Teaching Ethics To Undergraduates: An Examination Of Contextual Approaches

Abstract

Our purpose was to advance the current academic discussion on how to most effectively teach managerial ethics at the undergraduate level. We argued that undergraduate ethics education should be comprehensive, multi-dimensional and woven into the fabric of each student’s experience. In particular, we hypothesized that the inclusion of service-learning experiences and a rigorous honor system would lead to better identification and resolution of ethical dilemmas. A survey of 304 undergraduates from four colleges and universities yielded modest support for our hypotheses. In conclusion, we discuss possible explanations for the results and avenues for future studies.

Who Supports PRME Implementation? An Analysis of Influences on Individual Faculty Commitment to PRME

“…Cagle and Baucus (2006) corroborate the observation that management, marketing and accounting instructors are the most prolific writers on teaching ethics, adding, based on Hess and Norman's (2004) work, that finance journals and textbooks have not kept pace. Keeping with the business ethics theme, Bush, Gutermuth, and West (2009) made note that because of AACSB guidelines, most management textbooks offer at least one chapter devoted to ethics and/or corporate social responsibility. That consideration, along with Bush, et al's observation that the Journal of Management Education had devoted an entire special issue to business ethics, suggests that management scholars were becoming accustomed to the mainstreaming of business ethics in the curriculum.…”

The ethical awareness of the leadership of South African business schools: Do they set the tone?

“…Cavico and Mujtaba (2009) state that business schools have much to answer for in the unethical behaviour and scandals in the business world, pointing to their overemphasis on bottom line issues at all costs rather than an emphasis on the long-term success of their graduates as the cause thereof. Bush, Gutermuth & West (2009) indicate that it is the responsibility of business schools to educate the student as a whole person, which includes shaping and forming values and beliefs. Brown et al (2010) caution that although business schools equip their students with academic and social skills, this does not extend to teaching them how to distinguish between what is ethical and what is merely profitable -"the proverbial moral line in the sand".…”

“…A student can be expelled from the college or university if found guilty of a breach of the code. This practice is informed by a belief that after a student has lived with and within this honour system for a number of years, the student will not only behave honourably, but will be honourable (Bush et al 2009). These practices seem to be a foreign concept to South African business schools (as a type of organisation).…”

“…1It is clear from the literature that it is the responsibility of business schools to produce ethically minded graduates (Bush et al 2009;Freeman et al 2009;Galbraith & Webb 2010). In responding to the questionnaire, the leadership of South African business schools acknowledge this responsibility.…”

Teaching Leadership To Undergraduates: Lessons From U.S. Military Colleges

“…They do not just behave honorably; they are honorable men and women and likely will remain so for a lifetime. (Bush, et al, 2009, pgs. 33-34; Husted & West, pg.…”