WGU - D072 STUDY GUIDE QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS WITH COMPLETE
SOLUTIONS 100% CORRECT!!!
Core Definition
Ethics
ANSWER ✔✔ Principles and moral values that serve as a behavioral compass,
guiding individual and organizational decisions regarding what is right and wrong.
The Legal-Ethical Framework Matrix
ETHICAL UNETHICAL
┌───────────────────────┬──────────────────────
─┐
LEGAL │ Legal-Ethical │ Legal-Unethical │
│ (e.g., Fair wages) │ (e.g., Infidelity) │
├───────────────────────┼──────────────────────
─┤
ILLEGAL │ Illegal-Ethical │ Illegal-Unethical │
│ (e.g., Speeding in │ (e.g., Embezzling │
│ an emergency) │ company funds) │
└───────────────────────┴──────────────────────
─┘
1. Legal-Ethical
Definition: Actions that conform to both the letter of the law and accepted
moral/ethical standards.
, Example: A judge upholding state laws prohibiting a substance when they
also morally align with those regulations; or a business paying workers a
living wage above the minimum wage standard.
2. Legal-Unethical
Definition: Actions permitted by law that nonetheless breach moral duties,
social trust, or ethical codes.
Example: Personal infidelity (cheating on a partner) or a company laying
off long-term employees via mass email without prior notice.
3. Illegal-Ethical
Definition: Actions that break written statutory laws but are done to uphold
a higher moral duty, save lives, or prevent significant harm.
Example: Exceeding the speed limit to rush a critically injured person to the
emergency room, or whistleblowing on illegal government surveillance.
4. Illegal-Unethical
Definition: Actions that violate statutory laws and directly breach
fundamental moral and ethical principles.
Example: Stealing, committing financial fraud, or selling substandard
medical supplies for profit.
Define legal. -ANSWER ✔✔An act that is allowed or is in conformity with the
law of the land
Define values. -ANSWER ✔✔Stable life goals that people have that reflect what is
most important to them
Define morals. -ANSWER ✔✔Rules people develop as a result of cultural norms
and values and are, traditionally passed down through generations and characterize
a cultural group
, Define organizational ethics. -ANSWER ✔✔Rules, principles, and standards for
deciding what is morally right or wrong when doing business
List the four main levels of ethical issues and provide an example of each. -
ANSWER ✔✔Societal Issues: an organization holds a fundraiser to help feed the
homeless.
Stakeholder Issues: A company insists on treating suppliers with respect and
refuses to push them to the lowest pricing possible.
Internal Policy Issues: Fairness in management, pay, and employee participation.
Personal Policy Issues: Gossiping at work or taking credit for another's work.
How does a company's ethical behavior impact organizational outcomes? -
ANSWER ✔✔Trustworthy companies are better at attracting and keeping
customers, keeping talented employees, and capitol.
How does a company's unethical behavior impact organizational outcomes? -
ANSWER ✔✔They suffer from dwindling customer bases, employee turnover,
and investor mistrust.
Define corporate social responsibility (CSR). -ANSWER ✔✔Philosophy in which
a company voluntarily engages in actions that benefit society, be it economically,
socially, politically, or environmentally
How is a company's CSR approach shaped? -ANSWER ✔✔By seeing that their
community is lacking something that they can provide, earning more profit and
reputation
Who is considered a company stakeholder? -ANSWER ✔✔Unions
AND ANSWERS WITH COMPLETE
SOLUTIONS 100% CORRECT!!!
Core Definition
Ethics
ANSWER ✔✔ Principles and moral values that serve as a behavioral compass,
guiding individual and organizational decisions regarding what is right and wrong.
The Legal-Ethical Framework Matrix
ETHICAL UNETHICAL
┌───────────────────────┬──────────────────────
─┐
LEGAL │ Legal-Ethical │ Legal-Unethical │
│ (e.g., Fair wages) │ (e.g., Infidelity) │
├───────────────────────┼──────────────────────
─┤
ILLEGAL │ Illegal-Ethical │ Illegal-Unethical │
│ (e.g., Speeding in │ (e.g., Embezzling │
│ an emergency) │ company funds) │
└───────────────────────┴──────────────────────
─┘
1. Legal-Ethical
Definition: Actions that conform to both the letter of the law and accepted
moral/ethical standards.
, Example: A judge upholding state laws prohibiting a substance when they
also morally align with those regulations; or a business paying workers a
living wage above the minimum wage standard.
2. Legal-Unethical
Definition: Actions permitted by law that nonetheless breach moral duties,
social trust, or ethical codes.
Example: Personal infidelity (cheating on a partner) or a company laying
off long-term employees via mass email without prior notice.
3. Illegal-Ethical
Definition: Actions that break written statutory laws but are done to uphold
a higher moral duty, save lives, or prevent significant harm.
Example: Exceeding the speed limit to rush a critically injured person to the
emergency room, or whistleblowing on illegal government surveillance.
4. Illegal-Unethical
Definition: Actions that violate statutory laws and directly breach
fundamental moral and ethical principles.
Example: Stealing, committing financial fraud, or selling substandard
medical supplies for profit.
Define legal. -ANSWER ✔✔An act that is allowed or is in conformity with the
law of the land
Define values. -ANSWER ✔✔Stable life goals that people have that reflect what is
most important to them
Define morals. -ANSWER ✔✔Rules people develop as a result of cultural norms
and values and are, traditionally passed down through generations and characterize
a cultural group
, Define organizational ethics. -ANSWER ✔✔Rules, principles, and standards for
deciding what is morally right or wrong when doing business
List the four main levels of ethical issues and provide an example of each. -
ANSWER ✔✔Societal Issues: an organization holds a fundraiser to help feed the
homeless.
Stakeholder Issues: A company insists on treating suppliers with respect and
refuses to push them to the lowest pricing possible.
Internal Policy Issues: Fairness in management, pay, and employee participation.
Personal Policy Issues: Gossiping at work or taking credit for another's work.
How does a company's ethical behavior impact organizational outcomes? -
ANSWER ✔✔Trustworthy companies are better at attracting and keeping
customers, keeping talented employees, and capitol.
How does a company's unethical behavior impact organizational outcomes? -
ANSWER ✔✔They suffer from dwindling customer bases, employee turnover,
and investor mistrust.
Define corporate social responsibility (CSR). -ANSWER ✔✔Philosophy in which
a company voluntarily engages in actions that benefit society, be it economically,
socially, politically, or environmentally
How is a company's CSR approach shaped? -ANSWER ✔✔By seeing that their
community is lacking something that they can provide, earning more profit and
reputation
Who is considered a company stakeholder? -ANSWER ✔✔Unions
