Communication Ethics: Distinguishing Ethical Dilemmas and Ethical Lapses [LO-6] A work colleague, prone to exaggeration and playing pranks, tells you that they borrowed an important piece of the company’s equipment overnight to use at home without seeking permission.

While using it, they dropped it, causing some damage, which will require expensive re-calibration, but put it back and have told no-one but you about it. Discuss the potential and existing ethical dilemmas and lapses within this situation.

1.28. Communication Ethics: Distinguishing Ethical Dilemmas and Ethical Lapses [LO-6] Briefly explain why you think each of the following is or is not ethical.

a. Keeping quiet about a possible environmental hazard you’ve just discovered in your company’s processing plant

b. Overselling the benefits of instant messaging to your company’s managers; they never seem to understand the benefits of technology, so you believe it’s the only way to convince them to make the right choice

c. Telling an associate and close friend that she needs to pay more attention to her work responsibilities, or management will fire her

d. Recommending the purchase of equipment your department doesn’t really need in order to use up your allocated funds before the end of the fiscal year so that your budget won’t be cut next year, when you might have a real need for the money