Abstract
Debate exists as to the timing of student exposure to business ethics modules, and the degree to which business ethics education is integrated throughout business school curricula. The argument for an integrated model of business ethics education is well documented, however, such arguments do not stem from an empirical basis. Much of the debate about when and how business ethics should be taught rests on assumptions regarding the stage of moral awareness of business students. The research reported here adds to this debate by attempting to empirically gauge students' levels of moral awareness in order to explore the implications for the teaching of business ethics, specifically in terms of presenting the case for the importance of an integrated business ethics curriculum.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bampton, R. and C. Cowton: 2002, ‘Pioneering in Ethics Teaching: The Case of Management Accounting in Universities in the British Isles’, Teaching Business Ethics 6(3), 279–295.
Bishop, T.: 1992, ‘Integrating Business Ethics into an Undergraduate Curriculum’, Journal of Business Ethics 11, 291–299.
Butterfield, K., L. Klebe-Trevino and G. Weaver: 2000, ‘Moral Awareness in Business Organizations: Influences of Issue-Related and Social Context Factors’, Human Relations 53(7), 981–1018.
Cowton, C. and B. Macfarlane: 2002, ‘Editorial-Sharing Good Practice: U.K. Perspectives’, Teaching Business Ethics 6(3), 275–277.
Furman, F.: 1990, ‘Teaching Business Ethics: Questioning the Assumptions, Seeking New Directions’, Journal of Business Ethics 9, 31–38.
Galbraith, S. and H. Buckman-Stephenson, H.: 1993, ‘Decision Rules Used by Male and Female Business Students in Making Ethical Value Judgements: Another Look’, Journal of Business Ethics 12, 227–233.
Henderson, V.: 1988, ‘Can Business Ethics be Taught?’, Management Review 77(8), 52–54.
Jackall, R.: 1988, Moral Mazes: The World of Corporate Managers (Oxford University Press, New York).
Jones, T.: 1991, ‘Ethical Decision Making by Individuals in Organizations: An Issue-Contingent Model’, Academy of Management Review 16(2), 366–395.
MacIntyre, A.: 1984, After Virtue: A Study in Moral Theory, 2nd Edition (University of Notre Dame Press, IN).
Maclagan, P.: 2002, ‘Reflections on the Integration of Ethics Teaching into a British Undergraduate Management Degree Programme’, Teaching Business Ethics 6(3), 297–318.
Pamental, G.: 1989, ‘The Course in Business Ethics: Can it Work?’, Journal of Business Ethics 8, 547–551.
Rest, J.: 1986, Moral Development: Advances in Research and Theory (Praeger, New York).
Rest, J., D. Narvaez, S. Thoma and M. Bebeau: 2000, ‘A Neo-Kohlbergian Approach to Morality Research’, Journal of Moral Education 29(4), 381–395.
Ruegger, D. and E. King: 1992, ‘A Study of the Effect of Age and Gender upon Student Business Ethics’, Journal of Business Ethics 11, 179–186.
Ruiz, P. and R. Minguez: 2001, ‘Global Inequality and the Need for Compassion: Issues in Moral and Political Education’, Journal of Moral Education 30(2), 155–172.
Schwartz, R., S. Kassem and D. Ludwig: 1991, ‘The Role of Business Schools in Managing the Incongruence Between Doing what is Right and Doing what it Takes to Get Ahead’, Journal of Business Ethics 10, 465–469.
Sims, R.: 2002, ‘Business Ethics Teaching for Effective Learning’, Teaching Business Ethics 6, 393–410.
Sims, R. and J. Brinkmann: 2003, ‘Business Ethics Curriculum Design: Suggestions and Illustrations’, Teaching Business Ethics 7, 69–86.
Weber, J.: 1992, ‘Scenarios in Business Ethics Research: Review, Critical Assessment and Recommendations’, Business Ethics Quarterly 2(2), 137–160.
Weber, J. and S. Green: 1991, ‘Principled Moral Reasoning: Is It a Viable Approach to Promote Ethical Integrity?’, Journal of Business Ethics 10, 325–333.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Lowry, D. An Investigation of Student Moral Awareness and Associated Factors in Two Cohorts of an Undergraduate Business Degree in a British University: Implications for Business Ethics Curriculum Design. Journal of Business Ethics 48, 7–19 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1023/B:BUSI.0000004383.81450.96
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/B:BUSI.0000004383.81450.96