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PAST EXAM QUESTIONS
Explain the reasons why ‘good’ people might engage in unethical behavior?
Write on this topic a well-structured and well-written essay using, in a personal
way, arguments encountered during the course (maximum 3 pages).
The first reasons that will be mentioned are intellectual or cognitive. When
following the ethical decision making model these reasons might make good people
do bad things.
Intentional ignorance, convincing yourself that you are doing the same as someone
else would do in the same situation. Although deep inside you know that your
decision to keep a found iPod is ethically not justifiable when there are several
possibilities to return it to the rightful owner. Again this is also very context
dependant. Where did you find it is there an easy way to return it to the owner. If
you tried to contact him and he didn’t respond it might be more justifiable to keep
the iPod.
Considering limited alternatives, not having the imagination to come up with
different solutions or alternatives to resolve the ethical issue. Forgetting about
possibilities.
Finding comfort in simplified decision rules, using the same thinking pattern for
every type of roughly the same problems. A manager that has to cut costs does this
easiest by firing someone, but the problem might be more complex of an employee
that is burning company resources at much higher rates than any other person, also
the implication of firing someone might affect the overall workload and therefore
give the remaining employees to big of a burden.
Other reasons why ethical issues might go unnoticed are normative myopia or short-
sightedness, inattentional blindness and change blindness. The first reason of short
sightedness is related to the problem of not seeing the bigger picture where the
consideration of only limited solutions might contribute to a narrow solution where
not all stakeholders are taken into account a focus on the practical side of the solution
might result in less attention to values and principles. The second reason with
inattentional blindness suggests that as in the first reason the problem solution
viewpoint makes a too narrow decision making process. You lose other factors out
of sight because you are so focused and not able to see the consequences of some of
your decisions. The 3th reason addresses the problem of being part of a change or
decision makes it hard to see it from an other viewpoint. You are not aware of it
because you are part of it. This is the same issue as when you try to define a company
culture, this culture is based on the personal perception of the employees who work
there. They are not fully aware of how and what their corporate culture actually is.
Because they are part of it.
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Satisficing or choosing the solution that satisfies the least amount of minimal
decision criteria. Not looking for a solution that solves the source of the problem if
this is not asked by your boss. Just correcting the anomaly that occurred and keep
on going with the way of work because it is the easiest way.
This last reason complements the motivation or willpower stumbling block for doing
the right things. Sometimes it’s easier to do the wrong thing. Because a stated earlier
it might be the easiest for you on that moment. Problem here is that as soon as you
cross a line t becomes easier to keep on going further. You lose sight of what is
normally your boundary or principle.
Lack of courage, again choosing the hard way might require more effort and
capabilities to change. Depending on context instead of reporting a certain problem
it’s easier and safer for you if you don’t report it, otherwise the boss might shoot the
messenger, or a colleague will get fired, you have the risk of becoming the tattle tale
of the firm. This complements the peer pressure problem that also might affect your
ethical decision making process. Going against the group might result in exclusion
and other risks, and therefore it is again easier to do the same thing that might be
rather unethical, but safer for you personally. Also sometimes the temptation to do
something that is ethically not correct might be too powerful. It takes a lot of
willpower not to do the right thing in some situations. Like the iPod example it is
always nice to gain an iPod.
PAST EXAM QUESTIONS
Explain the reasons why ‘good’ people might engage in unethical behavior?
Write on this topic a well-structured and well-written essay using, in a personal
way, arguments encountered during the course (maximum 3 pages).
The first reasons that will be mentioned are intellectual or cognitive. When
following the ethical decision making model these reasons might make good people
do bad things.
Intentional ignorance, convincing yourself that you are doing the same as someone
else would do in the same situation. Although deep inside you know that your
decision to keep a found iPod is ethically not justifiable when there are several
possibilities to return it to the rightful owner. Again this is also very context
dependant. Where did you find it is there an easy way to return it to the owner. If
you tried to contact him and he didn’t respond it might be more justifiable to keep
the iPod.
Considering limited alternatives, not having the imagination to come up with
different solutions or alternatives to resolve the ethical issue. Forgetting about
possibilities.
Finding comfort in simplified decision rules, using the same thinking pattern for
every type of roughly the same problems. A manager that has to cut costs does this
easiest by firing someone, but the problem might be more complex of an employee
that is burning company resources at much higher rates than any other person, also
the implication of firing someone might affect the overall workload and therefore
give the remaining employees to big of a burden.
Other reasons why ethical issues might go unnoticed are normative myopia or short-
sightedness, inattentional blindness and change blindness. The first reason of short
sightedness is related to the problem of not seeing the bigger picture where the
consideration of only limited solutions might contribute to a narrow solution where
not all stakeholders are taken into account a focus on the practical side of the solution
might result in less attention to values and principles. The second reason with
inattentional blindness suggests that as in the first reason the problem solution
viewpoint makes a too narrow decision making process. You lose other factors out
of sight because you are so focused and not able to see the consequences of some of
your decisions. The 3th reason addresses the problem of being part of a change or
decision makes it hard to see it from an other viewpoint. You are not aware of it
because you are part of it. This is the same issue as when you try to define a company
culture, this culture is based on the personal perception of the employees who work
there. They are not fully aware of how and what their corporate culture actually is.
Because they are part of it.
, 2
Satisficing or choosing the solution that satisfies the least amount of minimal
decision criteria. Not looking for a solution that solves the source of the problem if
this is not asked by your boss. Just correcting the anomaly that occurred and keep
on going with the way of work because it is the easiest way.
This last reason complements the motivation or willpower stumbling block for doing
the right things. Sometimes it’s easier to do the wrong thing. Because a stated earlier
it might be the easiest for you on that moment. Problem here is that as soon as you
cross a line t becomes easier to keep on going further. You lose sight of what is
normally your boundary or principle.
Lack of courage, again choosing the hard way might require more effort and
capabilities to change. Depending on context instead of reporting a certain problem
it’s easier and safer for you if you don’t report it, otherwise the boss might shoot the
messenger, or a colleague will get fired, you have the risk of becoming the tattle tale
of the firm. This complements the peer pressure problem that also might affect your
ethical decision making process. Going against the group might result in exclusion
and other risks, and therefore it is again easier to do the same thing that might be
rather unethical, but safer for you personally. Also sometimes the temptation to do
something that is ethically not correct might be too powerful. It takes a lot of
willpower not to do the right thing in some situations. Like the iPod example it is
always nice to gain an iPod.
