Deck 9: Building an Ethical Organization

Question 1

Which of the following terms refers to the sense of normlessness and unease that results when rules lose their force.

A) powerlessness
B) drifting
C) anomie
D) despair

Answer 1

C

Question 2

We form impressions about possible careers during which stage of the socialization process?

A) encounter
B) organizational anticipatory socialization
C) vocational anticipatory socialization
D) metamorphosis

Answer 2

C

Question 3

______ describes how employees gradually move up the ladder of corruption during the socialization process.

A) co-option
B) incrementalism
C) compromise
D) escalation

Answer 3

B

Question 4

Which best describes a mission statement's purpose?

A) communicates the central identity and purpose of an organization
B) communicates core values to inform organizational decision-making
C) reflects the ideals of its members
D) all of these

Question 5

Which is NOT a characteristic of an ethically transformed organization?

A) exceeds legal requirements
B) reacts to destructive behavior
C) swiftly punishes misbehavior
D) seeks to prevent destructive behaviors

Question 6

______ outline an organization's reason for being.

A) core values
B) mission statements
C) codes of ethics
D) corporate policies

Question 7

At Carol's company, employees routinely talk about the ethical consequences of their decisions. This suggests that Carol is working for which kind of organization?

A) ethically decoupled
B) ethically transformed
C) missional
D) insular

Question 8

Erika knows the right thing to do by watching her leader Ellen. Ellen is shaping the organization's ethical culture through ______.

A) rites of passage
B) selection
C) role modeling
D) attention

Question 9

Which is NOT a characteristic of ethically decoupled organizations?

A) invest little in building a positive ethical climate
B) exhibit low-level moral reasoning
C) show high concern for the organization
D) give power away

Question 10

Which is NOT a formal element of ethics culture for an organization?

A) core values
B) ethics officers
C) norms
D) structure

Question 11

According to the Ethical Climate Questionnaire, which type of climate is MOST likely to encourage immoral behavior?

A) rules
B) law and code
C) independence
D) instrumental

Question 12

Tim knew his office culture well. The phrase "Customers first" was frequently used in conversations and people were described as "partners." Which informal element of ethics is described above?

A) language
B) norms
C) rituals
D) stories

Question 13

Followers pick up on ethical priorities through what leaders measure and control. This is which cultural change mechanism?

A) reactions to critical incidents
B) role modeling
C) selection
D) attention

Question 14

Which type of ritual is designed to strengthen and improve the current system?

A) rite of enhancement
B) rite of renewal
C) rite of conflict resolution
D) rite of degradation

Question 15

Which is NOT an element of informal ethics?

A) boards of directors
B) language
C) stories
D) rituals

Question 16

Which statement best describes "socialization"?

A) a person trying to talk with all of their colleagues
B) the process of becoming a group member
C) the process of finding your way to get hired for an ethical organization
D) the process an unethical person goes through to become ethical

Question 17

An organization's core ideology is made up of ______.

A) the business plan and marketing strategy
B) core values and long-range objectives
C) core values and purpose/mission
D) code of ethics and code of conduct

Question 18

Which of the following is a true statement about codes of ethics?

A) guarantee moral improvement
B) have no relationship with an organization's ethical performance
C) should be part of every organization's ethical culture
D) all of these

Question 19

A strong culture in which norms and values are very different from the rest of society is referred to as a ______.

A) social womb
B) Deviant subculture
C) social cocoon
D) none of these

Question 20

Which type of ritual has manifest (obvious) ethical functions?

A) rites of passage
B) rites of renewal
C) rites of conflict reduction
D) rites of integration

Question 21

All of the following are characteristic of effective ethics training EXCEPT ______.

A) integrated into the entire curriculum
B) presented in a lecture format
C) taps into the experiences of participants
D) focuses on ethical problems unique to the organization

Question 22

When it comes to ethics, what is a problem with many organizational reward systems?

A) they are too complicated
B) they reward the wrong (unethical behaviors)
C) they are too expensive
D) they focus too much on processes and not enough on results

Question 23

Which cultural element gives you the best idea of how an organization "really works"?

A) codes of ethics
B) mission statement
C) organizational histories
D) none of these

Question 24

Budgeting is a form of which type of organizational change mechanism?

A) attention
B) rewards
C) resource allocation
D) reactions to critical incidents

Question 25

All of the following are examples of the formal socialization process EXCEPT ______.

A) an applicant visiting a company website
B) a mentor assigned to help a new employee
C) a training session for new workers
D) a supervisor explaining company policies

Question 26

The ideal ethics communication systems ______.

A) send frequent ethics messages
B) use a variety of communication channels
C) allow for reflection and feedback
D) all of these

Question 27

The resignation speech of a state governor convicted of violating the law is an example of ______.

A) a rite of passage
B) a rite of degradation
C) a rite of conflict reduction
D) a rite of integration

Question 28

Marta gives orders but doesn't want to know how they are carried out, lest she be blamed for any illegal activities. She is using which strategy?

A) plausible deniability
B) blurring lines of authority
C) division of labor
D) compartmentalization

Question 29

Which is the MOST effective mission statement?

A) "To become the most profitable bank in the world."
B) "To grow profits by 2% each quarter."
C) "To serve local families."
D) "To put our competition out of business."

Question 30

When faced with ethical choices, members of the Main Street law firm look for guidance to state statutes as well as guidelines set forth by the state bar association. Main Street has which type of ethical climate?

A) caring
B) law and code
C) rules
D) independence

Question 31

Sometimes codes of ethics are used to force members to comply with organizational rules. This reflects which metaphor?

A) code as rule book
B) code as magnifying glass
C) code as club
D) code as shield

Question 32

Which ethical driver lays the foundation for any ethical change effort?

A) ethical diagnosis
B) engaged leadership
C) ethics training
D) targeted socialization processes

Question 33

The ethics officer who reports to the CEO violates which principle?

A) ethics officers must have power and status
B) ethics officers should devote themselves solely to ethics duties
C) ethics officers must function independently
D) ethics officers must be sensitive to the needs of employees

Question 34

Climate analysis is an example of which ethical driver?

A) target socialization processes
B) ethics training
C) ethical diagnosis
D) engaged leadership

Question 35

To be effective, ethics officers must ______.

A) focus exclusively on their ethics duties
B) function independently
C) have high power and status
D) all of these

Question 36

Corporate board members must make a diligent effort when making decisions. This is called the ______.

A) duty of loyalty
B) duty of independence
C) duty of care
D) duty of commitment

Question 37

Rodrico tells his subordinates to make their quarterly financial goals by any means possible. His followers are likely to feel a sense of ______.

A) excitement
B) anomie
C) resistance to authority
D) failure

Question 38

The "ladder of corruption" operates in which immoral socialization process?

A) co-optation
B) compromise
C) incrementalism
D) collaboration

Question 39

Which of the following accounts for the poor performance of many corporate boards?

A) Members serve on too many boards
B) CEOS serve on each other's boards
C) Members who disagree are pressured by other board members
D) all of these

Question 40

Structure influences moral behavior in all of the following ways EXCEPT ______.

A) allocation of decision-making rights
B) creation of oral histories
C) authority relationships
D) identifying who is accountable

Question 41

How employees talk informally can inhibit ethical behavior.

Question 42

Which of the informal elements of ethics are widely accepted organizational standards of behavior within an organization?

A) language
B) stories
C) norms
D) rituals

Question 43

"To create the most durable and best pencils" is an example of which element?

A) core values
B) code of ethics
C) mission statement
D) implementation guidelines

Question 44

Pam found her coworkers had little trust in the organization and its policies regarding company ethics. This suggests that Pam is working for which kind of organization?

A) ethically decoupled
B) ethically transformed
C) missional
D) insular

Question 45

Ethics training is not essential for the socialization process, but can be very helpful.

Question 46

Ashton noticed that his company always reacted to destructive behaviors rather than sought to prevent destructive behaviors. This suggests that Ashton is working for which kind of organization?

A) ethically decoupled
B) ethically transformed
C) missional
D) insular

Question 47

Organizational commitment is greatest in instrumental ethical climates.

Question 48

If a company honors its employees as well as seeks to give power away, then it is considered to be which type of organization?

A) ethically decoupled
B) ethically transformed
C) missional
D) insular

Question 49

All of the following are common duties of ethics officers, EXCEPT ______.

A) creating ethics training
B) advising top management and board of directors
C) enforcing discipline processes
D) marketing materials and ethic situations so the concerns do not affect the organization

Question 50

A CEO should also serve as the chairperson of the company's board of directors.

Question 51

If a company routinely chooses to tolerate misbehavior from employees rather than being proactive with bad behaviors, then it is considered which type of organization?

A) ethically decoupled
B) ethically transformed
C) missional
D) insular

Question 52

When changing ethical culture, choose one component to focus on.

Question 53

Which of the informal elements of ethics focuses on the words, talk, attitudes, and values used within an organization?

A) language
B) stories
C) norms
D) rituals

Question 54

Which of the informal elements of ethics focuses on narratives of the organization to provide meaning, values, and desired behavior?

A) language
B) stories
C) norms
D) rituals

Question 55

Which of the informal elements of ethics focuses on repeated organizational dramas to effectively communication organizational ethics?

A) language
B) stories
C) norms
D) rituals

Question 56

When an ethical code acts like a mirror, it confirms whether or not a behavior is acceptable.

Question 57

Norms generally exert more influence over behavior than formal rules and policies.

Question 58

Ethically transformed organizations focus primarily on complying to legal requirements.

Question 59

Mark's company was always proactive to anticipate changes with their ethical environment. This suggests that Mark is working for which kind of organization?

A) ethically decoupled
B) ethically transformed
C) missional
D) insular

Question 60

Once ethics training is implemented, an organization does not need to worry about ongoing ethics violations within the organization.

Question 61

Outline suggestions for dealing with stories that encourage unethical behavior.

Question 62

Why is it important to take a systematic approach to changing ethical culture?

Question 63

In ethically ______ organizations, ethical considerations are disconnected from most organizational decisions.

Question 64

______ are repeated organizational dramas.

Question 65

According to the ______ Act, CEOS must personally attest to accuracy of financial statements.

Question 66

______ are widely accepted standards of behavior that reveal how an organization "really works."

Question 67

______ play a significant role in promoting systematic ethical change.

Question 68

A(n) ______ outlines an organization's reason for being.

Question 69

Define integrity-based board governance.

Question 70

Why are empowered employees more likely to make ethical decisions?

Question 71

______ is the central identity or character of an organization.

Question 72

List six areas typically addressed by codes of ethics.

Question 73

Explain how organizational structure can encourage unethical behavior.

Question 74

What advice would you give a new organizational board member?

Question 75

Name and explain the types of ethical climates.

Question 76

Core values are guiding principles which should reflect what an organization is about.

Question 77

Explain the negative impacts of anomie.

Question 78

An organizational story consists of a narrative and its ______.