Business Ethics Training: Insights from Learning Theory

This paper explores research in educational psychology and learning theory in a search for insights to enhance business ethics training Useful educational principles uncovered are then applied to the development of an ethics training initiative for sales professionals. The paper concludes with suggestions for future research to help enrich business ethics training.

An Empirical Investigation of the Relationships between Ethical Beliefs, Ethical Ideology, Political Preference and Need for Closure

An analysis is presented of the relationships between consumers ethical beliefs, ethical ideology, Machiavellianism, political preference and the individual difference variable "need for closure". It is based on a representative survey of 286 Belgian respondents. Standard measurement tools of proven reliability and robustness are used to measure ethical beliefs (consumer ethics scale), ethical ideology (ethical positioning), Machiavellianism (Mach IV scale) and need for closure. The analysis finds the following. First, individuals with a high need for closure tend to have beliefs that are more ethical as regards possible consumer actions, and score higher on idealism and lower on Machiavellianism, than those with a low need for closure. Second, a correlation exists between political preference and ethical beliefs. Third, a significant relationship exists between ethical ideology and political preference for the two largest political parties. Fourth, individuals with a high and low need for closure have different political preferences for right-wing and left-wing parties.     

系统观视角下对中小企业融资问题的审视

中小企业融资是一个世界性难题。本文基于整体性、关联性、动态性等系统观,对中小企业融资难的原因进行了剖析,总结了中小企业融资难的四个内生性矛盾,认为解决中小企业融资难问题应该坚持系统性思维。以系统要素、系统环境之间的相互协调为目标,本文提出了解决中小企业融资难问题的总体思路、目标及对策建议。     

The ethical problems between law and power： A conceptual framework of business moral conduct

The concept of business ethics ranges from respect of the obligatory law, to attention to mutually shared ethical rules, to the collective well being, and as far as philanthropy. Due to such a heterogeneity of interpretations, it proves useful to attempt to define the concept of moral problems by establishing their contents and limits. Such a matter proves to be of primary importance： Firstly, to be able to establish which situations have underlying questions of ethical implications; Secondly, to be able to evaluate the moral conduct of the company. The objective of this present work is twofold： （1） Identify the distinctive components of an ethical problem; （2） Prepare a support instrument for management to use in the monitoring process of the ethical dimension of the company.     

论大学伦理精神

高校参与社会服务,将大学的伦理精神束之高阁,导致种种不良后果。重视大学伦理精神建设,更有利于增进学术贡献的正效益;更有利于规范科研人员的学术研究。大学的学术贡献需要相应的伦理规范,重视对科研人员的伦理规范培养是实现大学伦理精神的最佳途径与手段。     

基于经济伦理视角的和谐农村建设探讨

农村经济伦理缺失危及公平和社会公信度。运用经济伦理学的知识和研究方法,系统分析农村经济伦理缺失的各种现象并剖析农村伦理缺失的原因。提出应当加快农村人口城市化进程,建立符合市场经济体制的土地流转、征用体制,改变经济增长方式和加强环境治理,提高农村居民收入和增加农民话语权,发挥邮政绿色走廊传播科技知识、服务三农和倡导合理、健康、绿色消费观念的作用,助推和谐农村建设。     

Tendency to Infer Bribery and Corrupt Intent in Social and Business Situations: Comparing Chinese and Singaporean Employees

The present paper investigates the differences in ethicalperceptions between Chinese and Singaporean employees. Twocontrasting predictions based on socialization theory are testedusing 142 Chinese and 141 Singaporean employees as subjects. Results show that Chinese employees tend to infer a greaterdegree of unethical (bribery and corrupt) intent than Singaporeanemployees in 17 of the 25 ethical vignettes. The converse isfound in only two and no significant differences are found in therest of the vignettes. Implications for international managersand assignees and researchers in international business workingon or in China are discussed.     

市场经济的伦理缺陷研究

市场经济的伦理缺陷:首先,表现在市场经济基本理念与传统道德价值与原则的根本冲突;其次,表现在市场经济运行过程对经济原则的片面坚持与对伦理价值的顽固排斥与否定。克服市场经济伦理缺陷的根本办法在于重新审视经济理性的合理性,检讨经济发展的终极意义,使市场经济以及经济理性回复到在伦理规则指引下为人类主体性生存服务的合理轨道上来。     

The End of Corporate Social Responsibility: Crisis & Critique,by Peter Fleming and Marc T. Jones

ABSTRACT

Purpose: Given the ever-increasing pressure put on sales organizations to improve performance, behave ethically and establish long-term customer relationships, this study seeks to better comprehend ethical leadership’s part in doing so. It proposes that perceived ethical leadership indirectly influences salesperson performance through trust in manager and ethical ambiguity.

Methodology/Approach: A survey of business-to-business salespeople was taken. Hypotheses are tested using structural equation modeling.

Findings: The results show that perceived ethical leadership influences salesperson performance through the mediating roles of trust in manager and ethical ambiguity. Salespeople’s perceptions of their supervisor’s ethical leadership behaviors positively impact their trust in manager and negatively influences their ethical ambiguity. In turn, trust in manager positively influences sales performance while ethical ambiguity negatively influences sales performance.

Research Implications: The results from testing the hypothesized model support mechanisms by which ethical leadership behavior may affect business-to-business salesperson job performance. It appears that ethical leadership works through ethical ambiguity and trust in manager to impact salesperson behavior performance, rather than directly impacting salesperson performance. Importantly the findings add to the literature an important consequence of ethical leadership, ethical ambiguity. This research likewise adds to the literature on role, and more specifically ethical, ambiguity by finding that reducing salesperson ethical ambiguity has a positive impact on salesperson behavior performance.

Practical Implications: This study finds that one important mechanism for reducing ethical ambiguity is for sales supervisors to practice ethical leadership. By reducing ethical ambiguity, sales managers can improve business-to-business salesperson performance. In addition, use of ethical leadership by sales managers can positively influence the business-to-business salesperson’s trust in manager, which subsequently leads to greater sales performance.

Originality/Value/Contribution: The results of this study add to our knowledge of ethical leadership by further developing its consequences. It also sheds light on a vastly under-researched construct, ethical ambiguity. Finally, it further validates the important role that trust in manager plays in the organization.     

LACK OF RIGOUR IN DEFENDING FAIRTRADE: A REPLY TO ALASTAIR SMITH

Alastair Smith (2009 ) claims to refute a few criticisms of Fairtrade. It is shown that his empirical evidence consists of anecdotes with no statistical or other evidential value, and that his economics is wrong. Though Fairtrade is an agricultural marketing system, he appears not to be aware of the literature on agricultural marketing or co‐operatives. Accordingly he makes statements not in accord with the accepted theory or evidence. He assumes, for instance, backward‐sloping supply curves and that the prices offered by state marketing boards are not affected by markets. There are ethical trading alternatives which avoid all the criticisms of Fairtrade.