Ethics Acctg Essay

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TEACHING NOTES: ACCT – 01 BUSINESS ETHICS PROGRAM Rusty and Dusty Slow Movers What Are the Relevant Facts? 1. 2. 3. 4. The company has purchased and repossessed farm equipment that it will have difficulty reselling. Much of this inventory is overvalued and turns over slowly. It is a difficult task to try to unload this inventory profitably. Art does not want to write-down a significant portion of this inventory, even though it has been on the books for years. Moreover, Art has implied that he wants Penny to help him hide the problem from the auditors. Penny is attempting to straighten out the books. 7. 4. 2. 3. Sales staff could be paid significantly more commission for selling these items. Penny can price out the inventory at full cost, while hoping that the auditors do not uncover this problem. Penny can attempt to compromise with Art and the auditors by writing off a modest though incomplete portion of the inventory this year and saving the major adjustments for the next year. Penny can talk to the auditors when they arrive. Penny could talk to Art and ask him specifically what he wants her to do and if he wants her to lie. She could also express her concerns about these practices. Penny can follow Art’s request as she has interpreted it. 5. 6. 5. What Are the Ethical Issues? 1. Should Penny put through a market value adjustment for the inventory in spite of Art’s comments? Should Penny compute what the write-down would be, just for Art’s information? To what extent can she expect Rhonda and Ron’s support? How is fair market value determined during recessionary times? Does Penny have a responsibility to take formal action? Is it ethical for Penny to mislead auditors if it is to the company’s long-term advantage? What Are the Ethics of the Alternatives? 1. Would better checks on the inventory (such as a computerized inventory control)

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