Abstract
North American and West European academics are accepting offers to speak or teach about business ethics to audiences in countries with transitional economies. Such engagements should not be accepted without an appreciation for the challenges involved. This paper outlines the dynamics of business ethics in these former communist countries and describes circumstances relating to ethical training, and course content and pedagogy. A concluding section of the paper identifies some guidelines that instructors should consider before becoming involved with ethical training in transitional economies. The principle message to be received from this paper is that instructors should avoid being ethics missionaries with preconceived ideals.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Amatucci, Frances: 1995, Suffolk University, presenter, ‘Challenges to Teaching Business and Society Topics in Transitional Economies’ Symposium, International Association for Business and Society Annual Meeting June 28, Vienna, Austria.
Angelis, Ivan: 1995, Chairman, Czech Banking Association, Speaker, ‘Ethical Dilemmas in Transition’ Forum, Czech Management Center, July 3, Celakovice, Czech Republic.
Bohata, Marie: 1995, Chairman, Czech Society for Ethics, Speaker, ‘Ethical Dilemmas in Transition’ Forum, Czech Management Center, July 3, Celakovice, Czech Republic.
Cahoon, Allan: 1995, University of Calgary, presenter, ‘Challenges to Teaching Business and Society Topics in Transitional Economies’ Symposium, International Association for Business and Society Annual Meeting, June 28, Vienna, Austria.
Cakrt, Michal: 1993, ‘Management Education in Eastern Europe: Toward Mutual Understanding’, Academy of Management Executive 7(4), 63–68.
Carroll, Archie B.: 1994, ‘Social Issues in Management Research’, Business & Society 33(1), 5–29.
Clarkson, Max: 1995, University of Toronto, Speaker, ‘Ethical Dilemmas in Transition’ Forum, Czech Management Center, July 3, 1995, Celakovice, Czech Republic.
CMC participants: 1995, audience, ‘Ethical Dilemmas in Transition’ Forum, Czech Management Center, July 3, Celakovice, Czech Republic.
Collins, Denis and Steven L. Wartick: 1995, ‘Business and Society/Business Ethics Courses’, Business & Society 34(1), 51–89.
Hansen, G.: 1994, University of Warsaw. Personal correspondence with the author.
Hosmer, Larue Tone: 1994, ‘Strategic Planning as if Ethics Mattered’, Strategic Management Journal 15, Special Summer Issue, 17–34.
IABS Participants: 1994, audience, ‘Challenges to Teaching Business and Society Topics in Transitional Economies’ Symposium, International Association for Business and Society Annual Meeting, June 28, Vienna, Austria.
Lord, Michael: 1995, Email correspondence, March 4.
Marcic, Dorothy: 1995a, ‘Challenges and Opportunities of Teaching Management in a Post-Socialist Society’, Executive Development (forthcoming).
Marcic, Dorothy: 1995b, Czech Management Center and Prague School of Economics, presenter, ‘Challenges to Teaching Business and Society Topics in Transitional Economies’ Symposium, International Association for Business and Society Annual Meeting, June 28, 1995, Vienna, Austria.
Marcic, Dorothy and Carol Pendergast: 1995, ‘Perceptions of Faculty and Students Towards Case Teaching in Czechoslovakia: A Coming Velvet Paradigm Shift?’, Journal of Management Development (forthcoming).
Marcic, Dorothy and George Starcher: 1995, ‘Ethics After Socialism: Now or Ever?’ Working Paper, Prague School of Economics and European Baha'i Business Forum.
McNulty, Nancy G.: 1992,'Management Education in Eastern Europe: ‘Fore and After’, Academy of Management Executive 6(4), 78–87.
Miesing, Paul: 1995, The State University of New York at Albany, presenter, ‘Challenges to Teaching Business and Society Topics in Transitional Economies’ Symposium, International Association for Business and Society Annual Meeting, June 28, Vienna, Austria.
Mohyla, Ivan: 1995, CEO, Palaba Slany, Speaker, ‘Ethical Dilemmas in Transition’ Forum, Czech Management Center, July 3, Celakovice, Czech Republic.
Puffer, Sheila M. and Daniel J. McCarthy: 1995, ‘Finding the Common Ground in Russian and American Business Ethics’, California Management Review 37(2) (Winter), 29–46.
Sexty, Robert W.: 1995, ‘Challenges to Teaching Business and Society Topics in Transitional Economies’, introductory comments for Symposium, International Association for Business and Society Annual Meeting, June 28, Vienna, Austria.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Sexty, R.W. Teaching Business Ethics in Transitional Economies: Avoiding Ethical Missionary. Journal of Business Ethics 17, 1311–1317 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1005735302206
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1005735302206