Mgmt330 Organizational Behavior Ch 6

Moral awareness refers to the recognition and understanding of ethical issues and dilemmas. It involves being aware of the potential consequences of one's actions and the impact they may have on others. Without moral awareness, individuals may not even recognize that a decision has ethical implications and may not consider the moral aspects when making choices. Therefore, moral awareness is the first step in ethical decision making, as it lays the foundation for moral judgment, intent, and ultimately, ethical behavior.

Ethical behavior refers to the actions and conduct that align with moral principles and values. It is the final component of ethical decision making because it involves actually putting those moral judgments and intentions into practice. While moral awareness, judgment, and intent are all important in the decision-making process, ethical behavior is the ultimate outcome that reflects an individual's commitment to acting in an ethical and responsible manner. It involves making choices and taking actions that prioritize the well-being and rights of others, and that uphold ethical standards and principles.

Moral intent refers to the individual's intention or motivation behind making an ethical decision. It involves considering the potential consequences of one's actions and choosing to act in a morally responsible manner. This component is important because it reflects the individual's commitment to ethical behavior and their willingness to prioritize moral values over personal gain or other conflicting interests. It also helps to ensure that ethical decisions are not made by accident or coincidence, but rather deliberately and consciously.

The three dimensions of trustworthiness are ability, integrity, and benevolence. Ability refers to the competence and skills of a person, indicating whether they are capable of fulfilling their commitments. Integrity refers to the honesty, reliability, and ethical behavior of an individual, ensuring that they will act in a trustworthy manner. Benevolence refers to the goodwill, kindness, and concern for others, indicating that the person has the best interests of others at heart. These three dimensions together contribute to building trust in a person or organization.

The Theory of Cognitive Moral Development suggests that people's ethical views change and develop as they age and mature. This theory, proposed by Lawrence Kohlberg, explains that individuals progress through different stages of moral reasoning, from a focus on self-interest to a consideration of universal ethical principles. As people grow older and gain more life experiences, their moral awareness, judgment, and sensitivity to ethical issues increase, leading to the development of more complex and sophisticated ethical ideologies. This theory highlights the importance of cognitive development in shaping individuals' ethical perspectives.

Distributive justice refers to the fairness in the allocation of decision outcomes such as pay, rewards, and evaluations. It ensures that these outcomes are distributed in accordance with proper norms and principles. This concept focuses on the equitable distribution of resources and benefits among individuals or groups. It emphasizes the importance of fairness and equality in the outcomes of decision-making processes.

Trust that is affect-based means that it is based on emotions and feelings towards the authority, rather than being based on a rational assessment or cognitive evaluation. In other words, trust is not determined by logical reasoning or analysis, but rather by the positive or negative emotions and feelings one has towards the authority figure.

After recognizing the existence of a moral issue, the next step is to make a moral judgment. This involves accurately identifying the morally "right" course of action. Moral judgment requires evaluating the situation, considering ethical principles and values, and determining the best course of action that aligns with those principles. It involves making a decision based on what is considered morally acceptable or morally wrong in a given situation.

Relativists agree with statements like, "Whether a lie is judged to be moral or immoral depends upon the circumstances surrounding the decision." This means that they believe ethical judgments are relative and dependent on the specific context in which they occur. Relativists argue that there are no universal moral truths and that what is considered right or wrong can vary from one situation to another. They emphasize the importance of considering the specific circumstances and cultural or individual perspectives when making moral judgments.

Trust is defined as the willingness to be vulnerable to an authority based on positive expectations about the authority's actions and intentions. Trust involves having confidence in someone's reliability, honesty, and integrity, and feeling secure in their actions and decisions. It is the foundation of any healthy relationship, whether it be personal or professional. Trust allows individuals to feel safe and comfortable in relying on someone else's judgment and decisions, knowing that they have their best interests at heart.

According to Kohlberg's theory of moral development, most adults are at the conventional level of ethical thinking. At this level, individuals conform to societal norms and rules, seeking approval from others and maintaining social order. They prioritize the expectations and opinions of others over personal values and beliefs. This level is characterized by an emphasis on conformity and social approval rather than on individual rights and principles. Therefore, the correct answer is "Conventional."

Benevolence is the belief that the authority genuinely wants to do good for the trustor, without any ulterior motives or focus on personal gain or profit. It suggests that the authority has the best interests of the trustor in mind and is motivated by a genuine desire to help and benefit them. This belief in the authority's benevolence creates a sense of trust and confidence in their actions and intentions.

Trust has a moderate positive effect on performance because when individuals trust each other, they are more likely to collaborate, communicate openly, and share information. This fosters a positive work environment where people feel supported and empowered, leading to increased productivity and better performance outcomes. Moderate positive effect suggests that trust is important for performance, but it may not be the sole determinant, as other factors can also influence performance.

The given answer, "Principled," is correct because research indicates that less than 20% of Americans reach the stage of ethical thinking known as the principled stage. This stage is characterized by individuals having a clear understanding of ethical principles and consistently applying them in their decision-making processes. It represents a higher level of moral development where individuals prioritize ethical principles over personal gain or societal expectations. The majority of Americans tend to operate at the preconventional or conventional stages of ethical thinking, where decisions are driven by self-interest or conformity to societal norms.

Procedural justice refers to the fairness and transparency in the processes and procedures followed by authorities. It ensures that individuals are treated fairly and have a voice in decision-making. By adhering to rules of fair process, authorities create an environment that fosters procedural justice, where everyone is given equal opportunity and their rights are respected. This helps to build trust and confidence in the system, as individuals feel that their concerns are heard and considered, leading to a more just and equitable society.

Trustworthiness is the correct answer because it refers to the quality or characteristic of being reliable, dependable, and honest. When someone is perceived as trustworthy, they are more likely to inspire trust in others. Trustworthiness is an essential attribute for a trustee because it ensures that they will act in the best interest of those they are entrusted to serve. This includes being honest, transparent, and fulfilling their responsibilities with integrity.

Informational justice refers to the fairness of the information provided to employees by authorities. It involves the transparency, accuracy, and timeliness of the information shared. When employees perceive that the information they receive is clear, complete, and relevant, they are more likely to view the communication process as fair. This can enhance trust, satisfaction, and commitment among employees. Therefore, the correct answer is Informational Justice.

Interpersonal justice refers to the fairness and respect in how individuals are treated by others in an organization. It focuses on the quality of interpersonal relationships, communication, and behavior. In this context, respect and propriety are two important aspects of interpersonal justice. Respect involves treating others with dignity, acknowledging their rights, and valuing their opinions and contributions. Propriety refers to behaving in an appropriate and professional manner, adhering to ethical standards, and avoiding behaviors that may harm or disrespect others. Therefore, respect and propriety align with the dimension of interpersonal justice.

Moral judgement refers to the process of evaluating and making decisions based on moral principles and values. It involves considering the potential consequences of actions, weighing different ethical perspectives, and determining the right course of action in a given situation. This component of ethical decision making is crucial as it helps individuals determine what is morally right or wrong and guides their behavior accordingly. It requires a thoughtful analysis of the ethical implications of choices and the ability to make sound moral decisions.

Procedural justice refers to the fairness and transparency of the processes and procedures that authorities use to make decisions. By adhering to the four rules of consistency, bias suppression, representativeness, and accuracy, authorities create an environment that promotes equal employment opportunity. Consistency ensures that similar cases are treated similarly, bias suppression eliminates any personal biases or prejudices, representativeness ensures that decisions are made by a diverse group of individuals, and accuracy ensures that decisions are based on accurate information. By following these rules, authorities promote procedural justice, which fosters a sense of fairness and equality in the workplace.

Research shows that procedural justice tends to be a stronger driver of reactions to authorities than distributive justice. Procedural justice refers to the fairness and transparency of the procedures used by authorities, while distributive justice focuses on the fairness of outcomes or resource allocation. This means that individuals are more influenced by how authorities handle processes and decision-making, rather than solely focusing on the fairness of the outcomes.

Moral awareness refers to the recognition by an authority that a moral issue is present in a situation or that an ethical standard or principle is relevant to the circumstances. It involves being able to identify and understand the moral implications and consequences of a particular action or decision. Moral awareness is important as it serves as the first step towards making ethical judgments and taking appropriate moral actions. It allows individuals to consider the ethical dimensions of a situation and to act in accordance with their moral values and principles.

Justice refers to the perceived fairness of an authority's decision-making process. When individuals perceive that a decision or action is just, they believe that it is based on impartiality, equality, and adherence to rules and principles. This perception of fairness is crucial for building trust and maintaining positive relationships within a society or organization. It ensures that people feel their rights are respected and that they are treated fairly, leading to increased trust, cooperation, and satisfaction. Therefore, justice plays a significant role in establishing a harmonious and ethical environment.

Informational justice refers to the fairness in the communication and dissemination of information. It ensures that individuals receive accurate and complete information that is relevant to their situation. In this context, the rules of justification and truthfulness align with the principles of informational justice. Justification ensures that the reasons and explanations provided are transparent and reasonable, while truthfulness emphasizes the importance of providing honest and accurate information. Therefore, these rules contribute to promoting fairness and equity in the informational dimension of justice.

Moral intensity refers to the degree to which an issue has ethical urgency. It represents the extent to which individuals perceive a moral issue as significant and feel a moral obligation to take action. It includes factors such as the magnitude of consequences, social consensus, moral intensity, and the temporal immediacy of the issue. In other words, moral intensity measures the moral weight or seriousness of an ethical dilemma, indicating how strongly individuals feel the need to address and resolve the issue.

Distributive justice refers to the fair distribution of resources, benefits, and burdens in a society. It focuses on the principles of equity, equality, and need. Equity means that individuals receive resources based on their contributions or merit. Equality means that everyone receives an equal share regardless of their contributions. Need means that resources are allocated based on individuals' needs. Distributive justice ensures that there is fairness in the distribution of resources and opportunities, taking into account different principles of justice.

Procedural justice refers to the fairness and transparency of the processes used to make decisions or resolve disputes. The rules mentioned, such as voice, correctability, consistency, bias suppression, representativeness, and accuracy, are all principles that contribute to procedural justice. They ensure that individuals have a say in the decision-making process, that errors can be corrected, that the same rules are applied consistently, that biases are minimized, that decisions are made by a diverse and representative group, and that accurate information is used. Procedural justice aims to ensure that the procedures used are fair and just, regardless of the outcome.

Moral judgement refers to the ability to accurately identify the morally "right" course of action. It involves evaluating different ethical perspectives, considering the consequences of actions, and making a decision based on moral principles. This process requires an individual to have a clear understanding of moral values and the ability to apply them in real-life situations. Moral judgement plays a crucial role in ethical decision-making and guides individuals towards making morally responsible choices.

The question asks for the aspect that encompasses relativism, utilitarianism, formalism, and idealism. These four concepts are all related to ethical theories and beliefs, which can be categorized as different ethical ideologies. Therefore, the correct answer is "Ethical Ideologies."

The equity norm is typically judged to be the fairest choice in situations in which the goal is to maximize the productivity of individual employees. This is because the equity norm focuses on fairness and equal treatment, ensuring that each employee is rewarded based on their contributions and efforts. By applying the equity norm, organizations can motivate employees to work harder and be more productive, as they know they will be fairly rewarded for their individual performance. This creates a positive and productive work environment, ultimately maximizing the productivity of individual employees.

Idealists are individuals who believe in the importance of moral principles and values. They prioritize doing what is morally right and just, even if it means sacrificing potential benefits or gains. Therefore, it is likely that idealists would agree with the statement that the existence of potential harm to others is always wrong, regardless of any potential benefits that may be gained. They would prioritize avoiding harm and promoting moral principles over any potential gains.

Trust propensity refers to an individual's natural inclination or tendency to trust others. It is the belief that people are generally trustworthy and can be relied upon. Trust propensity is a personal characteristic that varies from person to person and influences their willingness to trust others. It is an important factor in building and maintaining relationships, as individuals with high trust propensity are more likely to trust others and have faith in their words, promises, and statements.

Ethical ideologies refer to the set of beliefs and values that individuals hold regarding what is morally right or wrong. These ideologies shape their decision-making process and guide their actions in ethical dilemmas. Different ethical ideologies, such as consequentialism, deontology, and virtue ethics, provide individuals with frameworks to determine the right course of action based on the outcomes, principles, or character traits involved. By understanding and applying their ethical ideologies, individuals can make informed and morally sound decisions in various situations.

Moral intent refers to an authority's level of dedication and determination to follow the moral path or do what is morally right. It represents their genuine desire to act ethically and make decisions that align with moral principles and values. This concept focuses on the internal motivation and mindset of the authority, highlighting their commitment to moral behavior rather than just the outcome or result.

Interpersonal justice refers to the perception of fairness in the way individuals are treated by authorities. It focuses on the quality of interpersonal interactions, such as respect, politeness, and dignity, between employees and authorities. This includes being treated with kindness, consideration, and respect, and having the opportunity to voice concerns and be heard. Interpersonal justice is important for employees as it contributes to their overall satisfaction, trust, and commitment to the organization.

Ethical sensitivity refers to the ability to recognize that a decision or situation has ethical implications. It involves being aware of the moral dimensions and consequences of one's actions. Ethical sensitivity enables individuals to identify ethical issues and dilemmas, and to consider the impact of their decisions on others. It involves being attuned to ethical values and principles, and being able to differentiate between right and wrong. Ethical sensitivity is an important aspect of ethical decision-making, as it lays the foundation for moral judgment and ethical behavior.