Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Ethical Misconduct In The Business School: A Case Of Plagiarism That Turned Bitter

  • Published:
Journal of Business Ethics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

As a result of the public demand for higher ethical standards, business schools are increasingly taking ethical matters seriously. But their effort has concentrated on teaching business ethics and on students' ethical behavior. Business faculty, in contrast, has attracted much less attention. This paper explores the context and the implications of an alleged case of plagiarism in a master's dissertation submitted to a university lacking both an ethical code of conduct and a formalized procedure to deal with academic misconduct. The events evolved into a bitter political process in which the more ethically aware members of faculty challenged efforts to cover-up. Here the focus is on the motives and behavior of faculty members involved in this case rather than the alleged plagiarist's. The role played by the main actors involved in the process in examined using the theory of moral development and the organizational politic perspective. The paper discusses the mechanisms available to raise ethical awareness and prevent academic misconduct, and the limitations of self-regulation and self-monitoring that prevails in the university system. It also examines the impact of ethics instruction and faculty ethical standards on students' behavior and concludes that ethics instruction can only be effective when the principles taught are in line with daily actions of their instructors.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Adams, J. S.,A. Tashchian and T. H. Shore: 2001,'Codes of Ethics as Signals for Ethical Behavior',Journal of Business Ethics 29(3), 199–211.

    Google Scholar 

  • AOM: 1995, ‘The Academy of Management Code of Ethical Conduct', Academy of Management Journal 38(2), 573–577.

    Google Scholar 

  • Austin, M. J. and L. D. Brown: 1999, ‘InternetPlagiarism: Developing Strategies to Curb StudentAcademic Dishonesty', The Internet and HigherEducation2(1), 21–33.

    Google Scholar 

  • Baltimore, D.: 1989, ‘Self-regulation of Science',Technology Review 92(6), 20 and 79.

    Google Scholar 

  • Borkowski, S. C. and Y. J. Ugras: 1998, ‘BusinessStudents and Ethics: A Meta-analysis', Journal ofBusiness Ethics 17(11), 1117–1127.

    Google Scholar 

  • Braxton, J. M. and A. E. Bayer: 1996, ‘PersonalExperiences of Research Misconduct and theResponse of Individual Academic Scientists',Science, Technology and Human Values 21(2), 198–213.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brown, V. J. and M. E. Howell: 2001, ‘The Efficacyof Policy Statements on Plagiarism: Do TheyChange Students’ Views?', Research in HigherEducation 42(1), 103–118.

    Google Scholar 

  • Caruana, A., B. Ramaseshan and M. T. Ewing: 2000,'The Effect of Anomie on Academic Dishonestyamong University Students', The InternationalJournal of Educational Management 14(1), 23–30.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chubin, D. E. and E. J. Hackett: 1990, Peerless Science:Peer Review and U.S.Science Policy(State Universityof New York Press, Albany).

  • Coleman, N. and T. Mahaffey: 2000, ‘BusinessStudents Ethics: Selected Predictors of Attitudestoward Cheating', Teaching Business Ethics4(2),121–136.

    Google Scholar 

  • Collins, D.: 2000, ‘The Quest to Improve the HumanCondition: The First 1500 Articles Published inJournal of Business Ethics', Journal of Business Ethics 26(1), 1–73.

    Google Scholar 

  • Conaway, R. N. and T. L. Fernandez: 2000, ‘EthicalPreferences among Business Leaders: Implicationsfor Business Schools', Business CommunicationQuarterly 63(1), 23–38.

    Google Scholar 

  • Crown, D. F. and M. S. Spiller: 1997, ‘FacultyResponsibilities in Dealing with CollegiateCheating: A Student Development Perspective',Teaching Business Ethics1(2), 117–130.

    Google Scholar 

  • Crown, D. F. and M. S. Spiller: 1998, ‘Learning fromthe Literature on Collegiate Cheating: A Reviewof Empirical Research', Journal of Business Ethics 17(6), 683–700.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cyriac, K. and R. Dharmaraj: 1994,'Machiavellianism in Indian Management', Journalof Business Ethics 13(4), 281–286.

    Google Scholar 

  • David, F. R.,L. M. Anderson and K. W. Lawrimore,'Perspectives on Business Ethics in ManagementEducation', SAM Advanced Management Journal 55(4), 26–32.

  • Davis, J. R. and R. E. Welton: 1991, ‘ProfessionalEthics: Business Students’ Perceptions', Journal ofBusiness Ethics 10(6), 451–463.

    Google Scholar 

  • Davis, M.: 1999, Ethics and the University(Routledge,London).

  • Devine, T.: 1998, ‘Secrecy and Accountability in Scientific Research', Forum for Applied Research and Public Policy 13(1), 65–70.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dotterweich, D. P. and S. Garrison: 1997, ‘ResearchEthics of Business Academic Researchers atAACSB Institutions', Teaching Business Ethics1(4),431–447.

    Google Scholar 

  • DuPont, A. M. and J. S. Craig: 1996, ‘DoesManagement Experience Change the EthicalPerceptions of Retail Professionals: A Comparison Ethical Misconduct in the Business School 87.of the Ethical Perceptions of Current Students withThose of Recent Graduates?', Journal of BusinessEthics 15(8), 815–826.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fraedrich, J., D. M. Thorne and O. C. Ferrell: 1994,'Assessing theApplication of Cognitive Moral Development Theory to Business Ethics', Journal of Business Ethics 13(10),829–838.

    Google Scholar 

  • Frankel, M. S.: 1998, ‘Scientific Community Must Set the Standards', Forum for Applied Research and PublicPolicy 13(1), 57–60.

    Google Scholar 

  • Frey, R. L.,B. S. Frey and R. Eichenberger: 1999,'A Case of Plagiarism', Kyklos 52(3), 311.

    Google Scholar 

  • Grayson, L.: 1995, Scientific Deception: An Overviewand Guide to the Literature of Misconduct and Fraudin Scientific Research(The British Library, London).

  • Grayson, L.: 1997, Scientific Deception: An Update(The British Library, London).

  • Greenberg, M. and L. Goldberg: 1994, ‘EthicalChallenges to Risk Scientists: An ExploratoryAnalysis of Survey Data', Science, Technology and Human Values 19(2), 223–241.

    Google Scholar 

  • Grover, S. L. and C. Hui: 1994, ‘The Influence ofRole Conflict and Self-interest on Lying inOrganizations', Journal of Business Ethics 13(4),295–303.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hannabuss, S.: 2001, ‘Contested Texts: Issues of Plagiarism', Library Management 22(6 /7), 311–318.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hansen, B. C. and K. D. Hansen: 1989, ‘Challengesto the Integrity of Science: The Federal Mandate and Issues for Institutions', Journal of the Society of Research Administrators 20(4), 5–10.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kaptein, M. and J. Wempe: 1998, ‘Twelve GordianKnots when Developing an Organizational Code of Ethics', Journal of Business Ethics17(8), 853–869.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kleiner, D. S. and M. D. Maury: 1997, ‘Thou Shalt and Shalt Not: An Alternative to the Ten Commandments Approach to Developing a Codeof Ethics for Schools of Business', Journal of BusinessEthics 16(3), 331–336.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lane, M. S.,D. Schaupp and B. Parsons: 1988,'Pygmalion Effect: An Issue for Business Educationand Ethics', Journal of Business Ethics7(3), 223–229.

    Google Scholar 

  • List, J. A.,C. D. Bailey, P. J. Euzent and T. L. Martin:2001, ‘Academic Economists Behaving Badly? ASurvey of Three Areas of Unethical Behavior',Economic Inquiry 39(1), 162–170.

    Google Scholar 

  • Loe, T. W.,L. Ferrell and P. Mansfield: 2000, ‘AReview of Empirical Studies Assessing EthicalDecision Making in Business', Journal of BusinessEthics 25(3), 185–204.

    Google Scholar 

  • Luthar, H. K.,R. A. DiBattista and T. Gautschi:1997, ‘Perception of What the Ethical Climate is and What it Should Be: The Role of Gender,Academic Status, and Ethical Education', Journal ofBusiness Ethics 16(2), 205–217.

    Google Scholar 

  • Marnburg, E.: 2001, ‘The Questionable Use of MoralDevelopment Theory in Studies of Business Ethics:Discussion and Empirical Findings', Journal ofBusiness Ethics 32(4), 275–283.

    Google Scholar 

  • McCabe, D. L.,J. M. Dukerich and J. E. Dutton:1994, ‘The Effects of Professional Education onValues and the Resolution of Ethical Dilemmas:Business School vs. Law School Students', Journalof Business Ethics 13(9), 693–700.

    Google Scholar 

  • McCutchen, C. W.: 1991, ‘Peer Review: TreacherousServant, Disastrous Master', Technology Review 94(7), 28–38.

    Google Scholar 

  • Moran, G.: 1998, Silencing Scientists and Scholars inother Fields: Power, Paradigm Controls, Peer Review,and Scholarly Communication(Ablex PublishingCorp., Greenwich, CT).

    Google Scholar 

  • Parrish, D. M.: 1997, ‘Improving the ScientificMisconduct Hearing Process', Journal of theAmerican Medical Association 277(16), 1315–1319.

    Google Scholar 

  • Peppas, S. C. and B. A. Diskin: 2001, ‘College Courses in Ethics: Do They Really Make aDifference?', The International Journal of Educational Management 15(7), 347–353.

    Google Scholar 

  • Phillips, M. R. and V. Horton: 2000, ‘Cybercheating:Has Morality Evaporated in Business Education?',The International Journal of Educational Management 14(4), 150–155.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pizzolatto, A. B. and S. Bevill: 1996, ‘Business Ethics:A Classroom Priority?', Journal of Business Ethics 15(2), 153–158.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pulvers, K. and G. M. Diekhoff: 1999, ‘TheRelationship between Academic Dishonesty and College Classroom Environment', Research inHigher Education 40(4), 487–498.

    Google Scholar 

  • Reidenbach, R. E. and D. P. Robin: 1991, ‘AConceptual Model of Corporate MoralDevelopment', Journal of Business Ethics 10(4),273–284.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rezaee, Z., R. C. Elmore and J. Z. Szendi: 2001,'Ethical Behavior in Higher EducationalInstitutions: The Role of the Code of Conduct',Journal of Business Ethics 30(2), 171–183.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ryan, K. J.: 1998, ‘Research Fraud and Public Trust',Forum for Applied Research and Public Policy 13(1),50–56.

    Google Scholar 

  • Salter, S. B.,D. M. Guffey and J. J. McMillan: 2001,'Truth, Consequences and Culture: A ComparativeExamination of Cheating and Attitudes about Cheating among U.S. and U.K. Students', Journalof Business Ethics 31(1), 37–50.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sauser, W. I. Jr.: 1990, ‘The Ethics of TeachingBusiness: Toward a Code for Business Professors',SAM Advanced Management Journal 55(4), 33–37.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schwartz, R. H.,S. Kassem and D. Ludwig: 1991,'The Role of Business Schools in Managing the Incongruence between Doing What is Right and Doing What it Takes to Get Ahead', Journal ofBusiness Ethics 10(6), 465–469.

    Google Scholar 

  • Snapper, J. W.: 1999, ‘On the Web, PlagiarismMatters More than Copyright Piracy', Ethics andInformation Technology1(2), 127–135.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stevens, B.: 1999, ‘Communicating Ethical Values:A Study of Employee Perceptions', Journal ofBusiness Ethics 20(2), 113–120.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stevens, R. E.,O. J. Harris and S. Williamson: 1993,'A Comparison of Ethical Evaluations of BusinessSchool Faculty and Students: A Pilot Study',Journal of Business Ethics 12(8), 611–619.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vinten, G.: 1999, ‘A Whistleblowing Code forEducational Institutions', The International Journal of Educational Management 13(3), 150–157.

    Google Scholar 

  • Weaver, G. R.,L. K. Treviño and P. L. Cochran:1999, ‘Corporate Ethics Practices in the Mid-1990's:An Empirical Study of the Fortune 1000',Journal of Business Ethics 18(3), 283–294.

    Google Scholar 

  • Weinstein, D.: 1979, ‘Fraud in Science', Social ScienceQuarterly 59(4), 639–652.

    Google Scholar 

  • White, C. S. and R. S. Dooley: 1993, ‘Ethical orPractical: An Empirical Study of Students’ Choices in Simulated Business Scenarios', Journal of BusinessEthics 12(8), 643–651.

    Google Scholar 

  • Woolf, P. K.: 1991, ‘Accountability and Responsibility in Research’, Journal of Business Ethics 10(8),595–600.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Economics and Management, University of Minho, Gualtar, 4710–057, Braga, Portugal

    Carlos Cabral-Cardoso

Authors
  1. Carlos Cabral-Cardoso
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Cabral-Cardoso, C. Ethical Misconduct In The Business School: A Case Of Plagiarism That Turned Bitter. Journal of Business Ethics 49, 75–89 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1023/B:BUSI.0000013864.76547.d5

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/B:BUSI.0000013864.76547.d5

Search

Navigation