Question

When Robin and Rich ask for a client's financial statements in order to complete the data collection for their strategic management project, the owner of the business tells Robin that his accountants are "preparing the financials but these won't be ready for several months." The client instead suggests that Robin and Rich fabricate the financials, since what he "really wants is a marketing plan," and that "no one will ever know if you've seen the actual financials or not." Which of the following should not guide Robin and Rich in their decision whether or not to take this as an authorization to submit false data as part of their final report?

a. heavy pressure on students to meet or beat assigment deadlines
b. the pervasivenets of immortal and annoral business people
c. their desire to complete the project, independent of their actual performance on the project
d. over zealous pursut of personal gain, wealth and other selfish interest.
e. a company or campus culture that place good business performance and good grades ahead of etehnical behavior

Answer 1

Robin and Rich should disregard unethical motivations such as deadline pressures or personal gain and prioritize ethical behavior over fabricating financial statements for their project.

Step-by-step explanation:

When faced with a request to fabricate financial statements for a strategic management project, ethical considerations must be the top priority in decision-making. Robin and Rich should not be guided by factors such as heavy pressure to meet assignment deadlines, the prevalence of amoral business practices, a desire to complete the project regardless of the true quality of their work, an overzealous pursuit of personal gain, or a company or campus culture that prioritizes performance or grades over ethical behavior. By adhering to ethical standards, they would not only foster trust and accountability in the business environment but also meet their professional and academic obligations with integrity.

The primary topic of this question is ethical behavior in a business setting. The question asks which factor should not guide Robin and Rich in their decision to fabricate financial data for their strategic management project.

The correct answer is c. their desire to complete the project, independent of their actual performance on the project. The desire to complete a project should not justify submitting false data. Fabricating financials is unethical and goes against professional standards. Students should prioritize honesty, integrity, and ethical behavior in their academic and professional work.