May 03, 2025

Personal Business Ethics Survey (PBES)

Participation in this study is anonymous and voluntary. You can choose to withdraw from this study at any time. This study is primarily concerned with the business ethics view of respondent groups. You are not required to record your name, and the information you provide will be totally confidential. This survey has two parts: the first is a brief demographic questionnaire, and the second is the Business Ethics survey. Please select the appropriate answers and thank you for your cooperation. For more information, contact:


Dr. Bahaudin Mujtaba
mujtaba@nova.edu
954.262.5045
1.800.672.7223 ext.25045


Part I: Demographic Questionnaire

A. What is your gender?

Male
Female

B. What is your age?

17 to 25
26 to 35
36 to 45
46 to 55
56 and above

C. How would you describe yourself?

White, not of Hispanic origin?
Black, not of Hispanic origin?
Hispanic
Asian/Pacific Islander
American Indian/Alaskan Native
Other (please specify) 

D. Were you born in the United States?

Yes (skip the next question)
No

E. If you answered No to the above question, how many years have you lived in the United States?

Less than one year
1-5 years
6-10 years
11-19 years
20 or more years

F. What is the highest academic schooling you have acquired?

High school diploma or equivalent
Two years of college, community college, or institute training
Bachelors Degree
Masters Degree
Doctoral Degree
Other (Please Specify) 

G. How long have you worked with your current employer?

Less than one year
1-5 years
6-15 years
16-30 years
30 or more years
Currently unemployed

H. What is your primary area of work?

Accounting or finance
Advertising, marketing, or sales
Communications or public relations
Economics or statistical
Engineering
Government relations or grants
Medical or healthcare
Human resources, personnel, or training
Legal or legal assistance
Manufacturing or production
Purchasing or buying
Scientific
Technological or computer
Other (Please specify) 

I. Have you ever worked in a management position regardless of business or industry?

Yes No

J. Does your current employer have a Code of Ethics or Code of Conduct?

Yes No

K. Have you ever taken an ethics or business ethics course at a college or university?

Yes No

L. Have you ever taken a business law or government regulation of business course at a college or university?

Yes No

M. Have you ever had any ethics or business ethics training, workshops, or seminars at work?

Yes No

N. Have you ever had any diversity or sensitivity training, workshops, or seminars at work?

Yes No

O. How long have you worked with a government or public institution?

Never or less than one year
1-5 years
6-15 years
16-30 years
30 or more years
Currently unemployed

P. What is your place of birth


P. What is your current place of residence?




Part II: Business Ethics Survey

Directions: Please select the answer which best expresses your judgement of each case.

1. A number of high-ranking executives of several U.S. electrical companies were convicted and sentenced to jail for conspiring to fix the prices of heavy electrical equipment. Their defense counsel argued that they only sought to rationalize a chaotic pricing situation and they also were only seeking to be better able to compete against foreign electrical companies. What is your evaluation of the action of these executives?

Strongly Approve Approve Undecided Disapprove Strongly Disapprove


2. Sabato is a sales representative of Ajax Tool Company. Sabato has been instructed by Maynard, Vice President of Sales, to adopt a sales policy Sabato considers unethical. Maynard and Sabato have discussed the policy at length; and it is apparent Maynard thinks the policy is quite unethical too. Maynard nonetheless, due to the firm's worsening financial condition, orders Sabato to follow the policy; and Sabato reluctantly does so. What is your opinion of Sabato's actions?

Strongly Approve Approve Undecided Disapprove Strongly Disapprove


3. Star, a member of the Board of Directors of Scott Electronic Corp., has just learned that the company is about to announce publicly a 5-for-1 stock split and an increase in the dividends. Star personally is on the brink of bankruptcy. A quick gain of about seventy-five thousand dollars can save Star and Star's family from economic and social ruin. Star decides to take advantage of this information, and thus purchases the company's stocks now to sell back in a few days for the expected profit. What is your opinion of Star's actions?

Strongly Approve Approve Undecided Disapprove Strongly Disapprove


4. Chuckwell sells "pre-owned" cars for Avila Auto Company. Although Chuckwell feels that the cars sold are reasonably priced, nevertheless in the company's standard 'sales pitch' Chuckwell is forced to match the extravagant claims and sharp tactics of competitors. The Avila Auto Company also engages in such questionable practices as setting back the speedometers, hiding major defects, and putting pressure on prospects to close a deal on their first visit. Chuckwell knows that the company could not survive without such practices. Although Chuckwell disagrees with such practices, nonetheless, Chuckwell reluctantly follows these practices. What is your opinion of Chuckwell's actions?

Strongly Approve Approve Undecided Disapprove Strongly Disapprove


5. The Reed Engineering Firm faces a very competitive situation in bidding for a large contract to construct a new store for a large discount chain. Inasmuch as the firm is seriously in need of the work, Pennings, a partner in the firm, suggests that the Reed Engineering firm submit a bid which will certainly be unrealistically low; and then the company can make its profit on the use of inferior materials and other 'short-cuts.' Pennings is certain this can be done without arousing the suspicion of building inspectors or the discount chain. Pennings argues that any firm which is awarded the contract will have to do that since the bidding will be so intensely competitive. Reed, the senior partner, agrees, stating that this type of low bidding is neither an infrequent nor unusual practice in the industry anyway. What is your opinion of Penning's planned actions?

Strongly Approve Approve Undecided Disapprove Strongly Disapprove


6. BeeBee is a sales person for the Sweet Soap and Body Lotion Company. With commissions, BeeBee's salary is $76,000 per year. BeeBee usually supplements this amount to the extent of about $8,000 per year by cleverly charging certain unauthorized personal expenses against the company expense account. BeeBee feels that this is a common practice in the company; and since "everybody is doing it," BeeBee should do it too, and it would be foolish of BeeBee not to. What is your opinion of BeeBee's action?

Strongly Approve Approve Undecided Disapprove Strongly Disapprove


7. Shaquanda, Treasurer of Lloyd Enterprises, is about to retire; and contemplates recommending one of her two assistants for promotion to treasurer. Shaquanda is sure that the recommendation will be accepted, but also knows that the assistant not recommended will find his/her promotion opportunities seriously limited. One of the assistants, Musta, seems most qualified for the new assignment; but the other assistant, Perwiz, is related to the president of Lloyd's biggest customer. Though Shaquanda hates to do it, Shaquanda recommends Perwiz for the job because the relationship with the customer will help Lloyd's business. What is your opinion of Shaquanda's action?

Strongly Approve Approve Undecided Disapprove Strongly Disapprove


8. Kuan, editor of the Daily News, is troubled. Kuan has just received a visit from Cramer, a public relations executive with the Aztec Department Store. Aztec is a big advertiser in the Daily News; and its continued purchase of advertising space is very important to the paper, especially now with the intense competition from online news sources. Recently, Aztec sold a large quantity of appliances which proved to be defective; and then the company refused to refund the consumer's money or to exchange the merchandise for better quality products. The Daily News at the present time is running a series on local business firms. Cramer wants to be sure that a story on the Aztec will contain no mention of this 'unfortunate occurrence.' Kuan is troubled; but in order not to offend this important advertiser, Kuan reluctantly agrees not to mention the sale of defective appliances by Aztec in the paper. What is your opinion of Kuan's actions?

Strongly Approve Approve Undecided Disapprove Strongly Disapprove


9. Schall, a Public Accountant, has been called in to audit the books of the Lakewood Trucking Company in anticipation of a public sale of stock. In the course of the audit, Schall discovered an item that is puzzling: a $20,000 advertising expense paid to a Chicago Advertising Company. This was a one-payment expense three years ago; and no further business has been done with the Chicago firm. When questioned by Schall, Wallen, President of the Trucking Company, readily admitted that this money was used as a bribe to pay a union official. "It was a question of paying up or going out of business," Wallen explained. However, due to an employee empowerment program, Wallen sees no possibility of this situation recurring, and consequently asks Schall not to mention this item in the Auditor's Report. Since the firm seems well managed and financially viable , Schall agrees to ignore this questionable expense. What is your opinion of Schall's actions?

Strongly Approve Approve Undecided Disapprove Strongly Disapprove


10. Pisa, President of Pisa Fashions Co., has heard rumors that a competitor, Sunset Fashion, is coming out with a new line of dazzling spring styles which in all likelihood will sweep the market. Pisa cannot afford to wait until the new styles come out, and thus hires Bishop, plant supervisor of Sunset. Although Bishop is not a designer, in the capacity of plant supervisor, Bishop has become thoroughly familiar with the new Sunset spring fashion line. It is understood that Bishop will reveal the full details of the new Sunset styles to the new employer, Pisa Fashions Company. What is your opinion of Pisa's action?

Strongly Approve Approve Undecided Disapprove Strongly Disapprove


11. Sarwar is a sales person for Fare and Shear, stockbrokers. Sarwar has been instructed to recommend to customers the purchase of Electric Power Company Bonds, because the brokerage firm is carrying a heavy inventory of these bonds. Sarwar does not feel the bonds are a good investment under present circumstances; and is therefore reluctant to recommend them. However, after some thought, Sarwar decides to follow the company directive and recommend the bonds. What is your opinion of Sarwar's actions?

Strongly Approve Approve Undecided Disapprove Strongly Disapprove



Comments: You are welcome to share any comments regarding business ethics at local organizations or globally.




Source: Mujtaba, B. G. (1997). Business Ethics Survey of Supermarket Managers and Employees. UMI Dissertation Service. A Bell & Howell Company. UMI Number: 9717687. UMI: 300 North Zeeb Road. Ann Arbor, MI 48103. Phone: (313) 761-4700. (800) 521-0600.