Deck 8: Ethical Problems of Managers

Question 1

According to management experts, "Management by walking around" is passé in the Internet age where managers can easily communicate with employees using technology.

Answer 1

False

Question 2

Managers earn their subordinates' credibility and respect by setting clear standards, deliberately communicating those standards, and insisting that all adhere to the standards.

Answer 2

True

Question 3

Unfortunately, people do not want to believe that the world operates on the principles of fairness.

Answer 3

False

Question 4

Research finds that the intention of most dress codes is to restrict individuality and project the company image.

Question 5

Interestingly, according to a survey of executives, most respondents would rather lie to employees about performance than confront them about performance problems.

Question 6

Fortunately, those who survive company layoffs rarely exhibit negative behaviors (such as decreased productivity or low morale).

Question 7

Honest feedback is a two edge sword. Telling employees truthfully how they are performing alienates the strong performers and has a negative effect on the organization's culture.

Question 8

Given that performance evaluations have little effect on employee performance, evaluating employee performance once every 18 months is sufficient.

Question 9

Employees who perceive that they have been unfairly treated are less satisfied, less likely to go the extra mile, and more likely to steal from the organization.

Question 10

In an organization, actively engaged employees help by keeping turnover and absenteeism low, while promoting higher customer loyalty.

Question 11

Unfortunately, given diverse activities that managers are responsible for, they play a limited role in increasing employee engagement and building an ethical culture.

Question 12

According to research, the best way to encourage ethical behavior is to create an organizational culture that is built to enhance employee engagement.

Question 13

To make it easy to terminate a subordinate, ensure that you are being fair, that you deliver the news in a way that is aligned with your organization's values, and allow the employee to maintain his personal dignity.

Question 14

Discipline is important to ensure worker productivity, set standards of acceptable behaviors, and meet the requirements of the U. S. Sentencing Guidelines.

Question 15

Turkey farming is the fine art of placing poor performers alongside strong performers so that the organization benefits.

Question 16

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) received more than 93,000 workplace discrimination complaints in 2011, and monetary relief for victims totaled more than $376 million.

Question 17

Framing business decisions in ethical terms goes a long way toward increasing moral awareness, communicating your standards, and emphasizing the importance of ethical behavior.

Question 18

One of a manager's most important responsibilities is to bring good people into the organization.

Question 19

If your manager asks you to betray your ethical standards, you should respond politely but firmly that you will not compromise your standards.

Question 20

Compliments are just that, compliments, and employees too sensitive to accept them should receive sensitivity training.

Question 21

Reference: Types of Employee Engagement
a) Actively engaged
b) Not engaged
c) Actively disengaged
David is willing to put in his time at work, but he exhibits no passion or no energy for what he does.

Question 22

Reference: Types of Employee Engagement
a) Actively engaged
b) Not engaged
c) Actively disengaged
Jane frequently refuses to do work that "is not her job."

Question 23

Which of the following is false about employee engagement?

A) Employee engagement is how committed employees are to their work.
B) Actively disengaged employees have lower turnover and absenteeism.
C) Actively disengaged employees cost the US economy billions each year.
D) Engaged employees are more productive.

Question 24

Continuous performance evaluation is categorized under which of the four drivers of employee engagement?

A) Line of sight
B) Involvement
C) Information sharing
D) Rewards and recognition

Question 25

According to James Shaffer, an expert in communication and employee engagement, all of these are drivers of engagement EXCEPT:

A) mission statement.
B) involvement.
C) information sharing.
D) rewards and recognition.

Question 26

Employee with an attitude of "it's not my job" fits into which of these groups?

A) Actively engaged employees
B) Actively disengaged employees
C) Not engaged employees
D) Partially engaged employees

Question 27

How does culture get "baked in" to an organization?

Question 28

Reference: Types of Employee Engagement
a) Actively engaged
b) Not engaged
c) Actively disengaged
Don is sometime willing to go the "extra mile," but generally comes to work to do what needs to be done and to go home.

Question 29

List the four drivers of engagement and briefly describe each one.

Question 30

The best way to ensure that you are not going to be asked to compromise your values is to clearly communicate what people can expect from you.

Question 31

Sleewalking represents characteristic of which of these groups?

A) Actively engaged employees
B) Actively disengaged employees
C) Not engaged employees
D) Partially engaged employees

Question 32

You are a manager forced to layoff certain employees. What is the primary objective that should guide your treatment of these individuals?

A) To make the process as quick and painless to the company as possible.
B) To ensure the grapevine is passing truthful information.
C) To ensure layoff survivors understand why they were not chosen.
D) To allow the terminated employee to maintain personal dignity.

Question 33

Because of a family emergency, John was unable to complete a report for his boss. Instead, he asks a coworker to finish it for him and in the morning, John tells his boss that he did the report. Is there anything wrong with John's action?

A) No, because John's coworker only finished what John had started.
B) No, because John had a family emergency and his boss don't need the details. The report is done.
C) Yes, because John told a lie to his boss and put his reputation on the line.
D) Yes, because John is indebted to his coworker now.

Question 34

Reference: Types of Employee Engagement
a) Actively engaged
b) Not engaged
c) Actively disengaged
Lucy is passionate and enthusiastic about her work. She is eager to go the extra mile.

Question 35

One of the higher performing employees in your group has recently had family troubles. These personal issues caused him to be less flexible with his work schedule. For example, he has come in late some mornings and missed several late afternoon meetings. However, he continues to be productive when he is at work. As his manager, what should you do?

A) Reprimand the employee and put him on notice immediately.
B) Ignore the situation because he is generally a high performer and the situation is temporary.
C) Institute flexible work hours for all employees in your group and arrange meetings when everyone can be available.
D) At the next group meeting, make an example out of him and his unethical behavior to deter other employees' misbehavior.

Question 36

Which of the following is not an effective way to discipline employees?

A) Discipline must be constructive and done in a professional manner.
B) Discipline should be done privately.
C) Employees should be encouraged to explain their side of the story.
D) Discipline should be consistent with what other employees at the same level or position received.

Question 37

Federal law prohibits discrimination against individuals with specific characteristics. Which of the following characteristics is not on that list (i.e. not protected under Federal law)?

A) Religion
B) Gender
C) Pregnancy
D) Mental ability

Question 38

As a manager of ABC Corporation, you are in a tough situation. You must send an employee to work with your new client in Europe and Sam is clearly the most qualified candidate. However, ABC Corporation is located in an area where several people of Sam's race have been violently attacked. You must choose to send Sam or Tonya. What should you do?

A) Automatically send Tonya to Europe without telling Sam he was considered.
B) Automatically send Sam to Europe because he is clearly the most qualified.
C) Ask Sam if he wants to go to Europe and discuss the situation.
D) Assign Sam to a new task and send the Tonya to Europe.

Question 39

This driver of engagement, __________, refers to the fact that employees should understand the company's strategic direction and how their individual efforts play a role in the company's revenue-generating enterprise.

A) line of sight
B) involvement
C) information sharing
D) rewards and recognition