EI - 124 Pretest

The difference between a dilemma and an ethical dilemma is that

• ethical dilemmas pertain to legal issues, while regular dilemmas do not.

• someone could be harmed in a dilemma.

• ethical dilemmas only occur at work.

• someone could be harmed in an ethical dilemma.

Answer explanation

Someone could be harmed in an ethical dilemma. Ethical dilemmas (also sometimes referred to as ethical situations) involve deciding whether something is right or wrong. In an ethical dilemma, if you pick the wrong choice, someone (or something) could be harmed. A dilemma is a difficult situation in which you are required to make a decision. Some dilemmas—ethical and otherwise—pertain to legal issues.

Making ethical decisions requires following your __________ at all times.

• friends' preferences

• ethical principles

• employee handbook

• boss's rules

Answer explanation

Ethical principles. Making the right choice in an ethical dilemma involves following ethical principles. While it is important to follow an employee handbook and your boss’s rules, it is not necessarily the way to make an ethical decision. Following your friends’ preferences will not necessarily help you make an ethical decision.

Ethical dilemmas should be thought of as

• challenges.

• easily avoidable.

• opportunities.

• emergencies.

Answer explanation

Opportunities. It’s important to remember that each ethical dilemma you encounter is an opportunity to make the right decision and show that you can follow ethical principles. So, it’s a good idea to view ethical dilemmas not as challenges, but as opportunities. Ethical dilemmas are encountered often and are not easily avoidable. They should not be viewed as emergencies.

Your boss asks you to lie to customers about the terms of your product's warranty. You know that this is wrong, but you consider doing it. Your ethical dilemma is caused by

• a lack of consequences.

• greed.

• respect.

• pressure from others.

Answer explanation

Pressure from others. If you’re surrounded by people who behave unethically, you might start to think that you should behave unethically too. If your boss is encouraging you to behave unethically, you’re dealing with pressure from others. This is not an example of greed or a lack of consequences. Having respect for other people and their belongings can help you make ethical decisions.

You want to get straight As and impress your teachers, so you consider cheating on tests to make sure you do well. You're facing an ethical dilemma because of

• bad role models.

• the desire to prove yourself.

• pressure from others.

• conflicting values.

Answer explanation

The desire to prove yourself. The desire to look good, at work or at school, can lead to ethical dilemmas. If, for example, you want to prove yourself at school, you may be tempted to cheat on your tests. This is not an example of being influenced by conflicting values, pressure from others, or bad role models.

You know that stealing is wrong, but your friends don’t think it’s a big deal to steal small items when shopping. You wonder if you should agree with them. You’re dealing with an ethical dilemma caused by

• the desire to prove yourself.

• conflicting values.

• a lack of consequences.

• greed.

Answer explanation

Conflicting values. Not everyone has the same ethical beliefs. If you think something is wrong but your friends don’t, you’re dealing with conflicting values. This is not an example of an ethical dilemma caused by greed, a lack of consequences, or the desire to prove yourself.

When people want things they haven’t earned, they are motivated by

• pressure from others.

• a lack of consequences.

• greed.

• bad role models.

Answer explanation

Greed. Greed occurs when people want things that they haven’t earned. Greed is one of the biggest motivators behind ethical dilemmas. When people want things that they haven’t earned, they are not motivated by pressure from others, bad role models, or a lack of consequences.

Monica really admires her boss, and she wants to be in his position eventually. When she learns that he sometimes engages in unethical behavior to get ahead, she wonders if she should do the same thing. Monica's ethical dilemma is caused by

• pressure from others.

• a bad role model.

• a lack of consequences.

• greed.

Answer explanation

A bad role model. People often model their own behavior after their leaders, whether consciously or unconsciously. While this can be a good thing, it can be bad if the leaders are okay with stealing, lying to customers, or other unethical activity. This is not an example of pressure from others because Monica’s boss isn’t pressuring her to behave in a certain way. In this example, Monica is not motivated by a lack of consequences or greed.

If a person knows that s/he will not be punished for unethical behavior, his/her ethical dilemma could be motivated by

• the desire to prove her/himself.

• a lack of consequences.

• pressure from others.

• bad role models.

Answer explanation

A lack of consequences. The threat of punishment is one reason why most people behave properly. If a person knows that s/he won’t be punished for unethical behavior, s/he may consider acting unethically. This is not an example of pressure from others, the desire to prove oneself, or bad role models.

If you want to behave ethically, it’s important to

• make sure other people are acting with integrity.

• think about the short-term repercussions of your actions.

• do what you say you’ll do when others are watching.

• respect other people and their belongings.

Answer explanation

Respect other people and their belongings. When behaving ethically, it’s important to respect other people and their belongings. You should focus on your own behavior, not on whether others are acting with integrity. You should do what you say you’ll do all the time, not just when others are watching. It’s important to think about the long-term, not just short-term, repercussions of your actions.