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Scale and Study of Student Attitudes Toward Business Education’s Role in Addressing Social Issues

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Abstract

Corporations and investors are responding to recent major ethical scandals with increased attention to the social impacts of business operations. In turn, business colleges and their international accrediting body are increasing their efforts to make students more aware of the social context of corporate activity. Business education literature lacks data on student attitudes toward such education. This study found that post-scandal business students, particularly women, are indeed interested in it. Their interest is positively related to their past donation, volunteerism, and non-profit organization membership activities, whether limited or extensive. Some evidence supports the proposition that education can modify internal principles over time. We offer suggestions for classroom and program uses of these findings in hopes of enriching the vision of future business managers.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. St. Cloud State University, St. Cloud, Minnesota, USA

    Bradley J. Sleeper, Kenneth C. Schneider, Paula S. Weber & James E. Weber

Authors
  1. Bradley J. Sleeper
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  2. Kenneth C. Schneider
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  3. Paula S. Weber
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  4. James E. Weber
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Correspondence to Bradley J. Sleeper.

Additional information

Bradley J. Sleeper, J.D., is a professor of Business Law in the G.R. Herberger College of Business at St. Cloud State University, a member of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System. He practiced business law for 14 years with private practice law firms before beginning his academic career. He earned a B.A. degree in sociology from Notre Dame University in 1973 and a J.D. degree from the University of Minnesota in 1976. His teaching interests include ethics, government and politics, constitutional law, employment law and tort law. His articles have appeared in Journal of Business Ethics, American Business Law Journal, Teaching Business Ethics, Review of Business, Employee Benefits Journal, and Journal of Property Management, among others.

Kenneth C. Schneider, Ph.D., is Professor of Marketing and Marketing Research in the G.R. Herberger College of Business at St. Cloud State University. He received a B.A. degree in Economics in 1970 and M.S. degree in Quantitative Analysis in 1972. He received a Ph.D. in Quantitative Analysis and Marketing from the University of Minnesota in 1975. Professor Schneider holds membership in several honor societies including Phi Beta Kappa and Beta Gamma Sigma. In 2000, he received an inaugural Herberger College of Business Distinguished Professor Award. His articles have appeared in Journal of Marketing, Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Retailing, Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, Journal of Business Research, California Management Review, Psychology of Marketing, Business Horizons, and elsewhere.

Paula S. Weber, Ph.D., is Professor of Strategic Management and International Management in the G.R. Herberger College of Business at St. Cloud State University. Dr. Weber has previously taught a variety of management topics at the University of Houston-Victoria and at New Mexico Highlands University. Her publications include manuscripts in Journal of Applied Behavioral Science, Journal of Management Education, Case Research Journal, and the Leadership and Organization Development Journal. She has served on the editorial board for the Journal of Applied Business and Behavioral Sciences and has been a reviewer for numerous publications. Dr. Weber’s primary research interests lie in the areas of organizational change, organization development, and strategic decision-making.

James E. Weber, Ph.D., is Professor of Management at St. Cloud State University. Dr. Weber’ received his Ph.D in Management with a minor in International Business from New Mexico State University in 1996. Dr. Weber’s primary research interests include measurement issues, leadership and ethics, and the interface between management and information systems.

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Sleeper, B.J., Schneider, K.C., Weber, P.S. et al. Scale and Study of Student Attitudes Toward Business Education’s Role in Addressing Social Issues. J Bus Ethics 68, 381–391 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-006-9000-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-006-9000-1

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