Ethics can be defined as principles or right or wrong. Business decisions should be ethical, but the evidence suggests that is not always what happens. (Hollenbeck, Gerhert, Noe, & Wright 2004) A recent study has shown that 4 out of 10 executives stated that they had been asked to behave unethically. As a result of unfavorable perceptions of U.S. business practices and an increased concern for better serving customers, U.S. companies are becoming more aware of the need for all company representatives to act responsibly (Hollenbeck, Gerhert, Noe, & Wright 2004)
A recent article published in Tribune-Star discussed corporate ethics to university students in Indiana area. Over 370 were in attendance to a business conference host by Networks Professional Development Program. Students from Indiana colleges and universities as well as students from DePauw, St Mary-of-the-Woods and Rose-Holman Institute of Technology were in attendance of the conference which was hosted by fellow students. The event, organized by juniors in the Networks Professional Development Program at ISU, included speeches, panel discussions and break-out sessions on business, public policy and corporate ethics. (Foulkes, 2007) The conference would also help prepare students for the work force when they graduate. "We wanted to prepare students for when they go out into the work force" and face actual ethical decisions, said conference executive director Amber Williams, a junior in the Networks program. (Foulkes, 2007)
Center for Business Ethics and Social Responsibility Director at Xavier University, Paul Fiorelli was the keynote speaker and provided insight on the Johnson & Johnson Tylenol recall in 1980. Tylenol was recalled ac ...