As I mentioned earlier, I questioned my classmates to reveal how they would act in certain situations. Below I analyze their responses:
The two scenarios above demonstrate to me that most people feel a duty to their friends to do what is "right" by them. The majority of interviewees said they would not disclose the unethical behavior OF their friends; however, they would disclose unethical behavior TO their friends that affected them adversely.
As opposed to the two previous questions, the answers to the above question reveals that individuals would have a harder time disclosing information to a friend, when it could have an unfavorable effect on their own outcomes. Does that make them selfish or smart? My answer to this question would rely heavily on how good of a friend this person was to me, and how much I like or need my job. I would have to weigh my options before disclosing this information.
The responses to the above question demonstrates that most people would disclose their own wrong doing, even at the risk of looking incompetent to their superiors. Perhaps this is because I mentioned it would have no effect on business. Maybe most people think that their bosses would reward them for being honest in a situation where it was unnecessary.
The answers of my classmates bring credibility to the idea that ethics are relative. It is my opinion that ethical behavior depends on the context of the situation, as well as the beliefs and culture of the individuals involved.
The answers of my classmates bring credibility to the idea that ethics are relative. It is my opinion that ethical behavior depends on the context of the situation, as well as the beliefs and culture of the individuals involved.