A unique aspect of Johnson & Johnson's Credo is that it:

• A. It is an aspirational statement rather than the typical "thou shalt not" form of a code of ethics
• B. It encourages employees to interpret the values of the company
• C. It follows an agency approach to decision making
• D. It establishes general guidelines for ethical behavior when the code's ethics rules are unclear

Answer: (A)

Johnson & Johnson's Credo is known for its aspirational nature—it's a living statement of commitments guiding how the company should behave, not a rigid list of prohibitions. It frames responsibilities to customers, employees, communities, and stockholders as guiding ideals, encouraging leaders and employees to strive toward high standards even in situations not explicitly covered by a rule. This makes it distinct from typical codes of ethics that focus on what not to do or on strict rules. While the Credo does encourage thoughtful interpretation of values and influences decision making, its core characteristic is its emphasis on ideals and long-term ethical orientation. The other descriptions don’t capture this defining feature; the Credo isn’t primarily about an agency-style decision model or simply a set of general guidelines for when rules are unclear.