Raising The Bar In Troubled Times: Business Goals Of Our Future Leaders

Abstract

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0.5in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">In times of international terrorism, corporate corruption and economic uneasiness, it is easy to become cynical and jaded regarding the ethical, legal and social responsibilities of American business.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>A survey of management students however provides cause for optimism.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">   </span>According to the survey they perceive responsibilities towards employees and society, respecting ethical norms and staying within the law to be ‘moderately’ to ‘very’ important goals to the typical American business person and consider these same goals ‘very’ to ‘of utmost’ importance to themselves. Over the period of the study ‘personal wealth’ and ‘honor, face, reputation’ have decreased in importance while ‘patriotism and national pride’ has increased.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>This indicates that despite world events our future business leaders intend to raise the bar regarding issues of corporate performance and social responsibility.</span></span></p>