Exam 9: Ethics, Corporate Social Responsibility, Environmental-Sustainability, and Strategy

A) Universal ethical principles apply in those situations where most all societies-endowed with rationality and moral knowledge-have common moral agreement on what is wrong and thereby put limits on what actions and behaviors fall inside the boundaries of what is right,and which ones fall outside.
B) Commonly held views about what is morally right and wrong form a "social contract" (contract with society) that is binding on all individuals,groups,organizations,and businesses in terms of establishing the line between ethical and unethical behaviors.
C) Universal ethical principles or norms leave some "moral free space" for the people in a particular country (or local culture or even a company) to make specific interpretations of what other actions may or may not be permissible within the bounds defined by universal ethical principles.
D) Universal ethical norms always take precedence over local ethical norms.
E) Integrated social contracts theory rejects the slippery slope of ethical relativism and embraces ethical universalism.

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A company does have a duty to go beyond ...

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A) what constitutes ethical or unethical conduct should be determined by the religious convictions of each society or each culture within a country.
B) when there are cross-country or cross-cultural differences in what is deemed ethical or unethical in business situations,it is appropriate for local moral standards to take precedence over what the ethical standards may be elsewhere.
C) concepts of right and wrong are always governed by business norms in each country,culture,or society.
D) concepts of right and wrong are always a function of each individual's own set of values,beliefs,and ethical convictions.
E) concepts of right and wrong as they apply to business behavior are always absolute and usually more stringent than universal ethical principles.

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The essence of the business case for why...

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The five good actions companies can choo...

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At the center of the triple bottom line ...

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A) Developing a consensus among companies worldwide as to what ethical principles businesses should be expected to observe in the course of conducting their operations
B) What ethical behaviors are imposed on company personnel by governments in the course of doing their jobs
C) The application of general ethical principles to the actions and decisions of companies and the conduct of their personnel
D) Developing a special set of ethical standards for different types of businesses to observe in conducting their affairs
E) Picking and choosing among the consensus ethical standards of society to arrive at a set of ethical standards that apply directly to operating a business

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The strength of ethical relativism is in...

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A) are generally advocates of the ethical relativism school of thought.
B) are misguided in their efforts because bribes and kickbacks are really no different from tipping for service at restaurants as you pay for a service rendered.
C) face a particularly vexing problem of losing business to competitors that have no scruples-an outcome that penalizes ethical companies and company personnel.
D) are out-of-step with business reality given that the preponderance of company managers are immoral.
E) are in a distinct minority compared to companies that view the payment of bribes and kickbacks as a legitimate or permissible practice.

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A) It could result in diminished business reputation.
B) It could lead to default on loans due to potential business fallout.
C) It could result in lower stock prices and lower returns.
D) It could lead to shunning by customers
E) It could make recruiting and retaining talented employees difficult.

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A) An unethical strategy reflects badly on the character of the company personnel involved.
B) Senior executives fear public embarrassment if caught doing something perceived as unethical.
C) An ethical strategy is in the self-interest of shareholders,partly because an unethical strategy can damage a company's reputation and partly because unethical behavior can be very costly in terms of fines and penalties.
D) Customers shun companies known for their shady behavior and ethically upstanding company personnel are repulsed by a work environment where unethical behavior is condoned.
E) A strategy that is unethical in whole or in part is morally wrong.

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A) Use of adults leads to higher labor costs.
B) Children are not as efficient as adults in doing physically demanding work.
C) Many child laborers come from poverty-stricken families.
D) Banning child labor increases school attendance.
E) Working children learn independence.

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There are two reasons why a company's st...

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A) Dramatic cuts in research and development expenditures in years when low earnings are reported by the company
B) Increases in research and development expenditures in years when low earnings are reported by the company
C) Executive commitment to implementing strategic suggestions from the board of directors
D) Attracting investors who think the company's industry will grow
E) Hiring and maintaining a skilled and diverse workforce

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A) operate in an honorable manner,provide good working conditions for employees,and to actively work to enhance the quality of life in the local communities where it operates and in society at large.
B) meet the current needs of customers,suppliers,shareholders,employees,and other stakeholders in a manner that protects the environment,provides for the longevity of natural resources,maintains ecological support systems for future generations,and guards against ultimate endangerment of the planet.
C) protect and enhance natural resources and ecological support systems,taking into account the current consumption for the current generation.
D) apply universal norms regarding the protection of the environment to its everyday operations and to function below the levels required by prevailing environmental regulations.
E) balance commonly held views about what constitutes environmentally appropriate actions against its ability to make a profit.

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A) violates ethical principles of right and wrong in all countries.
B) is ethically acceptable according to the principle of ethical universalism and ethically unacceptable according to the principle of ethical relativism.
C) is acceptable to immoral managers but not to amoral managers.
D) is one of the thorniest ethical problems that multinational companies face because paying bribes is normal and customary in some countries and ethically or legally forbidden in others.
E) is more acceptable in dealing with a company's suppliers than in dealing with a company's customers.

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A) there is no such thing as "moral free space"-all ethical standards are determined by societal norms,and individuals have an implied social contract to live up to these standards.
B) few nations or cultures have common moral agreement on what is ethically right and wrong.
C) there should be no absolute limits put on what actions and behaviors fall inside the boundaries of what is ethically or morally right and which actions/behaviors fall outside.
D) adherence to universal ethical norms always takes precedence over local ethical norms.
E) .ethical relativism should always be adhered to before ethical universalism when dealing within boundaries of a country's culture and norms.

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A) Would the potential outcome of the proposed action pose a risk of embarrassment?
B) Is what we are proposing to do fully compliant with our code of ethical conduct?
C) Is there anything in the proposed action that could be considered ethically objectionable?
D) Is it apparent that this proposed action is in harmony with our core values?
E) Are any conflicts or concerns evident between the proposed action and our core values?

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