Systemic Action Research for Ethics Students: Curbing Unethical Business Behaviour by Addressing Core Values in Next Generation Corporates

Abstract

The pervasive and destructive legacy of unethical corporates must be interrupted if the protraction of unethical business practice is to be arrested and assuaged. Raising a generation of business leaders who stand up for ethical integrity can happen when minds and hearts uncompromisingly choose ‘integrous’ behaviour. A group of 3rd-year business ethics students participated in a learning experience that systemically challenged them towards comprehending the oftentimes complex but fused impact of ethical principles and unethical business practice, filtered through an examination of their own values. Preliminary findings suggest there is merit in using an experiential learning approach, in that it offers students opportunity to set their ethical compass in advance, in preparation of potential ethical decision-making challenges in their corporate careers. This research reports on what happens when students were challenged cognitively and emotionally to observe and feel the impact of ethical business practice vis-a-vis the carnage caused by unethical business practice, and the fallout in human terms. The paper presents a comprehensive literature review, and empirical results of a qualitative descriptive survey that students completed at the end of the project, which were analysed using content analysis. Excerpts from four student papers are presented and provide a refreshing and unique perspective of business ethics.