Standing for Business Ethics Relies on more than Simple Beliefs

Ethics may be more important today than it was in the past as international business brings new influences.  But despite its importance, it doesn’t mean standing up for ethics is likely in cases where unethical practices are regular occurrences. Research by Denise Baden (2014) helps define how positive and negative role models mixed with self-efficacy and descriptive norms help business members make ethical choices. The study encourages us to think about how our environment and self-beliefs impact our core decisions. 

Standing against unethical behavior is never easy as one must sometimes move against their social, political, and business networks. Even good people are paralyzed with fear of reprisals and retaliation. To most it is better to be silent and see no evil, hear no evil and speak no evil when it comes to corporate unethical practices. 

Positive role models give an alternative to unethical behavior and provides a stronger context for another’s actions. Businesses that have positive ethical role models within their ranks can expect higher levels of ethical behavior from employees. Negative role models do the exact opposite and set an expectation that making money at all costs is important for success in life. 

Most behaviors are socially based and unethical workplaces prompt individuals into an “everyone is doing it” vantage point. Enron being an important reminder that only one person blew the whistle while many others tried to cover tracks. Self-efficacy is the ability of a person to withstand their social environment and make decisions based upon their core value systems even when it is necessary to go against a more powerful group. 

Another important mediator of successful ethical exchange is descriptive norms or beliefs. This varies from normative beliefs which help a person define how someone should act. Descriptive ethics is very basic and often rooted in the subconscious where personal values are deeply held and embedded. Because descriptive ethics touches the soul it is more powerful than any other ethical system based on social perception. 

Standing for ethics comes with personal costs. One can expect to be targeted, scrutinized, damaged, and sometimes rejected. In extreme cases where criminality is uncovered, their very life can be threatened. To expect people to stand up for their values in a toxic environment is nearly impossible without support. 

Negative role models damaged self-efficacy creating a situation whereby people do not feel empowered to act. Positive role models did the opposite and raised self-efficacy. To stand against unethical behavior when negative role models are present requires higher self-efficacy and a tapping of descriptive value systems. Negative role models increase cynicism and force behavioral controls with beliefs that business cannot be ethical so therefore no one should even try. 

Baden, D. (2014). Look on the bright side: a comparison of positive and negative role models in business ethics education. Academy of Management Learning & Education, 13 (2).

Developing Deeper Morality in Graduates of Institutions

Ethical considerations are important for maintaining business trust and stakeholder interest. Research by Dufresne & Offstein (2012) delves into the building of character at West Point and makes compelling arguments why many of the values can fit within colleges and business. The study delves into the nature of ethics and how it is seeded into more fundamental character development. Developing these morality systems can service graduates beyond the halls of their education and into the real world.

Major lapses in ethics have caused a decline in trust both on a societal level as well as within business and among investors. These lapses come from fundamental foundations of values and competing choices. Those who do not have strong foundations and ethical conscience often fail when personal and social pressures rise.

Each organization has its own core values that are unique to that institution. For example, at West Point a cadet following the code won’t lie, cheat, steal, or tolerate those who do. In some academic organizations student discipline is completed by engaging in a student judiciary process. The values and ethics of each institution may be different but often follow similar strains.

In higher education the goal is to develop moral reasoning. It is a process of developing personal standards from a perspective of specific communities and narrative understandings. According to Rest (1994), a model of morality includes behaving ethically through moral sensitivity, moral judgment, moral motivation, and moral courage. It is not enough to think without the ability to act.

Single loop learning is based upon reward and punishment. Double loop learning focuses more on the underlining assumptions of those rewards and punishments. Triple loop learning moves into an examination of culture, tradition, institutions, and systems that frame ones actions or behaviors. The fourth level requires a broader understanding of the world.

The second, third,  and fourth loops can only be found through the nurturing of character. Institutions often focus on rules and codes which can be beneficial. However, moral strength doesn’t always mean following all of the rules. Complex morality requires character in addition to the understanding of codes and rules. Institutions should consider their code of ethics as a starting point but should also try and help students deeply understand these concepts to create loops.

Dufresne, R. & Offstein, E. (2012). Holistic and international student character development process: learning from West Point. Academy of Management Learning & Education, 11(4).

Call for Papers: Ethics, social responsibility and sustainability!

Deadline for submissions: October 31, 2013

Scandals have hit the airwaves in increasing numbers. Decisions were made that were not completely ethical and opens a debate on organizational management. Understanding how the social and economic factors create sustainable business helps to create higher levels of economic efficiencies. Emerald is seeking papers to cover ethical decision making and standards. More information http://www.emeraldinsight.com/authors/writing/calls.htm?id=4637

General Topics for Approval

• social and economic consequences of misconduct in organization
• ethical decision making: individual and group processes
• the influence of national/regional institutional factors on the engagement in sustainable, ethical and/or socially responsible practices;
• the impacts of sustainable, ethical and or socially responsible performance at different levels of analysis (e.g. institutional, organizational, and individual levels);

Articles can be empirical or theoretical oriented. All types of methods - quantitative, qualitative or combinations- are acceptable.

All manuscripts submitted to this special issue must follow the submission guidelines, available at:
http://www.emeraldinsight.com/products/journals/author_guidelines.htm?id=mrjiam

Submissions:

Submissions to MRJIAM are made using ScholarOne Manuscripts, the online submission and peer review system. Registration and access is available at

http://mc.manuscriptcentral.com/mrjiam, and authors should submit in the space dedicated to this special issue.

Online MBA's Mirror Global Business Needs

A paper by Jonathan Hochberg discussed the nature of online and hybrid MBA classes (2006). As technology becomes more advanced a higher percentage of executives are opting for online based classes due to their need for flexibility and non-location specific learning. The trend upwards in online MBA attendance is increasing as students opt for colleges that offer worker flexibility. 

The paper also indicates that more students are choosing to go to school part-time as they cannot afford to financially leave their jobs while trying to obtain an advanced degree. Their choices are based in either fully online or in hybrid programs. Each has their own particular benefits and detractors but are preferred as two options over traditional educational systems. 

The two models are seen as familiar to executives and working adults as well as beneficial for enhancing skills. The hybrid and online systems are more relevant in a globalizing economy whereby virtual project teams and occasional face-to-face meetings are more likely in multi-national firms. Online education is seen as an enhancement to these needed virtual communication skills. 

Ethics is seen as more important in online educational which emphases avoiding plagiarism and developing original creative work. Ethics in global networks and business helps to ensure that there is a level of trust between the varying workplace entities that may not socialize or relate to each other on a daily basis. Likewise, cross cultural and cross border business with different laws requires basic ethical standards. 

As citizens of developing countries seek access to higher education opportunities and working executives desire to update their skills they will need to balance the needs of their employers with their desire to obtain an advanced degree. New technology, lowering trade restrictions, and virtual communications are likely to continue encouraging the growth of online MBA programs. 

Hochberg, J. (2006). Online mba programs: emulating global business. Distance Education Report, 10 (2).

Albert Einstein Philosophy on Religion and Science

Albert Einstein was known for his ability to conceptualize concepts back to their beginning or root. He wasn’t a great mathematician or writer, but was excellent as an abstract thinker. Today he is seen as one of the top three most intelligent people in the world who changed the nature of science and became a model of intelligence. His ideas on religion and science is one that aligns with a number early philosophers. His beliefs were based in his deep study of religion in his childhood and scientific beliefs in later years.

Like Spinoza he believed in a God of all things but not necessarily a personalized God. His argument is that as society developed there was the God of Fear, The God of Providence, and finally a Cosmic Religion. The development of the Cosmic Religion is believed to be a sign of critical analysis because of the inherent scientific examination of God into cause and effect in the world. Morality then becomes more subjective.

The God of Fear was invented to help people formalize their vision and explain an unexplainable world. To them mystical powers, punishments from the heavens, and causes could only be attributed to a supreme ruler and mystical being.  The concept of God was a manifestation of fear of the world and those who had power in society. A priestly structure was developed that helped people talk to their God in much the same way people talked to their Kings. 

The God of Providence was a higher state in human development. It is the God that protects, provides, and gives life. Some argue that this God applies to only their own religion or their own culture. It is an individual God that helps society become more moral. This is often seen in the differences of mindset that is associated with the old world rules replaced by a more loving world. It is an advancement in the way people think in terms of their ability to treat each other for society’s sake. Naturally some are included and some excluded from this “saved” concept based upon their cultural differences. 

The cosmic God is unchained from specific religious points of view. There is no old man on a cloud throwing lightning bolts like Thor nor is there a specific God related to a particular sect, religion, culture or race. It is a God that applies to everyone in the way that Democritus, Francis of Assisi, and Spinoza saw it. Science and religion become wrapped into a more singular mindset. Each becomes a path to the truth with a God that is more universal and embedded into the nature of all human beings. 

Einstein’s conception of God is certainly interesting. He is right in the sense that the more we are aware of the cause and effect of life the more we are likely to remove images of little devils behind our kitchen cupboards or a God on a cloud. Yet like Einstein there are a great many things we must admit we don’t know. He felt that there were laws that needed to be followed and this is a sign of intelligent design. The cosmic religion is one of education, sympathy, and social ties. We cannot forget that each seed has within it the need to grow, develop, and reproduce without being a product of randomness. We can be sure there will be a continually search for truth among scientists and the spiritual class.