It is often hard for a manager to determine what is ‘right’ and even more difficult to put ethical behavior into practice. A manager’s ethical orientation often brings him or her into conflict with people, policies, customers, or bosses. Consider the following dilemmas. How would you handle them?

During a changeover in the accounting department, you discover your company has been routinely overcharging members of the public for services provided to them. Your superiors say repayment of charges would wreak havoc on company profits. Your bosses say the problem will never come to light and they will take steps to correct the problem so it never happens again. You:

a make the matter public, anonymously or otherwise

b says nothing – it is now in the hands of the bosses

c work with the bosses on a plan to recognize the company’s error and set up a schedule of rebates that would not unduly penalize the company.