Deck 2: Accountants Ethical Decision Process and Professional Judgment

Question 1

The actions of Sherron Watkins in the Enron case appears to reflect each of the following except for:

A)Moral sensitivity
B)Egoism
C)Enlightened egoism
D)Professional skepticism

Answer 1

D

Question 2

The cognitive development approach refers to:

A)The thought process followed in one's moral development
B)The method of moral reasoning used in decision making
C)The exercise of professional judgment in decision making
D)All of the above

Answer 2

A

Question 3

Kohlberg's model can best be described as:

A)The various phases in one's moral development and related levels of moral reasoning
B)A model of ethical action that is based on one's moral development
C)A predictive tool to determine how a person will reason ethically based on one's moral development
D)A model of age-specific levels of moral reasoning

Answer 3

A

Question 4

In the "Heinz and the Drug" case described in the chapter, Heinz's actions falls into which of Kohlberg's stages?

A)Stage 1
B)Stage 2
C)Stage 3
D)Stage 4

Question 5

In stage 3 of Kohlberg's model, ethical reasoning is motivated by:

A)Satisfaction of one's needs
B)Acting in the best interests of others
C)Upholding the rights, values, and legal contracts of society
D)Acting based on universal principles

Question 6

Thorne's "Integrated Model of Ethical Decision Making" can best be described as:

A)A depiction of a model of moral development
B)A depiction of how the Principles in the AICPA Code of Professional Conduct influences decision making
C)A model of the role of virtue in decision making
D)A model of the role of moral development and virtue in decision making

Question 7

In the DigitPrint case, at which stage does Wally Wonderful reason if he insists on compliance with GAAP?

A)Stage 2
B)Stage 3
C)Stage 4
D)Stage 5

Question 8

An ethical tone at the top can best be described as:

A)Establishing an ethical culture within an organization
B)Honesty exercised by top management
C)Consistency in decision making
D)Exercising professional skepticism when approaching an audit

Question 9

Professional skepticism means:

A)Approaching the audit with an independent attitude
B)Approaching the audit with a questioning mind
C)Being objective in decision making
D)Maintaining one's integrity

Question 10

Individuals who reason at stage 6 incorporate ethical reasoning based on:

A)The morality of law and duty to the social order
B)A rational calculation of benefits and harms to society
C)Universal ethical principles
D)All of the above

Question 11

Assume you were assigned a term paper and decided to surf the web to identify a provider of papers for a fee.You chose what you thought was the best paper available.With respect to Rest's model of morality it can be said that:

A)Your actions lack moral sensitivity
B)You are reasoning at stage 1
C)You are making judgments based on the utilitarian method
D)You lack the courage of your convictions

Question 12

The failure of Andersen's audit of Enron can be attributed to all of the following except for:

A)Failure to approach the audit with professional skepticism
B)Lack of audit independence
C)Failure to assign a sufficient number of staff to the audit
D)Having a conflict of interests

Question 13

Each of the following is an element of Rest's model of morality except for:

A)Moral sensitivity
B)One's stage of ethical development
C)Moral motivation
D)One's courage in making decisions

Question 14

In stage 1 of Kohlberg's model, ethical reasoning is motivated by:

A)Fear of punishment
B)Satisfaction of one's needs
C)Following the law
D)Acting based on universal ethical principles

Question 15

The results of studies indicate that CPAs reason primarily at:

A)Stages 1 and 2
B)Stages 2 and 3
C)Stages 3 and 4
D)Stages 4 and 5

Question 16

Professional judgment in accounting includes each of the following attributes except for:

A)Exercising due care in carrying out one's professional responsibilities
B)Maintaining one's objectivity in decision making
C)Maintaining one's integrity in decision making
D)Acting in accordance with the moral point of view

Question 17

Rest's "Four Component Model of Morality" can best be described as:

A)A description of the values that influence ethical decision making
B)A model of the relationship between ethical action and one's level of moral development
C)A model of moral judgment based on one's possession of certain virtues of behavior
D)All of the above

Question 18

The ethical domain in accounting and auditing refers to:

A)The important constituent groups affected by accounting and auditing work
B)The stages of the moral development of accountants and auditors
C)The decision making process followed by accountants and auditors
D)All of the above

Question 19

In stage 5 of Kohlberg's model, ethical reasoning is motivated by:

A)Acting in the best interests of others
B)Following the law
C)Upholding the rights, values, and legal contracts of society
D)Acting based on universal principles

Question 20

Heinz stole the drug because:

A)He loved his wife
B)He couldn't come up with all the money to pay for it
C)He was afraid his wife would die without the drug
D)All of the above

Question 21

How does Gilligan evaluate the solution to Heinz's dilemma?

A)Women think saving a life is more important than keeping the law.
B)Men think keeping the law is more important than saving a life.
C)Men tend to think in terms of justice, and women in terms of caring.
D)Men misunderstand and women understand.

Question 22

Wanda is faced with an ethical dilemma.She knows her supervisor, the CFO, wants to accelerate the recoding of revenue to an earlier period to "make the numbers," but Wanda is convinced this would violate GAAP.If Wanda reasons at stage 4 of Kohlberg's model she is most likely to:

A)Make a decision based on what is in her own best interests
B)Consider the interests of the stakeholders but decide based on what is in her best interests
C)Refuse to record the transaction as desired by the CFO
D)Inform the board of directors of the difference of opinion with the CFO

Question 23

Each of the following is an element of the operational issues to be considered in the decision making model except for the:

A)Culture of the organization
B)Method of moral reasoning
C)Internal controls
D)Corporate governance system

Question 24

At which stage of Kohlberg's view on ethical development is an individual's actions influenced by group norms?

A)Stage 1
B)Stage 2
C)Stage 3
D)Stage 4

Question 25

Steve is in charge of accounting for the purchase of equipment at Cal Works, Inc.The company has a policy that all expenditures greater than $1,000 must be capitalized.Steve is under pressure from his supervisor to minimize capital expenditures less than $1,000 to keep earnings as high as possible.Steve decides to take two separate expenditures - one for $600 and the other for $900 - and he groups them into one expenditure so that the capitalization rules apply.Steve's actions can be characterized as:

A)Lacking in of moral sensitivity
B)Lacking in professional skepticism
C)Loyal to the company's best interests
D)All of the above

Question 26

In Thorne's model of ethical decision making, the instrumental virtues relate to:

A)Moral sensitivity
B)Ethical reasoning
C)Ethical motivation
D)Ethical character

Question 27

In the development of a scale to measure professional skepticism, Hurtt, Eining and Plumlee identified the following three characteristics of skepticism that deal with examining evidence:

A)A questioning mind, the suspension of judgment, and an independent attitude
B)A questioning mind, the search for knowledge and an independent attitude
C)A questioning mind, the suspension of judgment and the search for knowledge
D)The suspension of judgment, the search for knowledge and an independent attitude

Question 28

In the Faulty Budget case, Jackson Daniels should:

A)Wait to see if his budget numbers are met and, if not, inform top management of the error at that time
B)Cover up the error in the budget forecast
C)Let his friend, Jonathan Walker, explain the mistake to top management
D)Admit his mistake to top management at the earliest possible time

Question 29

Keesha is the CEO of a publicly-owned company.She was informed by the CFO that the company's earnings were down 30 percent from the prior year due to the recession.The company's stock price has declined by 20 percent.The CFO comes up with a scheme to hide debt and inflate revenues by selling underperforming assets to a special purpose entity affiliated with the company.Keesha is concerned about possible affects on the creditors but ultimately she agrees to the accounting.Keesha is reasoning at:

A)Stage 1
B)Stage 2
C)Stage 3
D)Stage 4

Question 30

Role expectation or approval from others is a motive for doing right is which state of Kohlberg's moral reasoning?

A)Fairness to others
B)Obedience
C)Self-chosen principles
D)Law and order

Question 31

Rosie is the external auditor of Texas Two Steps, a privately-owned dance company in Texas.Rosie believes the owner of the company is skimming cash off the top.She approaches the owner who explains that the money will be replaced in the following month after he refinances his house.Rosie accepts the owner's explanation but reclassifies the expenditure as a receivable of the company from Rosie.Rosie's reasoning best reflects:

A)Stage 1
B)Stage 2
C)Stage 3
D)Stage 4

Question 32

The importance of framing the ethical issue in the decision making model is:

A)Identify the stakeholders affected by intended actions
B)Evaluating alternative courses of action using moral reasoning methods
C)Identify the accounting issues present in a case
D)Providing a perspective to apply the decision making model to specific facts of the case

Question 33

The need to exercise professional skepticism in auditing can be linked to:

A)Maintaining an attitude of independence in decision making
B)Considering and responding to the risk of material misstatement in the financial statements due to fraud
C)Considering and responding to pressures that might be imposed on auditors in decision making
D)All of the above

Question 34

Rest's components of a moral model include all but

A)Moral sensitivity
B)Moral development
C)Moral judgment
D)Moral character

Question 35

The 2008 inspections of CPA firms that audit public companies indicated that:

A)CPAs reason at stages 3 and 4 in Kohlberg's model
B)A lack of professional skepticism is a serious problem for auditors
C)The selection of audit procedures is a serious problem for auditors
D)A lack of professional skepticism and the selection of audit procedures are serious problems for auditors

Question 36

Each of the following considerations should help to evaluate alternative courses of action in the decision making model except for:

A)Whether the alternatives are consistent with professional standards
B)Whether the alternatives are consistent with firm policies and its own code of ethics
C)The stage of moral development of the decision maker
D)The potential harms and benefits of alternative courses of action

Question 37

In Cherron and Lowe's study of the link between professional skepticism and management accountants, the authors identified the importance of:

A)Understanding the motivation and integrity of evidence providers
B)Understanding the nature of the corporate culture
C)Understanding the way in which decisions are made
D)All of the above

Question 38

Leroy audits the financial statements of a small business.During the course of his audit he notices that all five members of top management have purchased new BMWs.Given that each manager's salary is less than $100,000 per year, Leroy becomes suspicious about how all five of them were able to buy such an expensive automobile.He decides to double check the bank statements for the year and postings to expense accounts that might indicate improper expenditures.Leroy's actions demonstrate:

A)Professional skepticism
B)Objective decision making
C)Due care
D)All of the above

Question 39

In Kohlberg's six stages of moral development, the stage that follows obedience in the pre-conventional stage is:

A)Social order
B)Fairness to others
C)Law and order
D)Self-chosen principles

Question 40

The ethical decision making model described in the chapter helps to:

A)Organize the various elements of ethical reasoning and professional judgment
B)Evaluate stakeholder interests using ethical reasoning
C)Identify and select alternative courses of action
D)All of the above

Question 41

The case titled "Expectations for Professional Judgment by Auditors to Detect Fraud" suggests that:

A)Fraud is a common element of audits.
B)Auditors always detect fraud if they follow professional standards.
C)Even an audit in accordance with professional standards can fail to detect a material fraud in the financial statements, particularly where management has gone to great lengths to cover up the fraud.
D)Auditors should not be expected to uncover fraud since management always has the upper hand with respect to financial statement matters.

Question 42

The Better Boston beans case emphasizes each of the following pillars of character except for:

A)Objectivity
B)Responsibility
C)Due care
D)Empathy

Question 43

What needs to be coupled with moral motivation to act on moral judgment?

A)Courage
B)External pressures
C)Loyalty
D)Internal pressures

Question 44

Kohlberg's model suggests that a person

A)is morally developed early in life and will not change
B)continues to change decision priorities with education and experiences
C)may change up or down one stage upon becoming an adult
D)may only go backwards through the stages upon becoming an adult

Question 45

Moral sensitivity can be summarized as

A)Being able to think of others first
B)Being able to identify the best course of action
C)Being able to identify an ethical situation
D)Being able to react quickly

Question 46

In the case of Eating Time, what is the ethical dilemma facing Kevin Lowe?

A)Quality of work versus integrity.
B)Integrity versus loyalty to the firm.
C)Quality of work versus loyalty to the firm.
D)Trust of a co-worker versus quality of work.

Question 47

The ethical dilemma for Brenda in "The Tax Return" case can best be described as a:

A)Conflict between loyalty to one's supervisor and doing the right thing
B)Conflict between reporting an item of taxable income and ignoring it
C)Lack of independence due to ties to the client entity
D)All of the above

Question 48

The "Milton Manufacturing" case illustrates:

A)What can go wrong when a company sets a policy that potentially harms one area of its operations
B)How the failure to exercise professional skepticism can cloud objective judgment
C)The pressure that can be placed on accountants by top management
D)All of the above

Question 49

In the case of Better Boston Beans, what is the ethical dilemma facing Cindie?

A)Loyalty of co-worker versus trust of co-worker.
B)Trust of co-worker versus honesty of the workplace.
C)Honesty of the workplace versus privacy of an individual.
D)Privacy of an individual versus loyalty of co-worker.

Question 50

What should be the first step in decision making when faced with an ethical dilemma?

A)Choose an ethical theory to follow.
B)Discuss with others your options.
C)Get the facts surrounding the problem.
D)Determine consequences.

Question 51

The main accounting issue in the Juggyfroot case is:

A)How to account for prepaid capacity
B)How to account for and report special purpose entities
C)How to account for inventory declines
D)How to account for investments in marketable securities

Question 52

What are the implications of reasoning at stages 3 and 4?

A)A CPA unable to apply technical accounting standards is unlikely to be influenced by others.
B)A CPA is unlikely to be influenced by rules or authority.
C)A CPA is unlikely to be influenced or give into pressures.
D)A CPA unable to apply technical accounting standards is likely to be influenced by others.

Question 53

What is the ethical dilemma in Supreme Designs?

A)Compensation to executives of a company.
B)Cover up of fraud.
C)Insubordination of an employee.
D)Unapproved loans to executives.
Essay Questions

Question 54

Kevin Greenberg's actions in the "Supreme Designs" case can be said to have been:

A)Selfish, in that he only thought of his own interests
B)Disloyal to the company
C)Unethical because he wrote checks to himself for unauthorized checks
D)Undertaken with the intent to help out his supervisor

Question 55

Cynthia Cooper's actions in the WorldCom case can be best characterized as demonstrating:

A)Persistence, due care, and independence
B)Persistence, due care and courage
C)Independence, courage, and loyalty
D)Persistence, due care, and loyalty

Question 56

Richard does his homework as soon as he gets home from school because of fear that his mother will not allow him to go outside.Which stage of Kohlberg's moral development is Richard?

A)Pre-conventional
B)Post-conventional
C)Conventional
D)Unconventional

Question 57

In the Phar-Mor case, Pat Finn's actions reflect ethical reasoning at what stage?

A)Stage 1
B)Stage 2
C)Stage 3
D)Stage 4

Question 58

What is the social responsibility of business according to Milton Friedman?

A)Protecting interests of the environment
B)Protecting interests of all stakeholders
C)Protecting interest to increase profits
D)Protecting interests of shareholders

Question 59

A key element in the Imperial Valley Thrift & Loan case is whether the auditors:

A)Were independent of Imperial Valley
B)Exercised the appropriate level of professional skepticism
C)Will give in to the pressure by the CPA firm to go along with the client
D)All of the above

Question 60

Kevin Lowe's ethical dilemma in the "Eating Time" case can best be described as whether to:

A)Inform his supervisor about a lack of diligence of other staff accountants
B)Date another staff member of the CPA firm
C)Devote time on an audit and not charge it to the job
D)Quit his job because he can't meet the firm's expected quality of work

Question 61

Compare and contrast the steps taken by Sherron Watkins and Cynthia Cooper in bringing their concerns to top management.

Question 62

Use the decision making process to evaluate the actions of Cynthia Cooper as described in case 1.

Question 63

As a professional working for a large electronics firm, Stan found himself riding a roller coaster of concern about lay-offs.Every few years, top management slashed jobs as work slacked off - only to hire again when things were looking up.So when Stan and his team members noticed that the executives were again meeting behind closed doors, they suspected the worst.
Stan's boss revealed to Stan that Stan's team member Jim was slated to lose his job.However, it was made plain that Stan was to keep that information confidential.
Not long after that conversation, Jim approached Stan and asked whether he could confirm the rumor that he would be laid off.
What should Stan do? With what values is Stan dealing? What are the consequences of Stan's choices?

Question 64

Explain each of the four components of Rest's Model of Morality.

Question 65

Why is it important for management accountants to adopt an attitude of professional skepticism?

Question 66

Describe the elements of professional judgment that support ethical decision making.

Question 67

How does the "ethical domain" in accounting and auditing influence professional judgment?

Question 68

Describe the components of the decision making process presented in the chapter.

Question 69

Distinguish between each stage of ethical reasoning in Kohlberg's Model of Moral Development.

Question 70

As an executive in a mid-sized manufacturing firm, Cal finds himself thrown together with Harry, who works for a unit Cal oversees.He and Harry are in the same community; their children are in the same schools; they often show up at the same social functions; and they play golf together fairly frequently.
One day, to Cal's deep dismay, he hears that Harry had been implicated in some financial irregularities at work.The issues while serious lease some room for doubt.There is reason to think Harry got ensnared by regulations, though he may have afterwards tried to cover up that entanglement by being less than forthright.Yet after what Cal observes to be a careful audit and investigation, Harry is let go from his job.
Harry comes to Cal and asks for a letter of recommendation.
What should Cal do? What are the consequences of the options?

Question 71

At which stage of moral development are most accountants and auditors with respect to their decision making? What factors are responsible for their being at that stage?

Question 72

Explain how virtue interacts with moral development in Thorne's Integrated Model of Ethical Decision Making.