Skip to content

ACCA Strategic Professional · Strategic Business Leader · Professionalism, ethical codes and the public interest

Zentra Pharma's finance director is deciding whether to delay disclosing a minor product defect. She reasons that the right choice is the one that produces the greatest overall benefit for the greatest number of stakeholders, even if a few are harmed. Which ethical approach is she applying?

She is applying utilitarian, or consequentialist, ethics. This approach judges an action by its outcomes and favours whichever choice delivers the greatest overall benefit to the greatest number of people, even if a minority is harmed. Duty-based ethics would focus on rules instead of consequences.

  1. ADeontological (duty-based) ethics
  2. BUtilitarian (consequentialist) ethicsCorrect
  3. CVirtue ethics
  4. DEthical relativism

Explanation

Judging an action by its outcomes, aiming at the greatest good for the greatest number, is the utilitarian or consequentialist approach. Deontology would instead look at duties and rules regardless of outcome, so it does not fit her reasoning.

Did you get it right without looking?

One question tells you little. A timed set on Professionalism, ethical codes and the public interest shows your real accuracy, how long you take and where you lose marks.

Practise Professionalism, ethical codes and the public interestFree diagnostic mock

More Professionalism, ethical codes and the public interest questions