Chapter 3--Technological, Legal, and Ethical Considerations

TRUE/FALSE
1. With technology, collaborative writing may occur as an interactive or an independent act.
ANS: T

PTS: 1

REF: pp. 70-71

2. Ethics are binding rules of conduct enforceable by a governing agency.

ANS: F

PTS: 1

REF: p. 72

3. Advances in technology allow individuals to self-select what, when, and where electronic messages
are sent and received.
ANS: T

PTS: 1

REF: p. 60

4. Facebook, LinkedIn, and Ning are examples of social network sites.

ANS: T

PTS: 1

REF: pp. 63-64

5. Organizations and businesses, as well as individuals, use blogs and wikis.

ANS: T

PTS: 1

REF: p. 65

6. RSS feeds mean a published list of websites.

ANS: F

PTS: 1

REF: p. 66

7. Hoteling provides alternative office space for mobile workers and provides computer connections and
phone service.
ANS: T

PTS: 1

REF: p. 71

8. Google is a search engine that offers tools and special services for individuals and businesses.
ANS: T

PTS: 1

REF: p. 68

9. BlackBerry, Treo, and iPhone are mobile phones that can connect to the Internet.
ANS: T

PTS: 1

REF: p. 60

10. Tweeting is a term for sending messages on MySpace.

ANS: F

PTS: 1

REF: p. 62

11. Monitoring of e-mail by private employers is not allowed because e-mail is private and such
monitoring is an invasion of privacy.
ANS: F

PTS: 1

REF: p. 74

12. The primary purpose of a wiki is collaborative editing and writing.

ANS: T

PTS: 1

REF: p. 66

13. Inappropriate use of e-mail or the Internet at work not only affects productivity but also may create a
legal issue or result in loss of the employees job.
ANS: T

PTS: 1

REF: pp. 73-75

14. Once e-mail messages or other computer files are deleted, they cannot be retrieved.
ANS: F

PTS: 1

REF: p. 74

15. Copyright is a legal protection for the author or owner of written work, art, music, photographs,
multimedia, and computer software that controls reproduction, distribution, and sale of copyrighted
work.
ANS: T

PTS: 1

REF: p. 77

16. If you dont see the copyright symbol or the word Copyright followed by the year, you can be certain
the material is free of copyright.
ANS: F

PTS: 1

REF: p. 77

17. Unsolicited telephone calls to a person on a no-call list are unethical but not illegal.
ANS: F

PTS: 1

REF: p. 76

18. Plagiarism is using someone elses ideas or original works and not giving credit to the source.
ANS: T

PTS: 1

REF: p. 77

19. Employees should treat e-mail, voice-mail, and other electronic messages that they send as if they will
be public knowledge.
ANS: T

PTS: 1

REF: p. 75

20. A federal electronic signature law endorsed contractual arrangements through electronic signatures
logically associated with a record and encrypted for privacy.
ANS: T

PTS: 1

REF: p. 78

21. Search engines may offer selection choices from broad topic categories before entering a term for a
specific search.
ANS: T

PTS: 1

REF: p. 68

22. Fair use means that only the owner of original works of authorship can use them.
ANS: F

PTS: 1

REF: p. 77

23. An enforceable contract may result from a letter or signed notes on a napkin if it has these elements:
offer and acceptance, competency of parties, legality of subject matter, and consideration (money,
motive, or promise exchanged).

ANS: T

PTS: 1

REF: p. 79

24. The Civil Rights Act prohibits discrimination in employment for race, color, religion, and physical
challenge.
ANS: F

PTS: 2

REF: p. 80

25. A bona fide occupational qualification (BFOQ) is an essential job function that can legally be required
for hiring of applicants.
ANS: T

PTS: 1

REF: p. 81

MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. Which of the following is NOT a requirement of a valid contract?
a. written on a contract form
c. offer and acceptance
b. competency of parties
d. legal subject matter
ANS: A

PTS: 1

REF: p. 79

2. What law protects the right of employees to access information about themselves.
a. Fair Credit Billing Act
c. Privacy Act
b. Federal Truth-in-Lending Act
d. Fair Debt Collection Act
ANS: C

PTS: 1

REF: p. 80

3. What law prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion, gender, or national origin when
hiring, firing, compensating, or applying other employment conditions?
a. Americans with Disabilities Act
c. Privacy Act
b. Civil Rights Act
d. Federal Ethical Management Act
ANS: B

PTS: 1

REF: p. 80

4. What law gives employees the right of access to information about themselves?
a. The Civil Rights Act
c. Labor-Management Relations Act
b. FERPA
d. Privacy Act
ANS: D

PTS: 1

REF: p. 80

5. A bona fide occupational qualification means

a. an essential function of the job
b. a method of evaluating employees
ANS: A

PTS: 1

c. disability accommodations are not

required
d. a, b, and c

REF: p. 81

6. False statements, either written or oral, that injure the reputation or character of another person but
cause no monetary camages are called
a. false warranties
c. libel
b. fraud
d. defamation
ANS: D

PTS: 1

REF: pp. 81-82

7. Which condition is NOT a condition to prove fraud?

a. spoken words
c. deceit that causes monetary damage

b. concealment of a material fact

ANS: D

PTS: 1

d. accidental misrepresentation
REF: p. 82

8. Federal law requires manufacturers and sellers to stand behind a purchase of a major product. A
promise made willingly by the seller is called an
a. Universal law
c. Uniform warranty
b. Express warranty
d. Implied warranty
ANS: B

PTS: 1

REF: p. 79

9. Which of the following are means of acquainting employees with organizational policies on the use of
e-mail, Internet, and other company resources?
a. employee handbook
c. Organizational website
b. statement of the policy signed by
d. a, b, and c
employees
ANS: D

PTS: 1

REF: p. 75

10. Fraud is not committed unless this condition is present

a. a Code of Conduct is violated.
c. Misrepresentation with intent to deceive.
b. No family relationship exists between the d. A persons reputation is injured with no
two parties.
monetary damage.
ANS: C

PTS: 1

REF: p. 82

MATCHING
a. Ethics
b. Phishing
c. Plain English laws

d. Contract
e. Code of conduct

1. A legally binding agreement between two or more parties.

2. Mass mailing of an e-mail message that falsely uses identifying information that appears to be a
reputable company and asks for verification of your personal information.
3. Requirement that contracts be written so consumers can understand them.
4. Making choices that displays character by doing what is right to achieve what is good.
5. Organizational guides for ethical behavior of employees.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

ANS:
ANS:
ANS:
ANS:
ANS:

D
B
C
A
E

PTS:
PTS:
PTS:
PTS:
PTS:

1
1
1
1
1

REF:
REF:
REF:
REF:
REF:

p. 79
p. 76
p. 79
p. 72
p. 82

ESSAY
1. Describe three ways to check the credibility of a website.
ANS:
Any three of these ways may be given:
Find multiple sources that confirm or refute the facts.

Use some library sources in addition to Web searches.

Check for evidence of the authors expertise on the topic.
Check for citations or links to other sources for factual claims,
Observe professional writing evidence; i.e., grammar and spelling.
Consider whether or not cited sources are likely to be biased.
PTS: 1

REF: p. 69

2. What is an intranet? Why would an organization choose to use it rather than the Internet?
ANS:
An intranet is an internal network that offers features comparable to those available on the Internet. It
is, however, available only on an organization-wide basis. An organization concerned about the
security of its computer files and equipment would choose an intranet.
PTS: 1

REF: pp. 70-71

3. What is meant by software piracy?

ANS:
Illegal copying of software is software piracy. Copyright protects commercial software. Freeware can
be copied, but shareware restricts copying.
PTS: 1

REF: pp. 77-78

4. Describe how a business communicator can use ethical principles and/or systems to assist in choosing
ethical content for messages.
ANS:
Choosing ethical content requires analytical and practical skills to choose from all alternatives the right
and good information in a given situation. Identify and analyze any moral issues of the message. Is it
accurate and honest? Is it complete and reflects what the receiver needs to know? Is the you-viewpoint
considered in the decision, and does the message show consideration and respect for the readers? Does
it consider the best content for all concerned?
PTS: 1

REF: pp. 82-83

5. Explain how to assure the legality of business messages.

ANS:
To assure the legality of written or oral messages, one must be aware of the laws, court decisions, and
administrative regulations that apply to those messages. Ignorance of the law does not excuse
violators. If considering content for a message and its legality is in question, an attorney or other
competent authority should be consulted.
PTS: 1

REF: p. 78

CASE
1. A person writes and sends a worm virus to invade a computer, stealing its resources, and using
networks to spread the worm. Explain whether or not it is illegal and/or unethical and why.
ANS:

Computer fraud would apply to this case of illegal use of the Internet. The action is also unethical
because it is deceptive and has a harmful result for the individual(s) whose computer is infected by the
message. Ethical communication strives for the highest good for all involved; that is not the purpose or
result of the worm virus.
PTS: 1

REF: pp. 76-78

2. Employees who stay with a company for several years usually earn a higher salary than new
employees. AXE Company experienced a loss for three quarters. The executives agreed that the best
way to save money was to lay off all employees over 50 years of age because their salaries were the
highest and that would save the most money. Does this violate a federal law? Explain your answer.
ANS:
The Age Discrimination in Employment Act would be violated by using age over 40 as a reason for an
employment decision. Spoken or written statements that imply age is a factor in an employment
decision would have a negative effect if an employee contests the layoff.
PTS: 1

REF: p. 80

3. An employee asked her employer to write a reference letter for her campaign for president of a
prominent local civic club. The employer disliked the employee and had considered firing her but had
not been able to document specific information to support bad job performance. He decided, however,
that he would make sure that she did not get selected for the civic club position and agreed to write a
reference letter. His letter described in detail his opinion of the employees bad work habits and rumors
about the employees personal life. What laws or types of laws are applicable that could make this
action subject to future legal action?
ANS:
The Privacy Act enables employees to access information about themselves, and the employee might
request and read the reference letter. If she does not see the employers copy of the letter, she may later
have access to it in the civic clubs files. Based on false misinformation in the letter, the employer may
be subject to a legal action for libel under defamation laws that prohibit injuring the reputation or
character of another person with the intent to harm the other person. If the letter is received and read
by anyone, it could meet the requirement for a court action for libel, which requires that someone other
than the person defamed must read the libelous letter before it can be grounds for court action.
PTS: 1

REF: p. 80

4. A company executive has the task of downsizing the company to prevent bankruptcy and has to make
decisions about company actions and messages related to this reduction in the number of employees.
Describe at least three ethical considerations.
ANS:
The selection of content or action is based what is honest, fair, loyal, and considerate. Communication
should be honest with full disclosure of the reasons involved.The message should be worded to
demonstrate respect and concern. The ethical problems involve minimizing the effect on the
employees as much as possible because the decision has a serious effect on their livelihood. This could
mean early, honest notification to employees plus assistance for them in securing other employment or
early retirement benefits. The public need to know would be considered because of possible economic
implications to the area.Customers and suppliers who are seriously affected will need notification that
will allow them to make other plans to meet their needs.

Handling communication requires stating the problem clearly, gathering facts about which employees
and others have a stake in the problem, analyzing and determining possible solutions and deciding the
best solution for all concerned. Then be able to explain the choice logcally and factually.
PTS: 1

REF: pp. 82-84

5. A passenger on a major airline continued to use a small computer device after the announcement was
made to turn off all such devices because of the possibility that they would interfere with the electronic
controls of the airplane. Explain whether you believe this action is illegal and/or unethical. Justify your
response.
ANS:
If a person on the plane keeps using an electronic device during a time that it might interfere with the
electronic controls of the airplane, this is obviously unethical because it jeopardizes the safety of all
people on the plane. The use of the device would be unethical because its result is not for the good of
others or even the guilty individual. To date, there is not a law that prohibits or governs the use of
electronic devices on a plane, although the policy of the airlines requests that such devices be turned
off. If the person persisted when specifically requested to turn it off by an airline official and created a
scene, this might violate a law.
PTS: 1

REF: pp. 82-86