,WGU D333 OA Ethics in Technology 2026/2027 Questions And
Answers
Q1. An organization is considering a technology policy and selects
the option expected to produce the greatest overall benefit while
minimizing total harm. Which ethical framework is being applied?
A) Ethical relativism
B) Virtue ethics
C) Utilitarianism
D) Ethical egoism
Correct Answer: C) Utilitarianism
Rationale: Utilitarianism evaluates actions primarily according to their
consequences and seeks the greatest net benefit for those affected.
Q2. An IT professional refuses to secretly collect user data because
doing so would violate a duty to respect individuals even if the data
could increase company profits. Which framework best supports this
reasoning?
A) Ethical egoism
B) Kantian deontology
C) Cultural relativism
D) Hedonism
Correct Answer: B) Kantian deontology
Rationale: Deontological ethics emphasizes duties, principles, and respect
for persons rather than deciding solely according to outcomes.
Q3. Which ethical theory asks primarily, “What kind of person
should I be?”
A) Virtue ethics
B) Utilitarianism
C) Deontology
D) Ethical relativism
Correct Answer: A) Virtue ethics
Rationale: Virtue ethics focuses on moral character and traits such as
honesty, courage, fairness, and integrity.
,Q4. A software engineer asks whether a proposed action could
consistently be followed by everyone without contradiction. Which
ethical concept is being applied?
A) Social relativism
B) Ethical egoism
C) Kant's categorical imperative
D) Cost-benefit accounting
Correct Answer: C) Kant's categorical imperative
Rationale: Kantian reasoning asks whether the principle behind an action
could be universalized consistently.
Q5. Which theory judges an action primarily according to whether it
advances the individual's own long-term self-interest?
A) Ethical egoism
B) Utilitarianism
C) Deontology
D) Virtue ethics
Correct Answer: A) Ethical egoism
Rationale: Ethical egoism considers actions morally appropriate when they
promote the decision-maker's rational self-interest.
Q6. Which view holds that moral standards may vary among cultures
rather than being universally identical?
A) Utilitarianism
B) Ethical relativism
C) Kantian ethics
D) Natural law
Correct Answer: B) Ethical relativism
Rationale: Ethical relativism maintains that ethical judgments can depend
on cultural or social standards.
Q7. A project manager tells the truth about a serious defect even
though disclosure could damage the manager's promotion
prospects. Which virtue is most clearly demonstrated?
A) Integrity
B) Efficiency
, C) Profitability
D) Convenience
Correct Answer: A) Integrity
Rationale: Integrity involves acting consistently with ethical principles even
when doing so creates personal costs.
Q8. Which distinction between ethics and law is most accurate?
A) Anything legal is automatically ethical.
B) An action can be legal but still ethically questionable.
C) Ethics applies only when no laws exist.
D) Illegal actions are always ethically justified.
Correct Answer: B) An action can be legal but still ethically questionable.
Rationale: Law establishes enforceable minimum requirements, while
ethical analysis can impose broader responsibilities.
Q9. A company can legally collect extensive customer behavior data
but recognizes that users would reasonably consider the collection
intrusive. What should the company consider beyond legality?
A) Only whether collection increases revenue
B) Only whether competitors collect similar data
C) Only whether storage is inexpensive
D) Users' ethical expectations of privacy and informed data use
Correct Answer: D) Users' ethical expectations of privacy and informed data
use
Rationale: Ethical decision-making considers rights, expectations, harms,
fairness, and stakeholder interests beyond minimum legal compliance.
Q10. What should generally occur first in a structured ethical
decision-making process?
A) Implement the most profitable solution.
B) Identify and clearly define the ethical issue.
C) Punish the responsible employee.
D) Consult social media.
Correct Answer: B) Identify and clearly define the ethical issue.
Rationale: Ethical analysis begins by understanding the problem, facts,
stakeholders, competing values, and potential harms.
Answers
Q1. An organization is considering a technology policy and selects
the option expected to produce the greatest overall benefit while
minimizing total harm. Which ethical framework is being applied?
A) Ethical relativism
B) Virtue ethics
C) Utilitarianism
D) Ethical egoism
Correct Answer: C) Utilitarianism
Rationale: Utilitarianism evaluates actions primarily according to their
consequences and seeks the greatest net benefit for those affected.
Q2. An IT professional refuses to secretly collect user data because
doing so would violate a duty to respect individuals even if the data
could increase company profits. Which framework best supports this
reasoning?
A) Ethical egoism
B) Kantian deontology
C) Cultural relativism
D) Hedonism
Correct Answer: B) Kantian deontology
Rationale: Deontological ethics emphasizes duties, principles, and respect
for persons rather than deciding solely according to outcomes.
Q3. Which ethical theory asks primarily, “What kind of person
should I be?”
A) Virtue ethics
B) Utilitarianism
C) Deontology
D) Ethical relativism
Correct Answer: A) Virtue ethics
Rationale: Virtue ethics focuses on moral character and traits such as
honesty, courage, fairness, and integrity.
,Q4. A software engineer asks whether a proposed action could
consistently be followed by everyone without contradiction. Which
ethical concept is being applied?
A) Social relativism
B) Ethical egoism
C) Kant's categorical imperative
D) Cost-benefit accounting
Correct Answer: C) Kant's categorical imperative
Rationale: Kantian reasoning asks whether the principle behind an action
could be universalized consistently.
Q5. Which theory judges an action primarily according to whether it
advances the individual's own long-term self-interest?
A) Ethical egoism
B) Utilitarianism
C) Deontology
D) Virtue ethics
Correct Answer: A) Ethical egoism
Rationale: Ethical egoism considers actions morally appropriate when they
promote the decision-maker's rational self-interest.
Q6. Which view holds that moral standards may vary among cultures
rather than being universally identical?
A) Utilitarianism
B) Ethical relativism
C) Kantian ethics
D) Natural law
Correct Answer: B) Ethical relativism
Rationale: Ethical relativism maintains that ethical judgments can depend
on cultural or social standards.
Q7. A project manager tells the truth about a serious defect even
though disclosure could damage the manager's promotion
prospects. Which virtue is most clearly demonstrated?
A) Integrity
B) Efficiency
, C) Profitability
D) Convenience
Correct Answer: A) Integrity
Rationale: Integrity involves acting consistently with ethical principles even
when doing so creates personal costs.
Q8. Which distinction between ethics and law is most accurate?
A) Anything legal is automatically ethical.
B) An action can be legal but still ethically questionable.
C) Ethics applies only when no laws exist.
D) Illegal actions are always ethically justified.
Correct Answer: B) An action can be legal but still ethically questionable.
Rationale: Law establishes enforceable minimum requirements, while
ethical analysis can impose broader responsibilities.
Q9. A company can legally collect extensive customer behavior data
but recognizes that users would reasonably consider the collection
intrusive. What should the company consider beyond legality?
A) Only whether collection increases revenue
B) Only whether competitors collect similar data
C) Only whether storage is inexpensive
D) Users' ethical expectations of privacy and informed data use
Correct Answer: D) Users' ethical expectations of privacy and informed data
use
Rationale: Ethical decision-making considers rights, expectations, harms,
fairness, and stakeholder interests beyond minimum legal compliance.
Q10. What should generally occur first in a structured ethical
decision-making process?
A) Implement the most profitable solution.
B) Identify and clearly define the ethical issue.
C) Punish the responsible employee.
D) Consult social media.
Correct Answer: B) Identify and clearly define the ethical issue.
Rationale: Ethical analysis begins by understanding the problem, facts,
stakeholders, competing values, and potential harms.
