How Not to Make Ethical Decisions: Guidelines from Management Textbooks

Since 1974, business programs have responded to the AACSB's requiring enhancement of instruction in ethics. One way has been through the integration of ethics coverage across departments. In Management, the introductory textbooks that provide coverage of ethics often attempt to simplify for students the process of making ethics decisions by presenting guidelines or tests. We examine two such guidelines, the TV and significant others tests, and discuss their myriad severe deficiencies. Specific ways in which four of the stakeholders in this issue – authors, publishers, instructors, and business schools – can respond to these deficiencies are suggested.