Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Teaching Ethics to Undergraduate Business Students in Australia: Comparison of Integrated and Stand-alone Approaches

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

Abstract

There are questions about how ethics is best taught to undergraduate business students. There has been a proliferation in the number of stand-alone ethics courses for undergraduate students but research on the effectiveness of integrated versus stand-alone mode of delivery is inconclusive. Christensen et al. (J Bus Ethics 73(4):347–368, 2007), in a comprehensive review of ethics, corporate social responsibility and sustainability education, investigated how ethics education has changed over the last 20 years, including the issue of integration of these topics into the core course offerings. We use Brenner and Molander’s (Harv Bus Rev 55(1):57–71, 1977) situational ethics survey instrument to examine the effect of the mode of delivery of business ethics education on undergraduate student responses. We found a significant difference on mode of delivery. Studies have also found interesting results in respect of the effect of cultural differences and gender on the effectiveness of business ethics instruction. While not the primary focus of this study, we also looked at the influence of gender and culture on students’ responses. Our results indicate significant differences in respect of mode of delivery and culture. In contrast to other studies, we found that gender was not significant. We did test for any interactive effects of gender, culture and mode of delivery. However, no significant differences were found.

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

  • Abratt, A., Nel, D., & Higgs, N. (1992). An examination of the ethical beliefs of managers using selected scenarios in a cross-cultural environment. Journal of Business Ethics, 11, 29–35.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Alas, R. (2006). Ethics in countries with different cultural dimensions. Journal of Business Ethics, 69(3), 237–247.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Armstrong, R. W. (1996). The relationship between culture and perception of ethical problems in international marketing. Journal of Business Ethics, 15(11), 1199–1208.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baughn, C., Bodie, N. L., Buchanan, M. A., & Bixby, M. B. (2010). Bribery in international business transactions. Journal of Business Ethics, 92(1), 15–32.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baumhart, R. (1961). Problems in review: How ethical are businessmen? Harvard Business Review, 39, 6–9.

    Google Scholar 

  • Beekun, R. I., Hamdy, R., Westerman, J. W., & HassabElnaby, H. R. (2008). An exploration of ethical decision-making processes in the United States and Egypt. Journal of Business Ethics, 82(3), 587–605.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Beekun, R. I., Stedham, Y., & Yamamura, J. H. (2003). Business ethics in Brazil and the US: A comparative investigation. Journal of Business Ethics, 42(3), 267–279.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bernardi, R. A., Witek, M. B., & Melton, M. R. (2009). A four-country study of the associations between bribery and unethical actions. Journal of Business Ethics, 84(3), 389–403.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Biddle, B. J. (1986). Recent development in role theory. Annual Review of Sociology, 12, 67–92.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Borkowski, S. C., & Ugras, Y. J. (1998). Business students and ethics: A meta-analysis. Journal of Business Ethics, 17(11), 1117–1127.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bowie, N. (2008). A Kantian approach to business ethics, Chapter 1. In R. Frederick (Ed.), A companion to business ethics. New York: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brenner, S. N., & Molander, E. A. (1977). Is the ethics of business changing? Harvard Business Review, 55(1), 57–71.

    Google Scholar 

  • Christensen, L. J., Peirce, E., Hartman, L. P., Hoffman, W. M., & Carrier, J. (2007). Ethics, CSR, and sustainability education in the financial times top 50 global business schools: Baseline data and future research directions. Journal of Business Ethics, 73(4), 347–368.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Clark, G. L., & Prior Jonson, E. P. (Eds.). (1994). Management ethics: Theory, cases and practice. Sydney: Harper Educational.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cohen, J. R., Pant, L. W., & Sharp, D. J. (1996). A methodological note on cross-cultural accounting ethics research. The International Journal of Accounting, 31(1), 55–66.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Davis, N. (2013). Contemporary deontology, Chapter 17. In P. Singer (Ed.), A companion to ethics. New York: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • De Bock, T., Vermeir, I., & Van Kenhove, P. (2013). “What’s the harm in being unethical? These strangers are rich anyway!” Exploring underlying factors of double standards. Journal of Business Ethics, 112(2), 225–240.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Eagly, A. H., & Koenig, A. M. (2006). Social role theory of sex differences and similarities: Implication for prosocial behavior. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.

    Google Scholar 

  • Eagly, A. H., Wood, W., & Diekman, A. B. (2000). Social role theory of sex differences and similarities: A current appraisal. The developmental social psychology of gender (pp. 123–174). Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.

  • Emerson, T. L., & Conroy, S. J. (2004). Have ethical attitudes changed? An intertemporal comparison of the ethical perceptions of college students in 1985 and 2001. Journal of Business Ethics, 50(2), 167–176.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Evans, J. M., Treviño, L. K., & Weaver, G. R. (2006). Who’s in the ethics driver’s seat? Factors influencing ethics in the MBA curriculum. Academy of Management Learning & Education, 5(3), 278–293.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ford, R. C., & Richardson, W. D. (1994). Ethical decision making: A review of the empirical literature. Journal of Business Ethics, 13(3), 205–221.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Franke, G. R., Crown, D. F., & Spake, D. F. (1997). Gender differences in ethical perceptions of business practices: A social role theory perspective. Journal of Applied Psychology, 82(6), 920.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Frederick, R. (Ed.). (2008). A companion to business ethics. New York: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fried, C. (1978). Right and wrong. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Gautschi, F. H., & Jones, M. (1998). Enhancing the ability of business students to recognize ethical issues: An empirical assessment of the effectiveness of a course in business ethics. Journal of Business Ethics, 17, 205–216.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Glenn, J. R., Jr, & Van Loo, M. F. (1993). Business students’ and practitioners’ ethical decisions over time. Journal of Business Ethics, 12(11), 835–847.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gundersen, D. E., Capozzoli, E. A., & Rajamma, R. K. (2008). Learned ethical behavior: An academic perspective. Journal of Education for Business, 83(6), 315–324.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hanson, K. (1987, September). What good are ethics courses? Across the Board, 24(2), 10.

  • Hardin, R. (1971). Collective action as an agreeable n-prisoners’ dilemma. Behavioral Science, 16(5), 472–481.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Harman, G. (1975). Moral relativism defended. The Philosophical Review, 84(1), 3–22.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hofstede, G. (1983). The cultural relativity of organizational practices and theories. Journal of International Business Studies, 14(2), 75–89.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hunt, S. D., & Vitell, S. (1986). A general theory of marketing ethics. Journal of macromarketing, 6(1), 5–16.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Izraele, D. (1988). Ethical beliefs and behaviour of managers—A cross-cultural perspective. Journal of Business Ethics, 7, 263–271.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jewe, R. D. (2008). Do business ethics courses work? The effectiveness of business ethics education: An empirical study. Journal of Global Business Issues, 1.

  • Kohlberg, L., Levine, C., & Hewer, A. (1983). Moral stages: A current formulation and a response to critics. Contributions to Human Development, 10, 174.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kohlberg, L., & Turiel, E. (1973). Moralization, the cognitive development approach. New York: Holt, Rinehart & Winston.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lee, K. H. (1981). Ethical beliefs in marketing management: A cross-cultural study. European Journal of Marketing, 15(1), 58–67.

  • Loe, T. W., Ferrell, L., & Mansfield, P. (2000). A review of empirical studies assessing ethical decision making in business. Journal of Business Ethics, 25(3), 185–204.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Marta, J. K. M., Attia, A., Singhapakdi, A., & Atteya, N. (2003). A comparison of ethical perceptions and moral philosophies of American and Egyptian business students. Teaching Business Ethics, 7(1), 1–20.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mazar, N., & Aggarwal, P. (2011). Greasing the palm can collectivism promote bribery? Psychological Science, 22(7), 843–848.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McDonald, G. M., & Donleavy, G. D. (1995). Objections to the teaching of business ethics. Journal of Business Ethics, 14(10), 839–853.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McNichols, C. W., & Zimmerer, T. W. (1985). Situational ethics: An empirical study of differentiators of student attitudes. Journal of Business Ethics, 4(3), 175–180.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mill, J. S. ((1863) 2007). Utilitarianism, liberty & representative government. Rockville, MD: Wildside Press LLC.

  • Mudrack, P. E., & Mason, E. S. (2013). Dilemmas, conspiracies, and Sophie’s choice: Vignette themes and ethical judgments. Journal of Business Ethics, 118(3), 639–653.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Noah, T. (1987, May 25). Do business school ethics courses alter executive behaviour? Newsweek, 109(1), 36.

  • Pearce, J. (2013). Using social identify theory to predict managers emphasises. Journal of Business Ethics, 112(4), 497–514.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Perri, D. F., Callanan, G. A., Rotenberry, P. F., & Oehlers, P. F. (2009). Education and training in ethical decision making: Comparing context and orientation. Education + Training, 51(1), 70–83.

    Google Scholar 

  • Piper, T. R., Gentile, M. C., & Parks, S. D. (1993). Can Ethics Be Taught? Perspectives, challenges and approaches. Boston: Harvard Business Scholl Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rachels, J., & Rachels, S. (1986). The elements of moral philosophy. New York: Random House.

    Google Scholar 

  • Reidenbach, R. E., & Robin, D. P. (1990). Toward the development of a multidimensional scale for improving evaluations of business ethics. Journal of Business Ethics, 9(8), 639–653.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rest, J. R., Narvaez, D., Thoma, S. J., & Bebeau, M. J. (2000). A neo-Kohlbergian approach to morality research. Journal of Moral Education, 29(4), 381–395.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rest, J. R., & Narvez, D. (Eds.). (1994). Moral development in the professions: Psychology and applied ethics. Hillsdale, NJ: Psychology Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ritter, B. A. (2006). Can business ethics be trained? A study of the ethical decision-making process in business students. Journal of Business Ethics, 68(2), 153–164.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rossouw, G. J. (2002). Three approaches to teaching business ethics. Teaching Business Ethics, 6(4), 411–433.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rubin, R. S., & Dierdorff, E. C. (2011). On the road to Abilene: Time to manage agreement about MBA curricular relevance. Academy of Management Learning & Education, 10(1), 148–161.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Runge, C. F. (1984). Institutions and the free rider: The assurance problem in collective action. The Journal of Politics, 46(01), 154–181.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rutherford, M. A., Parks, L., Cavazos, D. E., & White, C. D. (2012). Business ethics as a required course: Investigating the factors impacting the decision to require ethics in the undergraduate business core curriculum. Academy of Management Learning & Education, 11(2), 174–186.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sanyal, R. (2005). Determinants of bribery in international business: The cultural and economic factors. Journal of Business Ethics, 59(1–2), 139–145.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sanyal, R., & Guvenli, T. (2009). The propensity to bribe in international business: The relevance of cultural variables. Cross Cultural Management: An International Journal, 16(3), 287–300.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sen, A. K. (1967). Isolation, assurance and the social rate of discount. The Quarterly Journal of Economics, 81, 112–124.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sims, R. R. (2002). Business ethics teaching for effective learning. Teaching Business Ethics, 6(4), 393–410.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Singer, P. (1993). Practical ethics. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Singer, P. (2011). Practical ethics. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Singhapakdi, A., Vitell, S. J., & Kraft, K. L. (1996). Moral intensity and ethical decision-making of marketing professionals. Journal of Business Research, 36(3), 245–255.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Snoeyenbos, M., & Humber, J. (2008). Utilitarianism and business ethics, Chapter 2. In R. Frederick (Ed.), A companion to business ethics. New York: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Solberg, J., Strong, K. C., & McGuire, C., Jr. (1995). Living (not learning) ethics. Journal of Business Ethics, 14(1), 71–81.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Swanson, D. L. (2008). Business ethics and economics, Chapter 17. In R. Frederick (Ed.), A companion to business ethics. New York: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Trevino, L. K. (1986). Ethical decision making in organizations: A person–situation interactionist model. Academy of Management Review, 11(3), 601–617.

    Google Scholar 

  • Trevino, L. K., Weaver, G. R., & Reynolds, S. J. (2006). Behavioral ethics in organizations: A review. Journal of management, 32(6), 951–990.

  • Tsalikas, J., & Nwachakwu, O. (1989). Cross-cultural marketing ethics: An investigation on the ethical beliefs’ & differences between Greeks and Americans. Journal of International Consumer Marketing, 1, 45–63.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Valentine, S. R., & Bateman, C. R. (2011). The impact of ethical ideologies, moral intensity, and social context on sales-based ethical reasoning. Journal of Business Ethics, 102(1), 155–168.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vitell, S. J., & Festervand, T. A. (1987). Business ethics: Conflicts, practices and beliefs of industrial executives. Journal of Business Ethics, 6(2), 111–122.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vitell, S., Nwachukwu, S., & Barnes, J. (1993). The effects of culture on ethical-decision making: An application of Hofstede’s typology. Journal of Business Ethics, 12(10), 753–760.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vitell, S. J., Singhapakdi, A., & Thomas, J. (2001). Consumer ethics: An application and empirical testing of the Hunt–Vitell theory of ethics. Journal of Consumer Marketing, 18(2), 153–178.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Walker, A. G., Smither, J. W., & DeBode, J. (2012). The effects of religiosity on ethical judgments. Journal of Business Ethics, 106(4), 437–452.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang, L., & Calvano, L. (2013, forthcoming). Is business ethics education effective? An analysis of gender, personal ethical perspectives and moral judgement. Journal of Business Ethics. Published Online 24 November 2013.

  • Waples, E. P., Antes, A. L., Murphy, S. T., Connelly, S., & Mumford, M. D. (2009). A meta-analytic investigation of business ethics instruction. Journal of Business Ethics, 87(1), 133–151.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Weber, J. (1990). Measuring the impact of teaching ethics to future managers: A review, assessment, and recommendations. Journal of Business Ethics, 9(3), 183–190.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Whipple, T. W., & Swords, D. F. (1992). Business ethics judgments: A cross-cultural comparison. Journal of Business Ethics, 11(9), 671–678.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wong, D. (1991). Relativism. Oxford: Blackwell.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wynd, W. R., & Mager, J. (1989). The business and society course: Does it change student attitudes? Journal of Business Ethics, 8(6), 487–491.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Ethics Disclosure

This study was approved by the Monash University Human Research Ethics Committee reference Number: LR 2013000078 The impact of ethics and corporate social responsibility education.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Management, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia

    Elizabeth Prior Jonson, Linda Mary McGuire & Deirdre O’Neill

Authors
  1. Elizabeth Prior Jonson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Linda Mary McGuire
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Deirdre O’Neill
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Linda Mary McGuire.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Jonson, E.P., McGuire, L.M. & O’Neill, D. Teaching Ethics to Undergraduate Business Students in Australia: Comparison of Integrated and Stand-alone Approaches. J Bus Ethics 132, 477–491 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-014-2330-5

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-014-2330-5

Keywords

Search

Navigation