Paul and his family live close to a convenience store called ‘minimart’. They buy daily necessities from that store. One day Paul went to the store with friends. He did not have enough money to pay for a pack of cigarettes. He knows that stealing is a crime and punishable by law. He attempted to borrow money from his friends, but they suggested he steal a pack of cigarettes instead. However, because he respected his family’s values that stealing is both immoral and illegal, he decided not to steal them. Despite his momentary frustration resulting from not having his cigarettes, Paul experienced a sudden desire to quit smoking. When he arrived home and told his story to family members, they unanimously congratulated him for his decision and new attitude against smoking.

PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING SET OF ACTIONS THAT STORE MANAGERS HAVE CONSIDERED IN PREVIOUS CASES AND DECIDE WHETHER THEIR ACTIONS ARE APPROPRIATE OR INAPPROPRIATE.

A. Give Paul a discount card on purchases and strong encouraging appreciation;
B. Give Paul a discount card;
C. Give Paul strong encouraging appreciation;
D. Give Paul mild encouraging appreciation;
E. No action at all;
F. Give Paul a mild reprimand;
G. Give Paul a strong reprimand and bar him from the store;
H. Hand Paul over to the police;
I. Hand Paul over to the police and bar him from the store;

IF YOU WERE THE STORE MANAGER AND CONSIDERED THE SET OF ACTIONS LISTED ABOVE:

1. Which single action do you believe would be the most appropriate to take? (Write in one letter)………

2. Which other actions (if any) do you believe would also be appropriate? (Write in one letter)…………..

3. Which single action do you believe would be the most inappropriate to take? (Write in one letter)…….

4. Which other actions (if any) do you believe would also be inappropriate? (Write in one letter)………...

From your experience, which single action would most stores consider:-
1. the most appropriate? (Write in one letter)……………
2. the most inappropriate? (Write in one letter)………….

How ethical/unethical do you believe Paul’s behavior was? (Please circle the number that best represents your opinion)

Very          Ethical      Slightly     Neither Ethical nor       Slightly         Unethical            Very                          

Ethical                          Ethical              Unethical             Unethical                                Unethical

   7                 6             5                  4                      3                  2                  1