Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Ethical Efficacy as a Measure of Training Effectiveness: An Application of the Graphic Novel Case Method Versus Traditional Written Case Study

  • Published:
Journal of Business Ethics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The study explores the use of Graphic Novels as an innovative form of training that may improve an individual’s ethical efficacy. A quantitative comparison of the graphic novel method and the traditional written case study is analyzed. The literature on ethics, graphic novels, and training are brought together from theories of narrative and literature perspective to formulate a study. The study uses a 2 × 2 repeated-measure MANOVA to analyze the participant’s reaction to bribery situations based on varying levels of ‘grayness.’ The overall study finds that ethical efficacy increases with the use of the graphic novel method. The greatest improvements are in the individual’s level of self-efficacy and understanding of principle-based ethical issues. In addition, the participant’s level of industry experience may play a factor in applying the graphic novel technique. Finally, guidelines on how to effectively utilize the graphic novel method are stated. Improving ethical efficacy through business ethics training may help improve an individual’s self-efficacy, involvement and principle-based understanding. The study explores the use of Graphic Novels as an innovative form of training that may improve an individual’s ethical efficacy. A quantitative comparison of the graphic novel method and the traditional written case study are analyzed. Literature on ethics, graphic novels, and training are brought together with theories of narrative and literature perspective to formulate a study. The study uses a 2 × 2 repeated-measure MANOVA to analyze the participant’s reaction to bribery ethical situations based on varying levels of ‘grayness.’ The overall study finds that ethical efficacy increases with the use of the graphic novel method. The greatest improvements are in the individual’s level of self-efficacy and understanding of principle-based ethical issues. In addition, the participant’s level of industry experience may play a factor in applying the graphic novel technique. Finally, guidelines on how to effectively utilize the graphic novel method is set forth.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Alvarez, J. L., & Merchan, C. (1992). The role of narrative fiction in the development of imagination for action. International Studies of Management & Organization, 22(3), 27–45.

    Google Scholar 

  • Berger, A. A. (1997). Narratives in popular culture, media and everyday life. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Corliss, R. (2005). Peanuts in the gallery. Time December 5, 102.

    Google Scholar 

  • Daniels Fund Initiative. (n.d.) Home page. Retrieved June 24, 2011, from http://www.danielsfund.org/home.asp.

  • Dunfee, T. W., Smith, N. C., & Ross, W. T. (1999). Social contracts and marketing ethics. Journal of Marketing, 63(July), 14–32.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dyrud, M. A. (1998). Ethics a la Dilbert. Business Communication Quarterly, 61(4), 113–118.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ferrell, L. K. (1996). Gray matters ethics training: An evaluation. (Doctoral dissertation) University of Memphis, Memphis, TN.

  • Foreign & Commonwealth Website. (2011). UK Bribery Act. Retrieved November 27, 2012, from http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/global-issues/conflict-minerals/legally-binding-process/uk-bribery-act.

  • Gerde, V. W., & Foster, R. S. (2007). X-men ethics: Using comic books to teach business ethics. Journal of Business Ethics, 77, 245–258.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Handsfield, L., Dean, T., & Cielocha, K. (2009). Becoming critical consumers and producers of text: Teaching literacy with Web 1.0 and Web 2.0. The Reading Teacher, 63(1), 40–50.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jensen, G. M., & Richert, A. E. (2005). Reflection on the teaching of ethics in physical therapist education: Integrating cases, theory, and learning. Journal of Physical Therapy Education, 19(3), 78–85.

    Google Scholar 

  • Johnsen, B. J. (2009). The ethics of “commercial bribery”: Integrative social contract theory meets transaction cost economics. Journal of Business Ethics, 88, 791–803.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kelly, C., & Zak, M. (1999). Narratively and professional communication: Folktales and community meaning. Journal of Business & Technical Communication, 13(3), 297–317.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lawrence, S., McNeal, K., & Yildiz, M. (2009). Summer program helps adolescents merge technology, popular culture, reading, and writing for academic purposes. Journal of Adolescents & Adult Literacy, 52(6), 483–494.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Leach, M. P., & Liu, A. H. (2003). Investigating interrelationships among sales training evaluation methods. Journal of Personal Selling & Sales Management, 23(4), 325–337.

    Google Scholar 

  • LeClair, D. T., & Ferrell, L. (2000). Innovation in experiential business ethics training. Journal of Business Ethics, 23, 313–322.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McCloud, Scott. (1996). Understanding comics: The invisible art. New York: HarperPerennial.

    Google Scholar 

  • Miranda, L. (2012). Pfizer settles bribery case and will pay $60 million in fines. The Real Agenda. Retrieved November 30, 2012, from http://real-agenda.com/2012/08/08/pfizer-admits-blame-in-bribery-case-and-will-pay-60-million-in-fines.

  • Moran, M. (2007). Exploring another side of the world with Persepolis. The English Record, 57(3), 9–12.

    Google Scholar 

  • Salopek, J. J. (2009). The power of the pyramid. Training & Development, 63(May), 70–75.

    Google Scholar 

  • Short, J., Bauer, T., Ketchen, D. J., & Simon, L. (2010). Atlas black: Managing to succeed. Nyack, NY: Flat World Knowledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Short, J. C., & Payne, G. (2009). Super-management: An examination of organizational images and management themes in comic books. International Review of Management, 1(1), 1–26.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tabachnick, S. (Ed.). (2009). Teaching the graphic novel. New York, NY: Modern Language Association.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thalheimer, A. (2009). Too weenie to deal with all this “girl stuff”: Women, comics, and the classroom. In S. Tabachnick (Ed.), Teaching the graphic novel (pp. 84–90). New York, NY: Modern Language Association.

    Google Scholar 

  • Trevino, L. K., & Nelson, K. L. (2007). Managing business ethics: Straight talk about how to do it right (4th ed.). New York, NY: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Valentine, S. (2009). Ethics training, ethical context, and sales and marketing professionals’ satisfaction with supervisors and coworkers. Journal of Personal Selling & Sales Management, 29(3), 227–242.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Valentine, S., & Fleischman, G. (2008). Ethics programs, perceived corporate social responsibility, and job satisfaction. Journal of Business Ethics, 77(2), 159–173.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Warr, P. B., Allan, C., & Birdi, K. (1999). Predicting three levels of training outcome. Journal of Occupational & Organizational Psychology, 72(September), 351–375.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Westrup, H. (2002). Superhero science. Current Science, 88(5), 4–6.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Management, California Lutheran University, 60 West Olsen Road, Thousand Oaks, CA, 91360, USA

    Sarah Fischbach

Authors
  1. Sarah Fischbach
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sarah Fischbach.

Appendices

Appendix 1. Scale Items

Scale: Effectiveness of Training (Ethical Efficacy Scale)

All items in the ethical efficacy scale are included as a single measure.

  1. 1.

    Making ethical decisions in an organization is well within the scope of my abilities (Self Efficacy).

  2. 2.

    I do not anticipate any problems making the correct ethical decision when working for an organization (Self Efficacy).

  3. 3.

    I feel confident that my ability to make ethical decisions equals or exceeds those of my peers (Self Efficacy).

  4. 4.

    My educational experience and accomplishments increase my confidence that I will be able to make the correct ethical decisions in an organization (Self Efficacy).

  5. 5.

    Ethics education is important (Self Efficacy).

  6. 6.

    Ethics education is of no concern to me (Self Efficacy).

  7. 7.

    Ethics education is irrelevant (Self Efficacy).

  8. 8.

    Ethics education means a lot to me (Self Efficacy).

  9. 9.

    Ethics education is useless (Involvement).

  10. 10.

    Ethics education is valuable (Involvement).

  11. 11.

    Ethics education is beneficial (Involvement).

  12. 12.

    Ethics education is not needed (Involvement).

  13. 13.

    Participating in principle-based ethics education could heighten my awareness of ethical issues and the complexity in reaching the correct decision (PBE).

  14. 14.

    I am motivated to learn more about principle-based ethics in the organization (PBE).

  15. 15.

    I believe it would be valuable for my organization to address principle-based business ethics education (PBE).

* PBE: refers to the principle-based ethics sub-scale for ethical efficacy.

Appendix 2. Baseball Graphic Novel Case (First page)

Appendix 3. Pharmaceutical Graphic Novel Case (First page)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Fischbach, S. Ethical Efficacy as a Measure of Training Effectiveness: An Application of the Graphic Novel Case Method Versus Traditional Written Case Study. J Bus Ethics 128, 603–615 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-014-2118-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-014-2118-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation