Communication Ethics: Distinguishing Ethical Dilemmas and Ethical Lapses [LO-5] In less than a page, 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 benefi ts of instant messaging to your company’s managers; they never seem to understand the benefi ts 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 fi re 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 fi scal year so that your budget won’t be cut next year—when you might have a real need for the money