Which problem is the newspaper or social media test especially good at exposing?
AErrors in the arithmetic behind a proposal
BDelays in the delivery schedule of a product
CPotential conflicts of interest in a decision
DGaps in the technical training of employees
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: C. Potential conflicts of interest in a decision
1. The test forces a decision maker to view a choice through the eyes of an outsider.
2. An outsider immediately notices when a decision could benefit the decision maker personally.
3. The test is therefore helpful in spotting and resolving potential conflicts of interest.
4. Social media sharpens this further, because critical comments about employers and colleagues spread widely.
5. Arithmetic errors and delivery delays are operational matters that public scrutiny does not target.
6. Training gaps are addressed by ethics training programmes rather than by this test.
_Source: OpenStax Introduction to Business (CC BY 4.0), Ch 2 "Making Ethical Decisions and Managing a Socially Responsible Business", section 2.2 The Newspaper or Social Media Test_
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