Business Ethics by O'Sullivan, Patrick; Smith, Mark; Esposito, Mark;

Short description:

A series of high-profile events in recent years have highlighted the growing need to cover ethical issues in international business and raise awareness of the responsibilities that need to be integrated into all levels and all subjects.

Utilising the knowledge from a wide selection of expert contributors and illuminated by a case study for each chapter, this comprehensive volume makes a compelling case for business ethics to become an integrated consideration across the business disciplines, rather than an afterthought in the curriculum.

Long description:

Events such as Trafigura's illegal dumping of toxic waste in Côte d’Ivoire and BP's environmentally disastrous oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico have highlighted ethical issues in international business at a time when business leaders, academics and business schools were reflecting on their own responsibilities following the global financial crisis. The scope and scale of the global operations of multinational businesses means that decisions taken in different parts of the world have far reaching consequences beyond the national settings where employees are located or where firms are registered and as such, an awareness of these responsibilities needs to be integrated into all levels and all subjects.

Using four guiding principles – a critical multi-level approach rooted in the tradition of European social theory, a comparative and international perspective, a global rather than just a European or American stand point and engaging with subject-specific issues this book aims to 'mainstream' business ethics into the work of teachers and students in business schools. This comprehensive volume brings together contributions from a range of experts in different areas of business studies thereby facilitating and encouraging a move away from business ethics being a box to be ticked to being an integrated consideration across the business disciplines.

This impressive book brings ethical considerations back to the heart of the business curriculum and in doing so, provides a companion for the progressive business student throughout their university career.

‘Ethical issues have moved to the forefront of public policy debate following a series of crises affecting business, finance and government over many years. These culminated most recently in the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, the American subprime crisis and the sovereign debt crisis in the Eurozone. Consequently this provocative and stimulating new book is a welcome diagnosis of the ethical issues underpinning a wide range of academic disciplines and subjects that bear on business finance and government in particular, but also a normative essay on what policies government, regulators and managers might pursue to avoid these ethical dilemmas in future. While business ethics has been a Cinderella subject in business schools, this collection of essays places ethical considerations centre stage for the first time and the acute analysis will stimulate debate through the innovative range of case studies at the end of each chapter. Every discerning business school, manager and bureaucrat should read this book and follow its wise prescriptions.’

Nigel F. B. Allington, Downing College and Centre for Economic and Public Policy Research, University of Cambridge, UK

‘The authors provide a lively reflection on contemporary business ethics theory and practice and a original multi-level critique that helps the reader questioning conventional beliefs in strategic management. They offer a constructive critique to rethink business models and the managerial mindset towards responsible capitalism.’

Simone de Colle, Dublin City University, Ireland

‘The gist of this book is a challenge – a challenge to reflect on and to rethink the role of business in society. The authors of this book pose questions that are at once inspiring, intriguing, and compellingly urgent.’

Christina Garsten, Stockholm University, Sweden

Table of Contents:

Part I: Introduction  1. Ethics as Social Critique  2. Levels of Critique: A Methodological Framework for the Study of Ethics and Morality in Business  3. The Ethical Management of Ethics: Fostering Ethical Behavior in Corporations  Part II: Organizational Strategy  4. Corporate Social Responsibility: Definitional Paralysis and Ambiguity  5. The Impact of Ethics on the Issues of Organizational Congruence  6. Ethical Issues of Reification and Recognition on HRM: A Critical Social Theory Perspective  7. Private Vices, Business Virtues? The Institutional Strategy to Legitimated Online Gambling in Italy  Part III: Finance and Economics  8. The Ethical and Social Dimensions of Executive Compensation  9. The Ethics of the Banker: Reflections on the  Banker's Economic and Societal Functions or How History Requires us to Reflect of the Role of Banks in Society  10. Islamic Finance Revisited: A Brief Review with Singapore Example  11. Ethical Issues in the Policy Response to the 2008 Financial Crisis:Moral Hazard in Central Banking and the Equity of Bailout  Part IV: Organizational Behaviour  12. Ethics and Management: The Essential Philosophical and Psycological Basis of Ethical Management Driven by a Progressive Company  13. Mindfulness as a Mediator Between the Effective and the Ethical Manager  14. A Cultural Appreciation of Diversity of Ethical Strategies: Examples from European Business  15. Employee Surveillance and the Modern Workplace  Part V: Marketing and Innovation  16. Ethics and Marketing  17. Deeper into the Consumer’s Mind: Market Research and Ethics  18. Social and Societal Marketing: Applications for Public Policy Makers and Companies  19. Designing for a Better World  Part VI: HRM and Employee Relations  20. "You Take the High Road..." Analysing the Ethical Dimensions of High Performance Work Systems  21. Ethical Challenges in Business Coaching  22. Competency Management: Between Managerial Development and Ethical Questioning  Part VII: Conclusions  24. Towards an Ethical Future for Business?