Ethical Dilemmas - Answer each question. Decide ultimately what the ethical "right thing is that you would have done for each scenario.

I.

The reliance on digital communication in the business world surely has created ethical dilemmas involving information access and privacy. You could find yourself in a situation of needing to get information from a coworker's computer when that person was out of the office. You know you're not supposed to access others' computers, but this coworker is a friend of yours and she has shared her password with you in the past. When you log in, you discover that your coworker has been saving customers' credit card data on the computer, which is a violation of company policy.

• Saving customer credit card data is a violation of customer privacy and company policy. You suspect the information may be being used for identity theft or credit card fraud.
• Your company's code of ethics specifies that employees are responsible for reporting violations of the policy to management.
• Your company's information technology specifies that employees should not share their passwords or log in to accounts or equipment used by other employees.
• If you turn in your coworker, you could also get in trouble since you only gained the information through violating a company policy.
• If you don't turn in your coworker, the people whose credit card information she saved could be victimized by fraud or theft.
• Should you risk your job by telling management what you saw on your coworker's computer? Do you owe loyalty to your coworker, the company or the customers?

II.

One of the most important characteristics of an effective leader is treating people equitably. This involves fairness and consistency, including applying the rules to everyone equally. Answer all the below questions then decide what should a coach do when a few superstar players get caught breaking rules that should lead to their suspension from the team immediately before a big game that is very important to the team?

• If the star players don't play, there is a good chance the team will lose. If the team has to win this game to advance to the championship game, should that affect the coach's decision?
• If the coach doesn't apply appropriate consequences to the actions of the players who broke the rules, what lesson are those players learning? Will they continue to break rules?
• What about the other players who do follow the rules. Will they learn that the rules are just suggestions and feel like they don't need to comply in the future?
• What if one of the players who broke the rules will miss a chance to be seen by professional scouts if he doesn't play in the game?
• What if the team's school will earn a large amount of money from television coverage of the big game if the team goes to the championship?
• What if the coach is set to earn a big bonus or significant pay increase if the team advances to the championship game?