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Clampitt, Communicating for Managerial Effectiveness 5e
Instructor Resources: Testbank
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Chapter 3: Scrutinizing Ethical Issues
Multiple Choice
1. An employee goes public with information about safety abuses in the organization.
This is an example of
a. ambiguity
b. gossip
c. leaks
d. whistle-blowing
2. An employee anonymously passes on information to his supervisor that another
worker is selling corporate secrets to a competitor. This is an example of
a. whistle-blowing
b. secrecy
c. leaks
d. lying
3. Communicators should ensure that their remarks are pertinent to the purpose at
hand, that they collect information that is important to a specific purpose and
dispose of it when it is no longer pertinent. This describes what ethical norm?
a. discretion
b. relevancy
c. fairness
d. accuracy
4. Research on dissent reveals that
a. healthy constructive debate and dialogue actually builds greater commitment to
the organization
b. employees who dissent with their supervisors tend have more job satisfaction
c. employees who dissent identify more strongly with the organization
d. a and c
e. all of the above
5. Sherron Watkins
Clampitt, Communicating for Managerial Effectiveness 5e
Instructor Resources: Testbank
a. successfully used “upward dissent” strategies with her Enron boss, Ken Lay
b. was one of “Time Magazine’s “Persons of the Year”
c. blew the whistle on her company’s accounting irregularities
d. all of the above
e. b and c
6. Research on whistleblowers reveals that
a. many often commit “career suicide” after blowing the whistle
b. they typically experience depression and severed friendships
c. 50% were fired after reporting their concerns
d. All of the above
7. “Using a less offensive expression instead of one that may cause distress” defines
a. ambiguity
b. equivocation
c. euphemism
d. apology
8. An appropriate model for an apology includes which features?
a. discusses action steps to prevent future occurrences
b. does not openly acknowledge the problem
c. provides a type of restitution
d. all of the above
e. a and c
9. What are some policy issues that your author suggests be addressed in developing a
strategic approach to corporate ethics?
a. What information should the organization gather?
b. How should the organization gather the information?
c. How should the organization use the information?
d. all of the above
e. a and c
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10. David Ewing coined this phrase which means providing “effective mechanisms and
procedures for ensuring equity and justice among employees.” It provides
employees an organizational safety valve because some problems cannot be fairly
resolved through the normal chain of command. This describes...
a. corporate due process
b. whistle-swallowing
c. insider communication
d. personal relevancy commitment
True/False
11. Euphemisms should be avoided in communication because misunderstandings may
result.
12. Purposeful vagueness (equivocation) should be avoided in organizational
communication because of the misinterpretations that may result.
13. In her book, Secrets, Sissela Bok admonishes that secrets are never justifiable,
because they are usually held for dishonorable reasons.
14. An ethical communicator always tries to minimize the use of ambiguous language.
15. The fundamental difference between rumors and gossip is that rumors focus on
events and information, whereas gossip focuses on people.
Short Answer
16. Describe and explain 4 different ways to express dissent.
17. Under what circumstances would secrecy be considered justified? Unjustified? What
is the key factor that makes a secret ethical or unethical?
18. What are the most important factors contributing to ethical employee behavior?
19. How does a “leak” differ from “whistle blowing”?
20. What the key features of effective apologies?
