International business - Chapter 5

According to the text, which three actions can managers take to ensure that ethical issues are considered in business decision making? (Check all that apply.)

-Implement decision-making processes that consider ethical aspects of business decisions. -Build an organizational culture that values ethical behavior. -Favor hiring and promoting of people with a sense of personal ethics.

______ are situations where none of the available alternatives seems morally acceptable.

Ethical dilemmas

True or false: Pursuing strategies that are sustainable has little impact on helping an organization ensure that ethical issues are considered in business decisions.

False

Which congressional act outlaws the payment of bribes to foreign government officials to gain businesses?

Foreign Corrupt Practices Act

The straw men theory that states that businesses should behave in a socially responsible manner, according to ethical custom and without deception and fraud is the _______.

Friedman Doctrine

As demonstrated by the Nike example in the text, which situation is generally MOST preferred when considering employment practices in international business?

Requiring good conditions in home and foreign operations even when this results in a smaller profit margin

What are four determinants of ethical behavior? (Check all that apply.)

Societal culture Personal ethics Organizational culture Leadership

Which description of leader behavior is most likely to promote a strong ethical culture in an organization?

The boss who consistently demonstrates strong personal ethics in all dealings with clients.

True or false: Business people may behave unethically because they forget to ask whether the decision or action they are making is ethical.

True

True or false: The decision-making process is one of the determinants of ethical behavior.

True

Which ethical theory emphasizes that the best actions are those that benefit the most number of people and harm the least number of people?

Utilitarianism

It is wrong to cheat on a test. Conversely, it is right to

accept responsibility for your actions.

A policy of racial segregation and political and economic discrimination against nonwhites in South Africa was known as the

apartheid system.

International business frequently have to address ethical issues that develop because

countries have different business laws, practices and regulations.

Sanjay told his staff that the company didn't care if the components came from a company using sweatshop labor, the parts were needed to meet the order and the company needed the order to make the sales quota. In this situation, the company makes this decision based on purely _____ terms.

economic

Ethical issues arise in international business when

environmental regulations in host nations are less stringent than those in the home country.

Scandinavia scores high on the individualism and uncertainty avoidance measures of societal culture. According to Hofstede's dimensions of societal culture, Scandinavia is more likely to engage in ______ business behavior than -- for example -- Russia.

ethical

According to the Friedman Doctrine, what is the only social responsibility a company has as long as it stays within the rules of law?

increasing profits

A(n) _____ distribution is one that is considered fair and equitable.

just

The fair and equitable dissemination of economic goods and services is the focus of a(n) _____ distribution.

just

The Hewlett-Packard example discussed in this chapter suggests that one cause of unethical behavior in a company can stem from _____.

leadership

When making ethical decisions, ______ factors are stressed in Japan while ______ factors are more important in the United States.

organizational; individual or personal

The generally accepted principles and values that govern interactions between individuals are called

personal ethics.

Certain theories accept that there are rights, both positive and negative, that all humans have simply because they are human. These are called ______ theories.

rights

The____ theories recognize that there are things we CANNOT do against individuals because they have certain moral, fundamental rights.idl

rights

Unrealistic performance goals can often only be attained by

taking shortcuts or behaving in an unethical manner.

TimeTurner Corp. is a company based in the United States that manufactures luxury wrist watches. By western standards, if the company uses sweatshop labor to make these watches it is most likely to be considered

unethical

The managers of Simple Sound Manufacturing are struggling to meet their quota that was recently increased by upper management. They decide to eliminate two quality control steps in the manufacturing process. This is unethical behavior that was a result of

unrealistic performance goals.

The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act was amended to include _____ because some US businesses complained the act would put US firms at a competitive disadvantage.

facilitating payments

A company's organizational _____ reflects the values and norms that are shared among employees of an organization.

culture

Young children are permitted to work in the manufacturing of soccer balls in Pakistan, but this would not be legal in the United States. However, a company wants to sell these soccer balls in the United States to Kick-Rite Sports Equipment and Kick-Rite is not sure it wants to sell these particular soccer balls. This is an example of a(n) ______ dilemma.

ethical

According to Hofstede's theory, cultures high in masculinity and power distance are _____ (more or less?) likely to engage in unethical behavior.

more

Marietta is visiting her company's manufacturing subcontractor in Pakistan. She notices children working on the machinery with no air conditioning and little access to water. But she also knows these children are probably supporting their families. Marietta can't decide if children working in the factory is appropriate or inappropriate. This is an example of a(n) ______.

ethical dilemma

An accurate description of the apartheid system in South Africa is it

mandated segregation between whites and nonwhites.

What is an accurate description of developed nations with regard to the environment?

They have more substantive environmental regulations.

______ ethics measure actions on a cost-benefit scale.

Utilitarian