Exam 1: Ethical Theory, Philosophical Foundations, Our Reasoning Flaws, and Types of Ethical Dilemma

A journalist who fails to disclose his or her financial interest in the subject of a story he or she is covering has a conflict of interest.

Immanuel Kant is the creator of the Categorical Imperative.

Peter Drucker believes that the ethical obligation of business is to bluff within reason.

Suppose, with reference to #57 above, that Pickford already owns an interest in the biotech firm, but Munford Stanley is not the underwriter.Pickford:

Two male students fired guns off the balcony of Linda's apartment.The police were able to see which apartment it was by counting floors and windows.While the police run to Linda's apartment, her two friends run out her door and disappear into the crowd of students out and about on a Friday night.When the police question Linda she refuses to tell them who her two friends with the guns were."I would never rat on a friend," is Linda's statement.One of the police officers tells Linda she could be charged with obstruction of justice.Linda still refuses.Which school of ethical thought would best suit Linda?

Claiming a computer is stolen in order to obtain insurance when the computer is simply outmoded is acceptable when the insurer doesn't question claims that amount to less than $2,000.

Henry Rauzi, the controller for Sunbeam, issued an offer to Linda Croce for an entry-level accounting position at Sunbeam at a salary of $34,000 per year.Ms.Croce accepted the offer and gave notice to her employer.When then-CEO of Sunbeam, Paul Kazarian, was informed of the offer, he demanded that Mr.Rauzi rescind it because Kazarian had not approved it prior to it being made.Mr.Rauzi called Ms.Croce at 10:00 P.M.three days before she was scheduled to being work and told her of Mr.Kazarian's action.Ms.Croce had no job and remained unemployed for several months while she searched for a new job. Evaluate the legality and ethics of Sunbeam's officer's actions with respect to Ms.Croce.

Winking tolerance is associated with what category of ethical dilemma?

You had quite a night last night of partying.Because of excessive drinking, you are unable to get to work today.When you call your supervisor you:

Purchasing agents accepting a pleasure trip from a supplier when no bids are pending is still an ethical violation.

Which of the following people is associated with the "Front-Page-of-the-Newspaper" test for ethical dilemmas?

In the story of the "Parable of the Sadhu," the author never learns whether the Sadhu lived or died.

Althea Caldwell is the director of Arizona's Department of Health Services (DHS).DHS is charged the administration of the state's behavioral health system and is responsible for contracting with private providers for millions of dollars of mental health care each year for eligible patients. Ms.Caldwell accepted a $20,000 per year director position for a hospital group corporation.One of the hospitals in the group was one to which state contracts for mental health treatment had been awarded. One month after accepting the position, Ms.Caldwell asked the state's attorney general for an opinion as to whether she had a conflict of interest. Does Ms.Caldwell have a conflict of interest?

Jeff Sanders, head of finance for Components, Inc.has just interviewed Laura Dern, an employee from the finance department of InChip, Components' chief competitor.Laura has explained that she has been passed over one too many times for a promotion at InChip and is thus in the job market.As Laura is leaving she whispers to Jeff, "Look, I have no contract at InChip that obligates me in anyway.I can begin immediately.Further, I have been able to obtain copies of our newest computer chip designs.You'll have them before InChip even begins production."

It would not be unethical for you to accept two employment offers in case one fell through.

Which philosopher developed the "greatest happiness principle"?

John Rawls is a contractarian.

Ben Small, a sole practitioner, has just decided to form a law partnership with his lifetime friend, Harvey Steptoe.They agree to name the firm Steptoe and Small and to split all profits.Ben is also a director for a publicly-traded telecommunications firm, NewVector, Inc.Ben has just learned that Harvey is lead counsel is a lawsuit against NewVector.Ben continues to serve as a board member and participates in sensitive discussions about the lawsuit.Ben does not disclose that Steptoe is his partner.Ben's feeling is that he and Harvey are as honest as the day is long and neither would compromise their duties to NewVector and client, respectively.

The Graduate Management Admissions Council announced that it was canceling the GMAscores of 84 applicants and students.The Council found that the students were active users of a now shut-down website, Scoretop.com, a site with origins in China that posted live questions from the GMAT.The site had 5,000 to 6,000 subscribers who paid $30 per month for access, but the Council is only canceling the scores of those against whom it feels it has an airtight case.Two of the students whose scores were canceled are currently enrolled at the University of Chicago's MBA program and another has already graduated from Stanford's MBA program.Twelve of the students whose scores were canceled had posted questions on Scoretop.com and the remaining 72 allowed the site to post their testimonials that they had seen the Scoretop.com questions on their GMAT.Ten of the 72 students had applied to Stanford but were denied admission.Which ethical category does the conduct of the students who posted live questions fit into?

Ayn Rand was the philosophical thinker who developed the Divine Command Theory.