Deck 9: Business Ethics and Technology

Question 1

At this time,a majority of companies have strict policies against using a cell phone while driving.

Answer 1

False

Question 2

A survey of Fortune 500 nonmanagement employees shows that workers do not want managers telling them how to use computers in an ethical manner.

Answer 2

False

Question 3

Human cloning is illegal in the United States.

Answer 3

False

Question 4

Although companies have begun to extensively monitor employees' e-mail usage,little disciplinary action has been taken against workers who misuse the Internet.

Question 5

One of the main reasons that we have experienced technological harms is that some technologies were implemented without much thought given to possible side effects.

Question 6

People who express concerns about the ethical issues involved in technological advances are generally against the use of technology.

Question 7

Business-to-consumer (B2C)transactions are anticipated to be the greatest area of e-commerce growth in the coming years.

Question 8

Employers' monitoring of workers is not limited to their use of computers and the Internet.

Question 9

The real danger in the debate over embryonic stem cell research is the tendency to treat the cells as "property."

Question 10

Plaintiffs who have been injured by drivers talking on cell phones are holding the drivers' employers responsible as well.

Question 11

The technology related to the Internet has shifted the burden onto individual employees to monitor their own workplace activities.

Question 12

The revolution in biotechnology is a result of DNA research.

Question 13

A business's technological environment represents the total set of technology-based advancements or progress taking place in society.

Question 14

Studies have shown that drivers who are talking on cell phones have slower reaction times than drivers who are legally drunk.

Question 15

Genetic profiling,which provides a perfect means for identifying a person,raises questions of privacy and possible discrimination.

Question 16

One of the primary problems associated with electronic commerce has been the proliferation of online scams.

Question 17

Technology has benefited society with no associated ill effects.

Question 18

Chief Privacy Officers (CPOs)are now primarily using a narrow,legal-compliance approach to privacy issues.

Question 19

Companies monitor employees' email activities because that is the only way that managers can observe the effects of their subordinates' messages.

Question 20

Surveys in the United States show that people are about evenly split on the idea of human cloning.

Question 21

Which of the following is not a symptom of technological intoxication?

A)We favor the quick fix.
B)We fear and worship technology.
C)We become satisfied with the level of available technology.
D)We blur the distinction between what is real and what is fake.

Question 22

Ethical lag is a situation in which

A)scientists have not been schooled in moral philosophy.
B)the speed of technological change far exceed that of ethical development.
C)technology takes the place of ethical deliberation.
D)computer programs are not developed with an ethics loop.

Question 23

With regard to data security,data breaches are on the rise.

Question 24

All of the following are symptoms of technological intoxication except

A)accepting violence as normal.
B)loving technology as a toy.
C)relying on technology to accelerate production.
D)living our lives distanced and distracted.

Question 25

The number one ethical issue in doing business over the Internet is

A)intellectual property.
B)pornography.
C)possible invasion of privacy.
D)security of financial information.

Question 26

Which of the following is not an undesirable side effect of technology?

A)environmental pollution
B)creation of unsatisfying work
C)clash of cultural and religious forces
D)depletion of natural resources

Question 27

Privacy and informed consent are issues that

A)are the same whether one is surfing the Web or visiting the local hardware store.
B)are always readily apparent to users of the Internet.
C)are of little importance to consumers of e-commerce.
D)become even more important on the Internet than in brick-and-mortar businesses.

Question 28

Advances in information technology and biotechnology are

A)slowing down.
B)accelerating.
C)occurring mainly in the United States.
D)being used primarily to improve the lives of people in developing countries.

Question 29

Selling products and services online is known as

A)e-commerce.
B)e-marketing.
C)electronic persuasion.
D)simulated marketing.

Question 30

"Access" in e-commerce ethics refers to

A)the difference in computer availability between the rich and the poor.
B)the ability to download certain types of privately-owned knowledge.
C)children's ability to visit certain websites.
D)companies' ability to gain information about consumers' private lives.

Question 31

Technology has benefited society in all of the following ways except

A)increasing production.
B)reducing the amount of labor needed to produce goods and services.
C)raising the standard of living.
D)improving the sustainability of life on Earth.

Question 32

An extreme concern in the realm of privacy issues is

A)identity theft.
B)DNA duplication.
C)theft of intellectual property.
D)the distinction between "opting in" versus "opting out."

Question 33

Our world is currently dominated by

A)industrial technology.
B)robotics.
C)information technology and biotechnology.
D)spiritual technology.

Question 34

Companies use technology through the use of cookies and spam to invade consumer privacy.

Question 35

Which of the following is not a valid definition of technology?

A)the totality of the means employed to provide objects necessary for human sustenance and comfort
B)a scientific method used in achieving a practical purpose
C)all the ways people use their inventions and discoveries to satisfy their needs and desires
D)the science of replacing human effort with mechanical power

Question 36

Copyrighted material,such as songs or poems,are often referred to as

A)e-commerce.
B)legally protected digitals.
C)intellectual property.
D)downloadables.

Question 37

Technology is

A)the scientific method used in achieving a practical purpose.
B)the science of replacing human effort with mechanical power.
C)used primarily in the computer field.
D)the opposite of art.

Question 38

One of the most serious invasion of privacy issues with respect to e-commerce is

A)access to pornography sites.
B)downloading copyrighted material.
C)collection and use of personal information.
D)sharing medical information with unauthorized users.

Question 39

The imperative that states "what can be developed will be developed" is

A)economic determinism.
B)technological determinism.
C)the iron law of technology.
D)rationality.

Question 40

Technology has advanced ____ society's capacity to grasp its consequences.

A)slower than
B)faster than
C)only with
D)at about the same rate as

Question 41

Employees typically have a(n)____ impression of technology's impact in the workplace.

A)positive
B)negative
C)false
D)uninformed

Question 42

Users of technology in the workplace indicate that all of the following are benefits except

A)expanding job-related knowledge.
B)relieving job stress.
C)improving communication with clients and customers.
D)allowing more leisure time.

Question 43

The most intensely monitored employee activities are

A)productivity and break times.
B)alcohol and tobacco consumption.
C)e-mail and Internet usage.
D)break times and absenteeism.

Question 44

A major concern for employers is their workers' use of cell phones

A)to photograph sensitive sales documents.
B)to record private employee records.
C)while driving.
D)to converse with friends,instead of performing their duties.

Question 45

Surveillance of employees has been shown to increase

A)attendance.
B)absenteeism.
C)stress.
D)productivity.

Question 46

All of the following are commandments of computer ethics except

A)Thou shalt not use the company's computer for personal business.
B)Thou shalt not snoop around in other people's computer files.
C)Thou shalt not copy or use proprietary software for which you have not paid.
D)Thou shalt not appropriate other people's intellectual output.

Question 47

Bioethics deals with the ethical issues embedded in

A)human and animal cloning.
B)embryonic stem cell research.
C)extraordinary means to prolong life.
D)the use of biotechnology.

Question 48

Which of the following is not one of the Ten Commandments of Computer Ethics?

A)Thou shalt not use a computer to harm other people.
B)Thou shalt not use a computer to steal.
C)Thou shalt not use a computer to bear false witness.
D)Thou shalt not use a computer to spy on fellow employees.

Question 49

Developing Internet policies,helping their companies avoid consumer litigation,and handling consumer complaints are all functions of a

A)chief executive officer (CEO).
B)chief operating officer (COO).
C)chief financial officer (CFO).
D)chief privacy officer (CPO).

Question 50

The major issue related to electronic surveillance is

A)productivity.
B)invasion of privacy.
C)company loyalty.
D)legality.

Question 51

The use of electronic means by a company to watch or monitor its employees is called

A)management.
B)control.
C)surveillance.
D)mentoring.

Question 52

One of the primary reasons that companies check up on their employees is

A)the prevalence of employee theft.
B)concern over revealing trade secrets.
C)lack of worker productivity.
D)the availability of inexpensive technologies.

Question 53

A technique that lures prey into revealing passwords and other private data by providing a convincing offer is called

A)mining.
B)phishing.
C)data trapping.
D)ultra-collecting.

Question 54

The most significant obstacle to the use of biotechnology is

A)fear that the technology will not work.
B)the potential for public backlash.
C)lack of funds to support research.
D)government requirements for prolonged tests on human subjects.

Question 55

Surveillance and security by use of computer technology got a big boost as a result of

A)lower costs.
B)enhanced resolution of digital photos.
C)relaxation of rules governing international travel.
D)the terrorist attacks of September 11,2001.

Question 56

Ways that companies can address issues related to the ethical use of technology include all of the following except

A)management dictate.
B)use of the Information Systems Society's code of ethics.
C)relying on local and federal laws.
D)collaboration between managers and workers.

Question 57

Few applications of biotechnology will come in the fields of

A)health care.
B)sports medicine.
C)pharmaceuticals.
D)agriculture.

Question 58

Using biology to discover,develop,manufacture,market,and sell products and services is called

A)bioethics.
B)biotechnology.
C)bionics.
D)bio-commerce.

Question 59

Which of the following is not considered a questionable business practice made possible by the Internet?

A)plagiarism
B)pornography
C)gambling
D)music downloading

Question 60

Which of the following is not a way that businesses attempt to protect consumers' privacy?

A)ethical leadership
B)privacy policies
C)periodic purges of databanks
D)chief privacy officers

Question 61

Provide a short answer to each of these questions.Be sure to fully explain your answer.
Evaluate the use of GPS to monitor the activities and locales of employees.

Question 62

Provide a short answer to each of these questions.Be sure to fully explain your answer.
Consider an anecdote of a woman renting a car in California and being charged a large penalty because she drove out of state.The rental car company had tracked her locales through a global positioning system (GPS),allegedly without telling the woman that they would be doing so.Apparently the woman was upset because she was not told about the GPS.Is the failure to tell her the main issue?
Informing a customer that she will be tracked through GPS is certainly an important component of this scenario.Because the company owns the automobile,which,by its nature,is an asset susceptible to damage,breakdown,theft,or simply getting lost,it seems reasonable for the firm to install GPS in its cars.Likewise,because cars have a limited useful life dependent,in part,on the length they are driven (not to mention that mileage is one of the factors used to determine the amount of charges),it seems reasonable to install GPS.However,is it reasonable to track the movements of a renter without telling her that you will be doing so? It seems only fair for the company to inform its renters that it will be using GPS.

Question 63

Provide a short answer to each of these questions.Be sure to fully explain your answer.
Why is protection of children an important ethical issue in the use of the Internet?

Question 64

Utilize the knowledge you have gained to respond to the following essay questions.Your answers should state your position and use logical arguments and content from this and other chapters in the textbook to support it.
Discuss the merits and shortcomings of the proposed Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act.In your opinion,should this bill be made into law?

Question 65

Provide a short answer to each of these questions.Be sure to fully explain your answer.
Evaluate the High Tech/High Touch authors' solution for technological intoxication.

Question 66

The most basic moral question involved in stem cell research is

A)what constitutes human life.
B)who "owns" the embryo.
C)the use to which the results of the research will be applied.
D)who will benefit from the research.

Question 67

Utilize the knowledge you have gained to respond to the following essay questions.Your answers should state your position and use logical arguments and content from this and other chapters in the textbook to support it.
One of the benefits of technology is that it reduces the amount of labor needed to produce a given number of goods or services.Yet evidence shows that Americans work longer hours now than at any time in our history,and we work more hours than any other country.Discuss the implications of using technology to produce more instead of working less.

Question 68

One of the main issues related to genetically modified foods (GMFs)is

A)whether the federal government will provide research funding.
B)whether the living organism can be patented.
C)labeling requirements.
D)the ability to export and import GMFs.

Question 69

All of the following are technological means by which companies invade consumer privacy except

A)cookies
B)spam
C)botnets
D)facebook

Question 70

Provide a short answer to each of these questions.Be sure to fully explain your answer.
Which of the four categories of technology's undesirable side effects is most worrisome? Why?

Question 71

Provide a short answer to each of these questions.Be sure to fully explain your answer.
Evaluate the Government's involvement in internet privacy protection.

Question 72

The Non GMO Project is:

A)non-profit collaboration of manufacturers,retailers,processors,distributors,farmers,seed companies and consumers
B)mission driven to ensure the lack of non-GMO choices
C)about everyone having limited availability of non-GMO choices
D)about genetically modified foods

Question 73

Provide a short answer to each of these questions.Be sure to fully explain your answer.
Some companies involved in biotech research hire bioethicists to monitor the ethical issues raised by their investigations.Can these bioethicists,paid by the firm doing the research,be objective?

Question 74

Provide a short answer to each of these questions.Be sure to fully explain your answer.
Discuss the benefits and problems associated with labeling genetically modified foods (GMFs).

Question 75

Utilize the knowledge you have gained to respond to the following essay questions.Your answers should state your position and use logical arguments and content from this and other chapters in the textbook to support it.
There is some question about the ethics of Internet search engine companies accepting payment from businesses interested in receiving a higher ranking in search categories.Discuss the ethical implications of this practice.Is this an ethical issue,or simply free enterprise at work?

Question 76

Utilize the knowledge you have gained to respond to the following essay questions.Your answers should state your position and use logical arguments and content from this and other chapters in the textbook to support it.
With respect to the three models of management ethics,discuss how technology might affect amoral management.

Question 77

Utilize the knowledge you have gained to respond to the following essay questions.Your answers should state your position and use logical arguments and content from this and other chapters in the textbook to support it.
Discuss the implications of the "politicalization of bioethics."

Question 78

Provide a short answer to each of these questions.Be sure to fully explain your answer.
One of the ways to make judgments about the ethical impacts of technology is to employ prevailing norms of acceptability in determining what is fair and to avoid harm.Provide a critique of using this criterion.
Using prevailing norms of acceptability to make ethical judgments about technological advances is problematic,for the simple reason that prevailing norms may not be applicable to new technologies.We currently see this in the debate over embryonic stem cell research.The key question in this debate is what constitutes human life;alternatively,when does life begin? Our prevailing norms of acceptability leave this question unanswered.We can't even use current standards to adequately answer the question of abortion,much less the less known implications of stem cell research.

Question 79

Utilize the knowledge you have gained to respond to the following essay questions.Your answers should state your position and use logical arguments and content from this and other chapters in the textbook to support it.
Provide one example of how Internet technology has threatened businesses.Explain how ethics are being violated.