Deck 9: Value-Based and Ethical Leadership

Question 1

When evaluating whether deception is justified when the purpose is to help another person avoid serious personal harm, one is assessing the extent to which the ________ justify the ________.

A) means; ends
B) outcomes; ends
C) ends; means
D) outcomes; means

Answer 1

C

Question 2

Which of the following statements about ethical leadership is true?

A) There is waning interest in the study of ethical leadership.
B) Theorists have reached consensus about the way to define and assess ethical leadership.
C) Even discussing ethical leadership causes some people to feel uneasy.
D) There is some ethically neutral ground for theories of leadership.

Answer 2

C

Question 3

What is the MOST important indicator of personal integrity in the theories of ethical leadership?

A) Leader values are consistent with follower values.
B) Leader behavior is consistent with follower values.
C) Leader behavior is consistent with the leader's espoused values.
D) The leader's espoused values are consistent with cultural norms.

Answer 3

C

Question 4

Which theory has the MOST emphasis on the responsibility of leaders to oppose social injustice and inequality?

A) transformational leadership
B) authentic leadership
C) servant leadership
D) transforming leadership

Question 5

What statement about leader influence on the ethical behavior of followers is NOT accurate?

A) Leaders have very little influence on follower ethical behavior.
B) Leaders can influence it by setting an example in their own behavior.
C) Leaders can influence it with clear standards and guidelines for ethical behavior.
D) Leaders can influence it with performance appraisal criteria and rewards.

Question 6

Ethical behavior is more likely to occur when the dominant concern for the leader is ________.

A) complying with the organization's formal rules and policies
B) avoiding negative consequences for the person's career
C) acting consistent with internal values and ethical beliefs
D) carrying out role expectations for the leadership position

Question 7

Which theory includes the LARGEST number of influence processes and follower characteristics?

A) transforming leadership
B) authentic leadership
C) spiritual leadership
D) servant leadership

Question 8

Which of the following was NOT a recommendation for ethical leadership behavior?

A) Stay neutral in political conflicts involving ethical issues.
B) Set an example of ethical behavior in your own actions.
C) Initiate discussions among followers about ethics and integrity.
D) Encourage and recognize ethical behavior by followers.

Question 9

Which type of value is NOT emphasized in theories of ethical leadership?

A) altruism
B) hedonism
C) optimism
D) empathy

Question 10

Which theory emphasizes the importance for leaders of helping people satisfy their dual needs for fellowship and transcendence?

A) authentic leadership
B) transforming leadership
C) servant leadership
D) spiritual leadership

Question 11

Unethical behavior is LESS likely for a leader with ________.

A) a personalized power orientation
B) an internal locus of control orientation
C) low conscientiousness
D) high narcissism

Question 12

Which is NOT a major obstacle in evaluating ethical leadership for individual leaders?

A) lack of interest in ethical leadership among scholars
B) difficulty in determining if the ends justifies the means
C) cultural differences in standards of ethical behavior
D) the subjectivity inherent in the selection of criteria

Question 13

Ethical behavior and integrity for a leader is MOST likely to result in ________.

A) higher unit performance
B) higher ratings for the leader by bosses
C) less stress for the leader
D) higher subordinate satisfaction and trust

Question 14

Which is the LEAST accurate statement about the outcomes of leadership actions?

A) Help the weaker party get what it needs.
B) Suggest an equal division of the benefits.
C) Help the parties find an integrative solution.
D) Play the stakeholders off against each other.

Question 15

What is emphasized MORE in ethical leadership theories than in transformational leadership?

A) leader behaviors
B) leader values
C) leader skills
D) leader traits

Question 16

A difficulty in evaluating the morality of individual leaders is ________.

A) the objectivity inherent in determining which criteria to use and their relative importance
B) that the final evaluation can be influenced as much by the qualities of the judge as the qualities of the leader
C) leaders either have all strengths or all weaknesses with regard to criteria
D) the lack of enough relevant criteria to use in an assessment

Question 17

Which of the following theories has the MOST emphasis on improving subordinate performance?

A) authentic leadership
B) transforming leadership
C) transformational leadership
D) servant leadership

Question 18

Judgments about the ethics of a particular decision or action usually take into account all of the following EXCEPT the ________.

A) ends
B) means
C) preferences
D) outcomes

Question 19

Which condition is MOST likely to encourage ethical behavior in organizations?

A) strong emphasis on individual productivity
B) cultural values for obedience to authority
C) intense competition for valued rewards
D) cultural values for individual responsibility

Question 20

According to Burns, transforming leaders are MOST likely to appeal to ________.

A) fairness and reciprocity
B) economic self interest
C) respect for rules and tradition
D) ideals and moral values

Question 21

At ________ level of moral development, the primary motivation is to satisfy social norms determined by groups.

A) the lowest
B) a middle
C) the highest
D) an unattainable

Question 22

In a situation where there is a strong consensus about ethical behavior, ________.

A) moral self-identity is more important as a determinant of behavior
B) judgments about ethical consequences of actions are more important determinants of behavior
C) most people will conform to the social norms
D) only people with the strongest moral self-identities will conform to the social norms

Question 23

Behaviors that appear morally justifiable ________.

A) can be used for unethical purposes
B) are usually a screen to cancel unethical behavior
C) are never used to justify unethical actions
D) cannot be used for ethical purposes

Question 24

A person at the highest level of moral development ________.

A) is primarily motivated by self-interest
B) will deviate from ethical principle to avoid physical punishment
C) is incapable of deviating from social norms
D) may risk social rejection to achieve an important ethical objective

Question 25

Effective leaders ________.

A) dwell upon a project's risks
B) emphasize what can be accomplished
C) motivate individual action rather than shared efforts
D) focus attention on the obstacles in the organization's path

Question 26

Moral ________ refers to the capacity to elaborate and effectively attend to, store, retrieve, process, and make meaning of morally relevant information.

A) conation
B) maturation
C) transparency
D) spiritualism

Question 27

If an obvious crisis already exists for the group or organization, expressing doubts and sharing complete information ________.

A) can create panic and ensure failure
B) is the only ethical course of action
C) will guarantee the success of the project
D) is expected but impossible

Question 28

Judgments about ethical leadership ________ across cultures.

A) vary somewhat
B) are identical
C) share no commonality
D) cannot be compared

Question 29

According to Kohlberg, at the lowest level of moral development, the primary motivation is the ________.

A) satisfaction of role expectations
B) satisfaction of personal needs
C) fulfillment of internalized values
D) fulfillment of moral principles

Question 30

It is easier to evaluate ethical leadership when the interests of the leader, the followers, and the organization ________.

A) are incompatible
B) can be achieved with risky actions
C) require costly actions to attain
D) are congruent

Question 31

If in a person's moral identity formalism is more important, the person will ________.

A) be inclined to obey rules
B) be unable to follow policy
C) primarily be concerned with consequences
D) violate formal laws to result in benefits for others

Question 32

Moral development ________.

A) is inevitable
B) follows the same path as physical maturation
C) is unavoidable
D) may result in a person becoming fixated at a particular development stage

Question 33

Which of the following is NOT a behavior that is usually considered unethical in Western nations?

A) falsifying information
B) stealing assets for personal use
C) provoking unnecessary hostility and distrust among others
D) accepting responsibility for one's own mistakes

Question 34

Which of the following appears MOST ethical?

A) supporting the faction that will provide the highest personal gain for the leader
B) playing stakeholders off against each other (e.g., by encouraging negative stereotyping and mutual distrust)
C) balancing the interests of different stakeholders within the constraints imposed by legal and contractual obligations
D) trying to ignore substantive conflicts of interest

Question 35

Behaviors commonly regarded as morally justifiable include ________.

A) failing to observe the rules and standards one applies to others
B) using kindness to gain the trust of people who will later be exploited
C) honoring promises and commitments
D) blaming others for one's mistakes

Question 36

Elements of moral ________ include moral courage, moral efficacy, and moral ownership.

A) conation
B) maturation
C) transparency
D) spiritualism

Question 37

Leaders who have ________ are more likely to resist the temptation to use their power to exploit others.

A) a socialized power orientation
B) low conscientiousness
C) high neuroticism
D) high narcissism

Question 38

Ethical dilemmas are involved in all of the following EXCEPT ________.

A) creating enthusiasm for a risky strategy or project
B) influencing decisions that will benefit some people at the expense of others
C) proposing a project that will require hard work and dedication to achieve
D) inducing followers to change their underlying beliefs and values

Question 39

It is more difficult to evaluate ethical leadership when ________.

A) the actions that serve the interests of some followers also serve the interests of other followers
B) various stakeholder values and interests are in synch
C) stakeholders have incompatible preferences
D) the same action that benefits followers now also benefits followers later

Question 40

The traditional perspective is that ________ in business organizations are agents who represent the interest of the ________ in achieving economic success for the organization.

A) managers; owners
B) managers; employees
C) employees; owners
D) employees; managers

Question 41

When a corporation is facing difficult economic problems and cuts in expenses are necessary to remain profitable, it is very difficult for a(n) ________ leader to balance the competing preferences of owners and employees.

A) transforming
B) servant
C) spiritual
D) authentic

Question 42

Unethical behavior is more likely when ________.

A) performance goals are realistically difficult
B) there is little pressure for increased productivity
C) there is intense competition for rewards and advancement
D) the organization has strong cultural values and norms about ethical conduct and individual responsibility

Question 43

Which is NOT a core component of authentic leadership?

A) self-awareness
B) balanced processing of information
C) relational transparency
D) externalized moral component

Question 44

The ethical ________ describes the shared perceptions of members regarding the organization's ethical practices and procedures.

A) culture
B) climate
C) conation
D) cognition

Question 45

A(n) ________ environment and a lack of strong regulation by government may encourage more ________ intended to improve financial performance.

A) dynamic; risky decisions
B) stable; illegal activities
C) static; unsafe choices
D) uncertain; ethical deeds

Question 46

In which form of leadership do leaders seek to raise the consciousness of followers by appealing to ideals and moral values such as liberty, justice, equality, peace, and humanitarianism, not to baser emotions such as fear, greed, jealousy, or hatred?

A) transforming
B) servant
C) spiritual
D) authentic

Question 47

Which of the following is NOT a way to limit executive power?

A) having an independent board of directors
B) enacting procedures for evaluation of leaders
C) banning term limits for leaders
D) employing procedures for appealing decisions made by leaders

Question 48

In research on ethical leadership, consequences are more often assessed for ________ rather than for ________.

A) measures of organizational performance; employees
B) employees; measures of organizational performance
C) outside stakeholders; perceptions of organizational culture
D) perceptions of organizational culture; outside stakeholders

Question 49

When higher employee trust and commitment also result in improved financial performance for the organization, effects at the individual and organizational level are ________.

A) negative
B) unrelated
C) consistent
D) inconsistent

Question 50

The ethical ________ pertains to ethical beliefs, values, and assumptions of organizational members that define a set of standards for ethical behavior.

A) culture
B) climate
C) conation
D) cognition

Question 51

In his conception of servant leadership, Greenleaf proposed that providing meaningful work for employees is ________ providing a quality product or service for the customer.

A) less important than
B) more important than
C) equally as important as
D) irrelevant, as long as the organization is

Question 52

________ is manifest in a sense of "calling" or destiny, and the belief that one's activities, including work, have meaning and value beyond being instrumental for obtaining economic benefits or self-gratification.

A) Fellowship
B) Religion
C) Transcendence
D) Authenticity

Question 53

________ leadership in the workplace is about helping others to accomplish shared objectives by facilitating individual development, empowerment, and collective work that is consistent with the health and long-term welfare of followers.

A) Transforming
B) Servant
C) Spiritual
D) Authentic

Question 54

Which is NOT an example of an unethical process used to inflate profits?

A) billing customers for services that were not provided
B) falsifying the qualification of applicants for loans or mortgages they are not be able to repay
C) marketing securities with inflated quality ratings
D) performing less maintenance of equipment, despite the increased risk of costly breakdowns or accidents in the future

Question 55

Moral ________ refers to the saliency and strength of the issue.

A) conation
B) denotation
C) intensity
D) maturation

Question 56

________ may be the major reason why most earlier leadership theories did not include spirituality.

A) Confusion about the difference between spirituality and religion
B) The fact that spirituality needs religion to be meaningful
C) A desire to support one favored religion
D) Its inability to enhance motivation in followers

Question 57

Unethical leadership is LEAST likely in which of the following situations?

A) Followers possess self-esteem and self-efficacy.
B) Followers believe that obedience to formal authority is necessary.
C) Violence is prevalent.
D) Corruption of officials is widespread.

Question 58

Which statement about transforming leadership is true?

A) It may only be exhibited by the highest-level leadership in an organization.
B) It may involve influencing superiors.
C) It may not involve influencing peers.
D) It cannot occur in the day-to-day acts of ordinary people.

Question 59

The follower consequences associated with abusive supervision include more ________.

A) aggressive behavior toward the organization
B) job satisfaction
C) organizational commitment
D) organizational citizenship behavior

Question 60

Moral intensity has been shown to ________.

A) not be a key situational determinant of ethical behavior
B) decrease a person's willingness to engage in questionable accounting practices
C) decrease a person's willingness to engage in whistleblowing behaviors
D) decrease the amount of emotional exhaustion experienced after making a decision

Question 61

Personal integrity is an attribute that involves honesty and consistency of behavior with espoused values.

Question 62

According to Kohlberg, the highest level of moral development involves satisfying role expectations and social norms determined by groups, organizations, and society.

Question 63

It is much easier for managers to oppose unethical practices when there is strong and ________ support for such opposition and the standards for unacceptable behavior are ________.

A) explicit; ambiguous
B) implicit; ambiguous
C) explicit; clear
D) implicit; clear

Question 64

The theories of ethical and values-based leadership have more emphasis on ________, and more emphasis on ________.

A) leader behavior than on leader values; consequences for stakeholders than on enhancement of subordinate motivation and performance
B) leader behavior than on leader values; enhancement of subordinate motivation and performance than on consequences for stakeholders
C) leader values than on leader behavior; consequences for stakeholders than on enhancement of subordinate motivation and performance
D) leader values than on leader behavior; enhancement of subordinate motivation and performance than on consequences for stakeholders

Question 65

Which core component of authentic leadership involves the fact that authentic leaders welcome and seek out feedback and use it to make informed decisions without becoming overly defensive?

A) self-awareness
B) balanced processing of information
C) relational transparency
D) internalized moral component

Question 66

One basis for evaluating ethical leadership is how the leader influences follower perception of the risks and prospects for success when introducing new ventures or projects.

Question 67

Which of the following is an example of transformation behavior being used in a manipulative way?

A) Individualized consideration can be used in an inauthentic way to build subordinate loyalty to the leader and make it easier to exploit a subordinate.
B) Inspirational motivation can be used to increase subordinate task commitment and performance even if the leader cares only about personal career advancement.
C) Intellectual stimulation can be used to increase creative ideas that the leader will claim credit for to enhance the leader's reputation.
D) Idealized influence including leading by example and making sacrifices can be used to express a leader's true concern for the mission or subordinates.

Question 68

Early theories of transformational leadership emphasized the importance of leader decisions and actions that are consistent with moral principles.

Question 69

Concerning the criterion communication of relevant information, which is an example of unethical leadership?

A) using deception and distortion to bias follower perceptions
B) discouraging and suppressing any criticism or dissent
C) attempting to sell a personal vision as the only way for the organization to succeed
D) favoring stakeholders who can provide more benefits

Question 70

Getting agreement about desirable moral principles is surprisingly simple even for values and principles that differ across cultures.

Question 71

In theories of servant, spiritual, and authentic leadership, the leader's values for humility, openness, and transparency in decision making and the emphasis on follower development and empowerment ________ the leader will be viewed as charismatic.

A) make it unlikely that
B) ensure that
C) are not related to whether
D) cannot be considered when determining if

Question 72

In cross-cultural research on the essential traits for effective leadership, integrity is near the top of the list in all cultures that have been studied.

Question 73

Leader behaviors that appear morally justifiable can sometimes be used for unethical purposes.

Question 74

The theory of servant leadership proposes that service to customers is the primary responsibility of leaders.

Question 75

Which statement about theories of ethical and value-based leadership is NOT true?

A) Ethical leaders can improve the lives of followers.
B) Ethical leaders' effects on followers have implications for improving collective performance.
C) The types of values emphasized in the ethical leadership theories indicate that some types of leadership behavior are more relevant than others and should be consistent with the leader's values.
D) Ethical leaders' primary concern is maximizing performance.

Question 76

Authentic leadership theory emphasizes consistency among a leader's values, words, and actions.

Question 77

Recent meta-analysis found that ________ leadership showed more promise as a standalone theory.

A) authentic
B) ethical
C) servant
D) transformational

Question 78

Spiritual leadership is based on positive psychology and psychological theories of self-regulation.

Question 79

Which of the following is NOT an example of a way for leaders to promote ethical practices?

A) Set clear standards for ethical conduct.
B) Model ethical behavior in your own actions.
C) Help people find fair and ethical ways to resolve problems and conflicts.
D) Ignore unethical practices in the organization.

Question 80

Relational transparency ________.

A) avoids sharing one's thoughts and feelings openly
B) involves disclosures that would be inappropriate for the workplace
C) involves the presentation to others of the leader's true self
D) means yielding to the temptation to misrepresent oneself for personal gain