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Chapter 4
Whistle-Blowing
CHAPTER SUMMARY
Whether or not to blow the whistle on misconduct in an organization is one of the most
difficult
decisions that some people will ever have to make. The decision is wrenching
personally because
the stakes are so high. Yet many whistle-blowers say that they could
not have lived with
themselves if they had stayed silent. The decision is also difficult
ethically, because whistle-blowing involves a conflict between two competing duties: to
protect the public and to be
loyal to an organization. Although loyalty is not always
overriding, as the loyal agent
argument holds, neither is it inconsequential. Deciding
4.1: Define the significance of whistle-blowing and the act itself according to seven
criteria
4.2: Assess situations where whistle-blowing may or may not be justified, given the duties
and obligations of all parties and the potential consequences of the act
4.3: Describe the characteristics and importance of laws designed to protect whistle-
blowers and key points in the debate over the moral justification of these laws
4.4: Identify the importance of developing an effective whistle-blowing policy for an
organization and the key components of such a policy
SUGGESTED DISCUSSION PROMPTS
5.
Why would a company develop a whistle-blowing policy?
ASSESSMENT FOR IN-CLASS USE
Multiple Choice Questions
1.
A whistle-blower is primarily motivated by _.
A.
retaliation
B.
ethical concern
C.
personal gain
D.
fear of retribution
4.1: Define the significance of whistle-blowing and the act itself according to seven
criteria
Difficulty Level: Easy
Skill Level: Understanding
2.
Which of the following is necessary for whistle-blowing to occur?
A.
information
B.
legal protection
C.
a nondisclosure agreement
D.
managing authority
Difficulty Level: Easy
Skill Level: Understanding
3.
Some corporations have an
ombudsman,
whose role is to .
A.
blow the whistle
B.
release information to the public
C.
report on employees
D.
hear complaints
Difficulty Level: Easy
Skill Level: Understanding
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4.
Why is the loyal agent argument supported by the law?
A.
The argument is supported because of the agent dictates the principal’s job
duties.
B.
The argument is supported because the agent is morally but not contractually
obligated to follow the principal’s directions.
C.
The argument is supported because the agent is not an employee of the
principal.
D.
The argument is supported because the agent is contractually obligated to
perform his or her duty.
Difficulty Level: Easy
Skill Level: Understanding
5.
The two
Challenger
spacecraft engineers who were concerned about possible O-
ring failure were unsuccessful at whistleblowing because they ________.
A.
tried to resolve the matter internally at Morton Thiokol
B.
refused to use Morton Thiokol internal channels to address the matter
C.
did not document problems with the O-ring
D.
opted to contact the press before speaking with their superiors about potential
problems with the O-ring
Difficulty Level: Easy
Skill Level: Understanding
6.
Loyalty to a corporation can sometimes
lead
to whistleblowing if _____.
A.
the corporation is a large one
B.
the whistleblower enjoys legal protection
C.
the whistleblower wants to see change in the corporation
D.
the government is paying the employee for the information
Difficulty Level: Easy
Skill Level: Understanding
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7.
Employees who are most upset with a company will most often _____.
A.
write to the CEO
B.
simply leave the company
C.
go public with their complaints
D.
hope the company will reform from within
Difficulty Level: Easy
Skill Level: Understanding
8.
The main motivation for there to be whistleblower-protection laws is that
whistleblowers _______
.
A.
represent a minority
B.
are likely to be oppressed
C.
benefit society
D.
should enjoy freedom of speech
Difficulty Level: Easy
Skill Level: Understanding
9.
The main reason that companies should have a whistle-blowing policy is that
.
A.
it avoids tension and strife
B.
whistle-blowing helps business
C.
it enhances employee satisfaction
D.
wrongdoing harms them
Difficulty Level: Easy
Skill Level: Understanding
10.
All whistle-blowing policies should include _____.
A.
a guarantee against retaliation
B.
a guarantee of continued employment
C.
a way for employees to go public
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D.
specific monetary awards
Difficulty Level: Easy
Skill Level: Understanding
Essay Questions
1.
Describe ways in which employers can deal with potential cases of whistle-
4.2: Assess situations where whistle-blowing may or may not be justified, given the
duties and obligations of all parties and the potential consequences of the act
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Skill Level: Evaluation
5. Why is it important to develop an effective whistle-blowing policy? What are some key
components of an effective whistle-blowing policy?
4.4: Identify the importance of developing an effective whistle-blowing policy for an
organization and the key components of such a policy
Difficulty Level: Easy