Joshua, a Manager, Is Considering Having to Lay Off Tom

Multiple Choice

Joshua, a manager, is considering having to lay off Tom, because Tom's skills no longer match the company's needs in the face of a changing marketplace. Tom is a popular employee who participates in many office social gatherings and company-sponsored charitable events. Joshua knows that letting Tom go would have a huge negative impact on the other employees and that there would likely be unintended consequences of his decision. In the context of making an ethical decision, this stage is known as moral

A) certainty.
B) ability.
C) awareness.
D) judgment.
E) characterization.