Ethics and Decision-making Assignment

1
Ethics and Decision-making
Name of the Student
University
Tutor
Date

2
ETHICS AND DECISION-MAKING
Decision-making is a complex process, which requires one to be quite keen so that no parties
concerned are faced with challenges. In any scenario, a person may be faced with an ethical
dilemma where an important decision is required to be made. In the case study shown, an
ethical dilemma facing the two individuals, which is Johnny and Mary Jo. Like in any other
profession, accounting principles require us to observe ethics to ensure that standards are
observed. Proper understanding and appreciation of ethics is an important issue in any
organization; Stakeholders need to take note of aspects that may infringe the fundamental
principles ethics (Markel, 2001).
The first case gives an overview of a violation of ethical standards laid down in the
guidelines. It is important to note that financial accounting ethics is an important aspect that
may land somebody into financial problems, or perhaps, court cases (Brown, 2000). In
accounting, ethics are based on a number of principles that govern the business as well as its
environment. The most important principles of ethics noted in the first case study include
honesty, impartiality, and objectivity (Zsolnai, 2017). Ethical principles require that financial
reports be presented in a clear and accurate manner that can be easily scrutinized by experts.
Financial reports not only presented in a concise manner will enable professionals to have
ease in carrying out their scrutiny, but will also indicate the financial capability of a firm or
organization.
Johnny has extensively violated the principle of integrity and honesty in the sense that instead
of him making sure that the documents are up to date, he has opted to lie by inserting a
document that was not there. He went ahead to backdate the document without informing his
boss to get his consent. Generally, accounting being a delicate undertaking, which requires a
very high level of honesty and integrity, can sometimes be handled unprofessionally leading

3
to unethical behaviour, which could have been avoided if those charged with the
responsibility of taking care of finances in organizations. Johnny should be sanctioned to
explain the circumstances in which he self-decided to edit, backdate, and insert the document.
To ascertain that the financial issues of the company are really in order, the person in charge
should be investigated and asked to clarify why he behaved so (Ferrell, Fraedrich and
Ferrell, 2013). It is important to note that finances of the firm may be compromised in many
ways, therefore; it is necessary to regularly, carry out an audit. This will ensure that financial
integrity and honesty is checked extensively and accurately.
On the other hand, Mary Jo has violated an academic integrity by accepting to download
exams from exam bank while knowing very well that it is a criminal offence and it violates
the university academic policies (Kelly and Welch, 2016). It is one of the most dangerous
offences a student would be involved in any university. To ensure that any such academic
breach is avoided in the future, the university administration should put necessary methods to
bar anyone thinking about committing that offence and at the same time taking necessary
disciplinary actions against those who have committed such mistake (Beever, 2016). The
academic committee should do the sanctioning of Mary Jo and explain to her the
consequences of indulging in examination malpractices. The summoning of Mary Jo should
be procedural and she should be given a chance to be heard so that a decision can be made
that does not infringe her rights too. Academic integrity is an important issue that every
institution of learning has to invest in to ensure that all the students should take note (Gong,
2016).