Abstract
Using a nationwide survey, this study compared the ethical values and decision processes ofFortune executives and MBA students. Statistically significant differences in ethical values were found by class of respondent, gender, and professed decision approach. MBAs were also found to process ethical decisions differently than business professionals.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Arlow, P. and T. A. Ulrich: 1980, ‘Business Ethics, Social Responsibility and Business Studies: An Empirical Comparison of Clark's Study’,Akron Business and Economic Review 11, 17–23.
Barnett, J. H. and M. K. Karson: 1989, ‘Mangers, Values, and Executive Decisions: An Exploration of the Role of Gender, Career Stage, Organizational Level, Function, and the Importance of Ethics, Relationships and Results in Managerial Decision-Making’,Journal of Business Ethics 8, 747–771.
Bellizzi, J. A. and R. E. Hite: 1989, ‘Ethical Perceptions of Sales Professionals and Marketing Students’, in Paul Bloom et al. (eds.),Enhancing Knowledge Development in Marketing 6 (American Marketing Association, Chicago).
Betz, M., L. O'Connell and J. M. Shepard: 1989, ‘Gender Differences in Proclivity for Unethical Behavior’,Journal of Business Ethics 8, 321–324.
Bommer, M., C. Gratto, J. Gravander and M. Tullie: 1987, ‘A Behavioral Model of Ethical and Unethical Decisions Making’,Journal of Business Ethics 6, 265–280.
Brady, F. N.: 1985, ‘A Janus-Headed Model of Ethical Theory: Looking Two Ways at Business/Society Issues,’Academy of Management Review 10, 568–576.
Byron, W. J.: 1977, ‘The Meaning of Ethics in Business’,Business Horizons 20, 31–34.
Chonko, L. B. and S. D. Hunt: 1985, ‘Ethics and Marketing Management: An Empirical Examination’,Journal of Business Research 13, 339–359.
Christie, R. and F. L. Geis: 1970,Studies in Machiavellianism (Academic Press, New York).
Ferrell, O. C. and L. G. Gresham: 1985, ‘A Contingency Framework for Understanding Ethical Decision Making in Marketing’,Journal of Marketing 49, 87–96.
Ferrell, O. C., L. G. Gresham and J. Fraedrich: 1989, ‘A Synthesis of Ethical Decision Models for Marketing’,Journal of Macromarketing 9, 55–64.
Fortune: 1990, ‘Where the CEOs Went to College’, June 18, 120–122.
Fretzsche, D. J.: 1988, ‘An Examination of Marketing Ethics: Role of the Decision Maker, Consequences of the Decision Management Position, and Sex of the Respondent’,Journal of Macromarketing 10, 29–39.
Gilligan, C.: 1982:In A Different Voice: Psychological Theory and Women's Development (Harvard University Press, Cambridge).
Goodman, C. S. and C. M. Crawford: 1974, ‘Young Executives: A Source of New Ethics?’,Personnel Journal 50, 180–187.
Harris, J. R.: 1990, ‘Ethical Values of Individuals at Different Levels in the Organizational Hierarchy of a Single Firm’,Journal of Business Ethics 9, 741–750.
Hawkins, D. I. and A. B. Cocanougher: 1972, ‘Student Evaluations of the Ethics of Marketing Practices: The Role of Marketing Education’,Journal of Marketing 36, 61–64.
Hollon, C. J. and T. A. Ulrich: 1979, ‘Personal Business Ethics: Managers versus Managers-to-be’,Southern Business Review 5, 17–22.
Hunt, S. D. and S. A. Vitell: 1986, ‘A General Theory of Marketing Ethics’,Journal of Macromarketing 8, 5–16.
Jones, T. M.: 1991, ‘Ethical Decision Making By Individuals in Organizations: An Issue-Contingent Model’,Academy of Management Review 16(2), 366–395.
Kreitner, R. and W. E. Reif: 1980, ‘Ethical Inclinations of Tomorrow's Managers: A Cause for Alarm?Journal of Business Education 56, 25–29.
Lasczniak, G. R.: 1983, ‘Framework for Analyzing Marketing Ethics’,Journal of Macromarketing 5, 7–18.
Mayo, M. and L. J. Marks: 1990, ‘An Empirical Investigation of a General Theory of Marketing Ethics’,Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science 18, 163–170.
Murphy, P. E. and G. R. Lasczniak: 1981, ‘Marketing Ethics: A Review with Implications for Managers, Educators and Researchers’, in B. Enis and K. Roering (eds.),Review of Marketing (American Marketing Association, Chicago), pp. 251–266.
Shuptrine, K.: 1979, ‘Evaluating the Ethics of Marketing Practices: Student Perceptions’, in Neil Beckwith (eds.),Educators Conference Proceedings (American Marketing Association, Chicago), pp. 124–127.
Singhapakdi, A.: 1990, ‘Perceptual Framework of Marketing Ethics Decision Making: An Exploratory Comparison between Students and Practitioners’, in R. Viswanathan (ed.),Making Marketing Magic (American Marketing Association, Chicago), pp. 13–17.
Singhapakdi, A. and S. J. Vitell: 1990, ‘Marketing Ethics: Factors Influencing Perceptions of Ethical Problems and Alternatives’,Journal of Macromarketing 12, 4–18.
Singhapakdi, A. and S. J. Vitell: 1991a, ‘Comparing Marketing Students with Practitioners on Selected Marketing Ethics Variables’, in M. Gilleyet al. (eds.),Enhancing Knowledged Development in Marketing (American Marketing Association, Chicago), pp. 780–790.
Singhapakdi, A. and S. J. Vitell: 199b, ‘Research Note: Selected Factors Influencing Marketers' Deontological Norms’,Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science 19(1), 37–42.
Stanton, M.: 1985, ‘MBA's: Where They Work and Where They're Needed’,Occupational Outlook Quarterly 29, 3–10.
Stevens, G. E.: 1984, ‘Business Ethics and Social Responsibility: The Response of Present and Future Managers’,Akron Business and Economic Review 15, 6–11.
Tootelian, D. H. and R. M. Gaedeke: 1987, ‘Fortune 500 List Revisited 12 Years Later: Still an Endangered Species for Academic Research’,Journal of Business Research 15, 359–363.
Trevino, L. K.: 1986, ‘Ethical Decision Making in Organizations: A Person-Situation Interactionist Model’,Academy of Management Review 11(3), 601–617.
Waterman, A. S.: 1988, ‘On The Uses of Psychological Theory and Research in the Process of Ethical Inquiry’,Psychological Bulletin 103(3), 283–298.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
James R. Harris is Associate Professor of Marketing at Auburn University. He has published in theJournal of Business Ethics, Journal of Marketing Research, Journal of Retailing, Business and Professional Ethics Journal, and elsewhere. He has taught the Legal and Social Environment course at the graduate level for a number of years.
Charlotte D. Sutton is Assistant Dean for Graduate Programs at the College of Business, Auburn University. Her research on such topics as women in management, stress and interpersonal communication has been cited in such places as ABC News, Good Morning America,Wall Street Journal, Newsweek, andBusiness Week.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Harris, J.R., Sutton, C.D. Unravelling the ethical decision-making process: Clues from an empirical study comparingFortune 1 000 executives and MBA students. J Bus Ethics 14, 805–817 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00872347
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00872347