norms, religious doctrines, and social customs rather than by absolute standards of right and wrong. C. What constitutes ethical or unethical behavior on the part of businesses must in some cases be judged in the light of local customs and social mores. D. It is inappropriate to hold businesses accountable for observing a universal set of ethical standards. E. Ethical standards for businesses are established on the basis of conceptions of right and wrong that apply to all businesses.
E
Sourcing a supply from a small, women-owned business is an example of a corporate social responsibility action to A. enhance employee well-being. B. support philanthropy. C. protect and sustain the environment. D. ensure honorable and ethical action. E. promote workforce diversity.
E
The business case for why companies should act in a socially responsible manner DOES NOT include such reasons as A. generating internal benefits (such as improved employee recruiting, workforce retention, training, and worker productivity). B. reducing the risk of reputation-damaging incidents. C. acting in the best interest of shareholders in terms of increased stock price and financial performance. D. increasing buyer patronage and customer loyalty. E. reducing the triple bottom line.
E
The notion of social responsibility as it applies to businesses is concerned with A. a company's duty to put the public interest ahead of shareholder interests. B. societal expectations that all company stakeholders will be treated equally and fairly. C. a company's duty to establish a loyal workforce. D. the responsibility that top management has for ensuring that the company's actions and decisions are in the best interest of stakeholders at large. E. a company's duty to operate in an honorable manner and provide good working conditions for employees.
E
The results of strategies that cannot pass the test of moral scrutiny often are NOT manifested in A. sharp drops in stock prices and lower dividends. B. devastating public relations hits. C. sizable fines. D. criminal indictment and convictions of company executives. E. increased customer loyalty.
E
The strength of the beliefs underlying the moral case for an ethical strategy relates to all EXCEPT which of the following? A. It begins with managers who themselves have strong character (for example, who are honest, have integrity, and truly care about how they conduct a company's business). B. It starts with managers who walk the talk in displaying the company's stated values. C. It involves managers with high ethical principles and standards who are advocates of a corporate code of ethics and strong ethics compliance and are genuinely committed. D. It starts with managers who understand there is a big difference between adopting values statements superficially and truly accepting a company's actual strategy and business conduct. E. It starts with managers that involve themselves in creating strategies based on risks and loss of reputation that implementing an unethical strategy can cost.
E
The three dimensions of performance are often referred to in terms of the "three pillars" and include all of the following EXCEPT A. a company's efforts to improve the lives of its internal and external stakeholders. B. the various social initiatives that make up the CSR strategies. C. a firm's ecological impact and environmental practices. D. the economic impact (value and costs) that the company has on society. E. a company's efforts to reduce research and development funding to boost profits.
E
Visible costs that are incurred by companies and imposed for ethical wrongdoing include all of the following EXCEPT A. government fines and penalties. B. civil penalties arising from class-action lawsuits or other litigation. C. lower dividends for shareholders. D. lower stock prices. E. legal and investigative costs.
E
When high ethical principles are deeply ingrained in the corporate culture of a company, culture can function as a powerful mechanism for all of the following EXCEPT A. communicating ethical behavioral norms. B. gaining employee buy-in to the company's moral standards. C. gaining employee buy-in to the company's business principles. D. gaining employee buy-in to the company's corporate values. E. boosting short-termism.
E
Which of the following builds a moral case for corporate social responsibility and environmentally sustainable business practices? A. Socially responsible actions and sustainable business practices can lower costs and enhance employee recruiting and workforce retention. B. Opportunities for revenue enhancement may also come from CSR and environmental sustainability strategies. C. Well-conceived CSR strategies and sustainable business practices are in the best long-term interest of shareholders. D. A business engages in ordinary decency and civic-mindedness, and contributes to society's well-being. E. A strong commitment to socially responsible behavior reduces the risk of reputation-damaging incidents.
E
Which of the following is NOT true about why codes of conduct based on ethical relativism are ethically dangerous for multinational companies? A. They create a maze of conflicting ethical standards. B. They justify conflicting ethical standards for operating in different countries. C. They establish little moral basis for establishing ethical standards for a company worldwide. D. They restrict enforcement of ethical standards worldwide. E. They create standards that mostly relate to ethical codes in a company's home market, which might trigger compliance issues in the local market.
E
Which of the following is NOT true regarding the effect of ethical standards on a company's strategy? A. An unethical strategy reflects badly on the character of the company personnel involved. B. A strategy that is unethical in whole or in part is morally wrong. C. Pursuing an unethical strategy damages a company's reputation and can have costly consequences. D. An ethical strategy is good business and is in the best interest of shareholders. E. An ethical strategy results in higher employee turnover.
E
Which of the following is most likely to be morally valid from the perspective of ethical relativism? A. bribing a government official to allow you to transfer gambling winnings to a tax haven B. performing genital mutilations on nonconsenting female teens C. employing as laborers children under the age of nine D. agreeing to a country's policy of prohibiting the education of females E. bribing a government official in an underdeveloped country to obtain a permit to build a hospital
E
Which of the following regarding integrated social contracts theory is NOT true? A. Certain universal ethical principles apply in those situations where all societies—those endowed with rationality and moral knowledge—have a common moral agreement on what is right and wrong. B. Within the boundaries of a social contract, local cultures or groups can specify what additional actions may or may not be ethically permissible. C. Universal ethical principles or norms leave some "moral free space" for the people in a particular country (or local culture or even a company) to make specific interpretations of what other actions may or may not be permissible within the bounds defined by universal ethical principles. D. Universal ethical norms always take precedence over local ethical norms. E. Local ethical norms always take precedence over universal ethical norms.
E
Which one of the following is NOT a key element of integrated social contracts theory? A. Universal ethical principles apply in those situations where most all societies—endowed with rationality and moral knowledge—have common moral agreement on what is wrong and thereby put limits on what actions and behaviors fall inside the boundaries of what is right, and which ones fall outside. B. Commonly held views about what is morally right and wrong form a "social contract" (contract with society) that is binding on all individuals, groups, organizations, and businesses in terms of establishing the line between ethical and unethical behaviors. C. Universal ethical principles or norms leave some "moral free space" for the people in a particular country (or local culture or even a company) to make specific interpretations of what other actions may or may not be permissible within the bounds defined by universal ethical principles. D. Universal ethical norms always take precedence over local ethical norms. E. Integrated social contracts theory rejects the slippery slope of ethical relativism and embraces ethical universalism.
E
