After reading the Podolny
(2009) articles as well as many others including out textbook I feel that
teaching ethics in business school is a mandatory requirement. Learning ethics
needs to be a continuation of teachings throughout life throughout education as
well as experiences in a professional environment. As a kid everyone begins to
understand what is right and what is wrong because their parent advises them.
Then as we mature and we continue on through elementary school, middle school
and high school we are equip with enough ethical skills to go out into the real
world known as college for most. Now why would anyone think it was okay for
these critical life skills be terminated?
College is where young
adults develop into adults that will one day replace our current executives and
this is why ethics must be a requirement in college classes. In college
students should begin to apply right and wrong to real world scenarios where
people’s wellbeing is on the line and they have the power to decide what to do.
These classes should start in freshman year to begin the learning process of
how to make ethical decisions that pertain to a professional career. Not
everyone knows how to think ethically from a professional point of view;
however in teaching these skills in college people can start to develop the
skills necessary to go on and become successful individuals.
In the Podolny (2009)
article the author states that “business schools are a apart of the problem and
not the solution and the only way for them to improve is to reinvent
themselves. He then goes on to suggest a multipronged approach: curriculum
changes that emphasize the integration of several disciplines and link
analytics with ethics; team teaching that ropes in professors from different
fields to give students a holistic approach to business issues, a broader
definition of scholarships that can embrace the research practices of
less-quantitative academic fields; an end to using rankings to market the
effectiveness of schools’ MBA programs; and a willingness to rescind the
degrees of individuals who act unethically in the workplace”. I feel these are
all exceptional ideas and they will most definitely enhance a more holistic approach,
which is why I have quoted the extremely large suggestions; however I feel
there is more to add.
First off I want to add
every single school needs ethics regardless of the degree program. Everyone
must make ethical decisions that will ultimately effect others no matter what
career path they choose, so specifically targeting just B schools is not going
to be enough to make this world a more ethical place. Starting today business
schools need to recognize why they art considered part of the problem. Becoming
aware of this flaw will prepare them to accept the critics’ and then identify
specifics ways to improve. If the existing professors can acknowledge why
ethics needs to be included in their curriculum they will have made the first
step. If the professors are not on board the messages will not be internalized
because people can tell when someone does not truly believe in a lesson they
are teaching, which will lead to the same type of behavior.
The next step is to make
more “emphasis on teaching ethics in courses already established as well as
adding new courses specifically designed to teach ethics” (Archer, R. (2004). Having ethical dilemmas
included in the overall curriculum should be as important as teaching an accountant
how to be an accountant. There needs to some dilemmas presented asking
questions such as what if you knew your customer was embezzling millions would
you turn them in? Well what if the customer was your father, or what if the
customer was the only customer you had and in turning them in you would be out
of a job, would you still turn them in? Being presented with these types of
issues will help them realize how ethics will be a part of their lives, and so
sharpening their skills will be a much-needed requirement. By bringing “ethics
to the surface you make people more aware” which will help them “instill the
importance of ethics in students” (Archer, R.
(2004). These types of classes need to be taught all throughout
undergraduate and into the graduate programs so that students can continue to
educate themselves. Much like you would train for a job you need to train
yourself how to be a better employee, family member, student, mentor and coach
in order to be a well rounded leader. “Perhaps the most significant thing about
the resolution of ethical dilemmas, which can run contrary to the problem
solving mind of an engineer, is there is no formula that will deliver the
‘correct’ answer” (Ethical Dilemmas. (2003).
Thinking long term many of
the mentors, role models and influential leaders of today are not in college
and not going back so the next step is to make it known these leaders are
ethical. This will allow the followers become more in tune to these types of
behaviors and follow suit, which will enable the leaders to continue being more
ethical. The circle will continue until everyone is on board and making this world
a more ethical place. Different ways to increase ethics in leaders of today would
be as follows:
· Develop the people
already working in the business world
· Provide personal
training
· Coach them to reach
their full potential
· Let go of
responsibilities
· Encourage trust
· Universal
perspectives
· Diversity
· Team center tasks
· Enable student/employees
to relate to others
· Train the students/employees
than have them use the skills on other students/employees
· “Ideas are shared,
debated, analyzed and conclusions are drawn”
· Feedback
· Bridge the gap
(Prasanna Raman Note:, T. P. (1997, Jun 24)
If
we can begin to retrain our current leaders of today we will better equip our
leaders of tomorrow. Change is needed and it is needed now, lets do this!
References
Ethical
dilemmas. (2003). Canadian Consulting Engineer, 44(7), 0-8. Retrieved
from http://search.proquest.com.ezproxy.libproxy.db.erau.edu/docview/208735459?accountid=27203
Archer, R.
(2004). Business schools refocusing on teaching ethics. Westchester County
Business Journal, 43(46), 43-43. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com.ezproxy.libproxy.db.erau.edu/docview/200342408?accountid=27203
Prasanna Raman
Note:, T. P. (1997, Jun 24). A holistic approach in leadership programmes.
New Straits Times. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com.ezproxy.libproxy.db.erau.edu/docview/269130100?accountid=27203
Podolny, J. M. (2009). The Buck Stops (and Starts) at Business School.
Harvard Business Review, 87(6), 62-67.
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