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Ethical or practical: An empirical study of students' choices in simulated business scenarios

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Abstract

Graduate and undergraduate students were asked to evaluate the ethicality and practicality of the lead character in several case scenarios. Students' responses indicated they believed practicality was more important than ethicality. The majority of students were able to determine the correct ethicality of the cases presented to them. The authors conclude that more research is needed in the antecedents of a student's value system.

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Dr. White is U.C. Foundation Professor of Management at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga where he has been a faculty member since 1981. Dr White has published in the areas of general management, operations management, and personnel. Dr White holds the Ph. D. Degree in Management.

Mr. Dooley is a candidate for the doctoral degree in management and holds an MBA degree.

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White, C.S., Dooley, R.S. Ethical or practical: An empirical study of students' choices in simulated business scenarios. J Bus Ethics 12, 643–651 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01845903

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