Grand Canyon Skywalk: Views of Law and Ethics

Abstract

With ethics education being essential for business students, the intersection of law and ethics provides students with a view of how people are expected to conduct themselves legally and how that conduct also must meet ethical standards. 1 The story of the development and operation of the Grand Canyon Skywalk (“Skywalk”) is one that is perfectly suited to the task. It is a tale of dreams, schemes, law and the legal system, but, most importantly, it is a tale of how people behave and how that behavior raises questions of ethics regardless of the legal outcomes. This teaching case also provides the opportunity for students to engage in active learning, to interact with their classmates and to learn the importance of gathering information before making decisions, about law, about ethical conduct or about any proposed action. 2 It provides students the chance to look at the story of the Skywalk from different perspectives and to learn that perspective plays an important role in determining the ethical nature of human conduct. Moreover, the case provides ample opportunity for critical thinking and analysis, discussion and writing, skills which are crucial to the ethical decision making process. Finally, the tale of the Skywalk is a story of how legal and ethical behavior may or may not be synonymous. 3 From contract law to eminent domain, from defamation to trademark infringement, the story of the Skywalk has it all.