Professional Level – Essentials Module,
Professional Accountant
1 (a) (i) Three Kohlberg levels
At the preconventional level of moral reasoning, morality is conceived of in terms of rewards, punishments andinstrumental motivations. Those demonstrating intolerance of regulations in preference for self-serving motives aretypical preconventionalists.
At the conventional level, morality is understood in terms of compliance with either or both of peer pressure/socialexpectations or regulations, laws and guidelines. A high degree of compliance is assumed to be a highly moral position.
At the postconventional level, morality is understood in terms of conformance with ‘higher’ or ‘universal’ ethicalprinciples. Postconventional assumptions often challenge existing regulatory regimes and social norms and sopostconventional behaviour is often costly in personal terms.
Level 1: Preconventional level
Stage/Plane 1: Punishment-obedience orientation
Stage/Plane 2: Instrumental relativist orientation
Level 2: Conventional level
Stage/Plane 3: Good boy-nice girl orientation
Stage/Plane 4: Law and order orientation
Level 3: Postconventional level
Stage/Plane 5: Social contract orientation
Stage/Plane 6: Universal ethical principle orientation
(ii) The level that Jack Mineta operated at
The evidence from the case suggests that Mr Mineta operated at the preconventional level. Although he seemed lessconcerned with punishment, his actions were strongly driven by the incentives of financial rewards suggesting a rewardsorientation consistent with preconventional thinking. He seemed prepared to ignore internal control systems (‘I’m in thisjob for what I can get for myself – big risks bring big returns and big bonuses for me.’). The internal control systems at
Global-bank placed clear limits on traders’ behaviour in terms of limits and exposure to the highest risk derivativeinstruments. Mr Mineta was unconcerned about compliance with controls and prevailing rules would have suggestedconventional thinking. Had he complied with the internal control constraints, he would not have lost the large amountof money. Nor would he have made the large prior profits but these were manifestly not sustainable. Miss Hubu’scomment that he ‘didn’t believe in right and wrong’ excludes any suggestion that his ignoring of rules was driven bypostconventional assumptions.
(iii) Stage most appropriate for a professional bank employee
The most appropriate level of moral development for Mr Mineta in his work is stage 4 within the conventional level (level
2). This level stresses compliance with laws and regulations rather than the 3rd stage which is about compliance with
norms to gain social acceptance.
Stage 4 is concerned with legal and regulatory compliance and the moral right is that which is the most compliant withprevailing regulatory systems.
[Tutorial note: it is possible to argue for other stages. Credit should be given for this only when robustly defended withevidence. Unsupported assertions should not be rewarded.]
(b) FIVE typical causes of internal control failure and the performance of Global-bank
There are several possible causes of internal control failure. The UK Turnbull report (in paragraph 22) gives examples ofcauses of failure but this list is not exhaustive.
Poor judgement in decision-making. Internal control failures can sometimes arise from individual decisions being made basedon inadequate information provision or by inexperienced staff.
Human error can cause failures although a well-designed internal control environment can help control this to a certain extent.
Control processes being deliberately circumvented by employees and others. It is very difficult to completely prevent deliberatecircumvention, especially if an employee has a particular reason (in his or her opinion) to do so, such as the belief that higherbonuses will be earned.
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