DECA Business Ethics 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which ethical principle requires business professionals to be honest and truthful in all their dealings?
- Integrity (Correct answer)
- Profitability
- Competitiveness
- Efficiency
Correct answer: Integrity
Integrity means being honest and having strong moral principles, which is foundational to ethical business conduct.
Question 2: A DECA member notices a coworker taking money from the cash register. What is the most ethical course of action?
- Ignore it to avoid conflict
- Report it to management or a supervisor (Correct answer)
- Confront the coworker publicly
- Take money too since others are doing it
Correct answer: Report it to management or a supervisor
Reporting theft to management upholds ethical standards and protects the business, which is the responsible course of action.
Question 3: What term describes a conflict between a personal interest and a professional responsibility?
- Stakeholder dilemma
- Conflict of interest (Correct answer)
- Ethical relativism
- Corporate liability
Correct answer: Conflict of interest
A conflict of interest occurs when personal interests could improperly influence professional decisions or actions.
Question 4: Which document outlines acceptable and unacceptable behaviors for employees within an organization?
- Mission statement
- Balance sheet
- Code of ethics (Correct answer)
- Organizational chart
Correct answer: Code of ethics
A code of ethics is a formal document that establishes standards of conduct and ethical expectations for employees.
Question 5: Whistleblowing in a business context refers to:
- Signaling the end of a work shift
- Reporting illegal or unethical behavior within an organization (Correct answer)
- A sports marketing promotional technique
- Managing employee performance reviews
Correct answer: Reporting illegal or unethical behavior within an organization
Whistleblowing means reporting unethical or illegal activities by an organization or individual to internal or external authorities.
Question 6: Corporate social responsibility (CSR) primarily refers to a business's commitment to:
- Maximizing shareholder profits above all else
- Operating in ways that benefit society and the environment (Correct answer)
- Reducing employee wages to lower costs
- Avoiding all forms of taxation
Correct answer: Operating in ways that benefit society and the environment
CSR involves businesses taking responsibility for their impact on society, the environment, and communities beyond just financial performance.
Question 7: Which ethical theory holds that the morality of an action is determined by its outcomes or consequences?
- Virtue ethics
- Deontological ethics
- Consequentialism (Correct answer)
- Divine command theory
Correct answer: Consequentialism
Consequentialism evaluates the morality of actions based on their results, with the most ethical choice being the one producing the best outcomes.
DECA Business Ethics 1
Which ethical principle requires business professionals to be honest and truthful in all their dealings?