Module 1: Overview of Ethics

Question 1

What is ethics as defined by the group to which an individual belongs?

Answer 1

Ethics is a code of behavior that is defined by the group which an individual belongs.

Question 2

How do morals influence an individuals decisions?

Answer 2

Morals are the personal principles upon which an individual bases his or her decisions about what is right and what is wrong.

Question 3

What does it mean to act with integrity?

Answer 3

A person who acts with integrity acts in accordance with a personal code of principles.

Question 4

What is the role of law?

Answer 4

Law is a system of rules that tells us what we can and cannot do. Laws are enforced by a set of institutions (the police, courts, and law0making bodies).

Question 5

What is the purpose of a code of ethics?

Answer 5

A code of ethics states the principles and core values that are essential to ones work.

Question 6

Can an activity be legal but not ethical?

Answer 6

Yes, just because an activity is defined as legal does not mean that it is ethical.

Question 7

How has globalization affected the consistency of applying principles and codes of ethics in the workplace?

Answer 7

Globalization has created a much more complex work environment, making it more difficult to apply principles and codes of ethics consistently.

Question 8

Why might organizations restort to unethical behavior in today’s economic climate

Answer 8

Organizations may be tempted to resort to unethical behavior to maintain profits in today’s more challenging and uncertain economic climate.

Question 9

Why do powerful and highly successful individuals sometimes faul to act in morally appropriate ways?

Answer 9

It is not unusual for powerful, highly successful individuals to fail to act in morally appropriate ways as such people are often aggressive in striving for what they want and are used to having privileged access to information, people, and other resources. Furthermore, their success often inflates their belief that they have the ability and the right to manipulate the outcome of any situation.

Question 10

What is the concept of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)?

Answer 10

Corporate Social responsibility is the concept that an organization should act ethically by taking responsibility for the impact of its actions on its shareholders, consumers, employees, community, environment, and suppliers.

Question 11

What does supply chain sustainability entail within the context of CSR?

Answer 11

Supply chain sustainability is a component of CSR that focuses on developing and maintaining a supply chain that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs.

Question 12

How do organizations determine their commitment to CSR?

Answer 12

Each organization must decide if CSR is a priority, and if so, what its specific CSR goals are.

Question 13

What are the five reasons organizations have for pursuing CSR goals and promoting ethical behavior?

Answer 13

Organizations pursue CSR goals and promote ethical behavior to gain the goodwill of the community, create and organization that operates consistently, foster good business practices, protect the organization and its employees from legal action, and avoid unfavorable publicity.

Question 14

What role does a corporate ethics officer play in improving business ethics with an organization?

Answer 14

An organization can appoint a corporate ethics officer to improve its business ethics.

Question 15

How can the board of directors influence ethical standards in an organization?

Answer 15

An organization can require its board of directors to set and model high ethical standards.

Question 16

What is the purpose of establishing a corporate code of ethics?

Answer 16

An organization can establish a corporate code of ethics to improve its business ethics.

Question 17

How can conducting social audits benefit an organization?

Answer 17

An organization can conduct social audits to improve its business ethics.

Question 18

What role does ethics training play in fostering ethical behavior among employees?

Answer 18

An organization can require employees to take ethics training to improve its business ethics.

Question 19

What are the steps in a simple decision-making model?

Answer 19

The steps are: define the problem, identify alternatives, choose an alternative, implement the decision, and monitor the results.

Question 20

How can you incorporate ethical considerations?

Answer 20

You can incorporate ethical considerations by identifying and involving the stakeholders in the decision-making process.

Question 21

Why is it important to weigh various laws, guidelines and principles.

Answer 21

It is important to weigh various laws, guidelines, and principles, including the organization’s code of ethics, to incorporate ethical considerations into decision making.

Question 22

How has the growth of the internet and social networks contributed to the risk of unethical use of information technology?

Answer 22

The growth of the internet and social networks has created more opportunities for unethical behavior by making it easier to spread misinformation, invade privacy, and manipulate public opinion.

Question 23

In what ways does the ability to capture, store, and analyze vast amounts of personal data increase the risk of unethical IT practices?

Answer 23

The ability to capture, store, and analyze vast amounts of personal data poses ethical risks because it can lead to breaches of privacy, unauthorized data usage, and exploitation of personal information without consent.

Question 24

How does greater reliance on information systems in all aspects of life elevate the risk of unethical use of information technology?

Answer 24

Greater reliance on information systems in all aspects of life increases the risk of unethical use of IT by making systems more vulnerable to hacking, data breaches, and misuse of information for personal or organizational gain.

Question 25

Why has the underemphasis on ethics and human values amid recent IT breakthroughs led to increased ethical risks?

Answer 25

The underemphasis on ethics and human values amid recent IT breakthroughs has led to increased ethical risks because it allows for technological advancements to outpace the development of ethical guidelines and regulations, resulting in a lack of accountability and potential harm to individuals and society.