business ethics assignment topics

Services Paper editing services Paper proofreading Business papers Philosophy papers Write my paper Term papers for sale Term paper help Academic term papers Buy research papers College writing services Paper writing help Student papers Original term papers Research paper help Nursing papers for sale Psychology papers Economics papers Medical papers Blog

80 Outstanding Business Ethics Research Paper Topics

A business ethics research paper has to be engaging and a solution to a particular economic challenge. We have a compilation of the best business ethics topics to help you achieve this task. Read on.

Social Media Business Ethics Paper Topics

Writing a research paper for a high grade is not an easy task for every student. Check social media business ethics topics to get some inspiration.

Is monitoring employee’s online behavior by companies ethical?
Should a company fire an employee if they find their information on social media detrimental to its image?
What is the role of social media in achieving responsible business
The impact of CSR initiatives on Facebook and Twitter
How do new product introductions perform on social media?
How do enterprises manage negative responses on Facebook?
How to increase positive responses without eroding business ethics
Is the notion of ‘controversial fit’ on social media ethical?

Business Ethics Research Topics on Privacy

Installation of surveillance cameras to supervise employees
To what extent can bosses watch over the actions of their staff?
Is intercepting and reading E-mail messages in an office ethical?
What ethical problem does the merging of databases containing personal information pose?
The emergence of hackers and crackers and the threat to privacy
Software for decoding digital information
Who decides the personal or private information to gather?
Do businesses adhere to the confidentiality of information policy?

Health and Safety Business Ethics Paper Topics

How does organizational ethical climate affect personal safety ethics?
The conflict between personal safety ethics and professional safety ethics
Is the office ergonomics a pressing concern?
The role of the Occupational Safety and Health Act
Facility design consistent with health and safety regulations
Hazard identification and correction by companies
Who is responsible for shutting down dangerous activities
Provision of medical surveillance in workplaces

List of Business Ethics Topics on Environmental Damage

Are businesses using energy-efficient lighting?
Proper thermostat control of heating and cooling systems
Do companies have computer equipment operating efficiently?
Use of wind power and solar panels by industries
Reducing the business’s environmental impact and carbon footprint.
Replacing plastic packaging with biodegradable materials
Examining the effects of the business practices on other species
Dealing with activities that involve clearing land and destroying animals’ habitats

Ethical Research Paper Topics on Internal Relationships

Job satisfaction and dedication levels of employees
Impact of bullying and discrimination on workers
Productivity levels fall of employees when companies do not care about them
How to sustain a healthy atmosphere among employees
Unfair treatment due to race, religion or gender
How effective is the anti-discrimination law?
Bias among employees
Eliminating unethical behaviors within an organization

Ethics Research Paper Topics on Business Leadership

What is the mark of an ethical leader?
Objectivity and transparency as leadership traits
Leaders with strong, virtuous values those with weak values
Maintaining your temper as a leader
Dealing with anger in business as a leader
Can leadership prevail in the use of strength and violence?
How a leader’s moral stance determines his ethics
Are women better business leaders than men?

Interesting Business Ethics Topics on Social Responsibility

Making ethical decision making in big corporations.
Understanding the concept of corporate responsibility.
An inspiration for social responsibility in the workplace
Investing in corporate social responsibility
How CSR trends are evolving over time
Striking a balance between profit and social responsibility
Achieving competitive advantage and CSR
How learning can contribute to CSR

Business Ethics Paper Topic Idea in Sports

Encouraging character development through sports
How unethical behavior affects ones moral and ethical standards outside the pitch
Are sports competitions alienated from real life?
How games serve as a primary outlet of our ethics
Is faking a foul or injury ethical?
How athletes attempt to get a head start in a race
Using performance-enhancing drugs
Intimidating or taunting opponents

Advertising Ethical Issues Topics for Papers

Should children appear in adverts?
Is it right for half-naked ladies to appear in adverts?
Is exaggerating ads ethical?
Talking about the side effects of products in ads
Alcohol ads on TV
Cigarettes and tobacco
Fooling customers through practical things
Ethics of advertising a sanitary napkin

Bonus Ethics Paper Topics

The roots of business ethics in psychology.
The relationship between business success and personal integrity
The place of moral leadership in a company
How to make the right decisions every day at work
Implications of leadership malfunctions and ethical failures
How far can an ethical mishap take a company?
Who should be the moral police in a corporate organization?
What are the kinds of ethical dilemmas that people face at work every day?

If it feels challenging for you to complete a business term paper, i t’s better to buy a research paper from a professional writer. Our services are cheap and high-qualitative.

After going through the comprehensive list of topics concerning papers on business ethics, nothing can stop you now. All you need to do is to select one and get going. Nonetheless, if you still find it difficult, we have guru writing help on how to write business ethics research papers and much more! Give your assignment a professional feel by using our top-rated assistance now! The process is as easy as pie. Just c ontact us with a “ do my custom research paper now” request and get an A+. Why try to work on a paper and risk failing when an expert is only a click away!

Writing custom essays & research papers since 2008

170+ fantastic business ethics research paper topics to try out.

Many students struggle to choose their business ethics research paper topics. That’s because this subject has controversial and fascinating issues. What’s more, this subject keeps widening because people engage in different businesses. And people can’t do business without ethics. Therefore, companies in various countries must adhere to an ethical code of conduct to ensure their credibility and reliability.

University professors and lecturers ask learners to write research papers to gauge their understanding of this subject. Students should select interesting and engaging topics for their essays to ensure that educators love their work and award them high grades. If struggling to decide what to write about, here’s a list of business ethics topics to consider.

Interesting Business Ethics Topics

These are interesting business ethics topics that learners can research and write about to earn superior grades. Nevertheless, students should prepare to research extensively and analyze information to develop quality papers.

Should a company be honest with its customers?
Should a corporation be responsible for environmental protection
Moral principles and decision making in business
Employee relationships as an ethical principle of an employer
Ethical issues that surround corporation governance
Social responsibility in business
How to think, act, and compete ethically in business
Business ethics and environmental policies
How to teach business ethics
Ethical conflicts- Ways to avoid arguments on cultural, religious, national, and political basis in business
Cross-cultural and ethical concerns in business
Business decision making- What are the ethical considerations?
Psychological perspectives in corporate ethics
Approaching business ethics from a psychological viewpoint
How to approach business ethics from a philosophical viewpoint
Business principles and ethical standards
How to adhere to ethical rules in business
Ethical codes for trade associations
Ethical ways to prevent sexual harassment in business
Ethical codes for multinational companies
Can an ethical mistake cause bankruptcy?
Ethical dilemmas facing business owners
Organizing the structures that control ethical issues in business
Ethical values that employers share with workers
Are personnel and manager ethics different?
Ethical values for industrial communities
Corporate responsibility as an ethical concept
How to balance pragmatics with ethics- Effective managerial methods
How criminal behaviors can limit large corporations
How necessary are ethical codes for a company?
Types of corporate and white-collar crimes
Who’s responsible for a company’s corporative ethics?
Approaching ethics from a pragmatic perspective
Ethical failures caused by leadership malfunctions
To work ethics can facilitate making the right decisions
Moral leadership role in business
Business success and personal integrity
Business ethics- What are their psychological roots?
How to avoid being a victim of unethical actions at the workplace
What causes unethical behavior in business?

Easy Business Ethics Paper Topics

Some college students need simple topics that they won’t struggle to research, write about, and impress their educators. Consequently, they prefer writing about simple but exciting business ethics topics. If that’s what you’re looking for, here are brilliant ideas to consider.

Most students can have a relatively easy time researching and writing about these business ethics paper topic ideas. Nevertheless, a learner should first examine any of these ideas to develop a paper that will earn them the top grade.

What measures should a business organization implement to prevent sexual harassment?
Can business ethics help in evaluating the capital amount that a company should spend on health benefits?
Is being absolutely transparent with a target market ethical for a company?
Is discouraging pregnancies among employees ethical for a company?
How to evaluate illegal practices like bribery, corruption, and nepotism during the tendering process
How illegal and unethical behavior affect a company and society
Ethical evaluation of favoritism in a family-owned business
How to examine ethics in business contracts
Exploring privacy violation and social media as an infringement of business ethics
Is authenticity a type of business ethics?
How the management can stop the perception of women as sex symbols at the workplace
A case study of business ethics- A brief review of privacy infringements and surveillance by Facebook
How child labor amounts to business ethics’ violation
Should a company that profits from others’ peril continue operating?- Investigating unhealthy products from alcohol and cigarette companies
Privacy violation by social media as a business ethics’ breach
Misinformation to shareholders and the board- Investigating negligence as an unethical practice in business.
Ethics behind hazardous working conditions
Subway business model and ethics
How to promote a company’s ethical practices
Should businesses be held accountable for claims and promises they make regarding their service or product purposes?
Ethics behind the sale of a product before through testing and approval
How to address the ethical problem of a country that leads in production and manufacturing by has poor working conditions, low wages, and remuneration schemes
Ethical ways to achieve corporate social responsibility
Ethics governing different marketing techniques
Why do companies misinform their target customers about services and goods?
Is marking fast foods as healthy yet they increase the risk of diseases like diabetes ethical?
Examining the code of ethics in different economic sectors
Is refusing a female football coach in a male team ethical?
Is having an unsafe working environment unethical?
Is it ethical for a company to monitor the online behavior of its employees?

Business Ethics Research Paper Topics about Social Media

It’s almost impossible for a company to ignore social media and succeed in the current digital era. Consequently, ethical conduct by businesses on different social media platforms is a prominent research area. Here are some of the best topics in this category.

These are brilliant topics for an essay or research paper. Learners should research any of these ideas extensively and take time to write top-notch pieces.

Should a corporate organization fire a worker with social media details that could hurt its image?
How corporate social responsibility initiatives on social media affect a business
How enterprises manage negative social media responses
Is controversial fit notion on social media ethical?
The performance of product introductions on social media
How social media can help in the achievement of responsible business
Can social media cause a confidentiality breach in a company?
Improper business activities and practices in social media
How blogs have toned down most business ethics
Ethical ways employees can use social media for non-company and personal purposes
Ethical ways a business can use social media to answer customer questions
Health company policies for guiding employees’ conduct on social media
How a business can ethically post on social media
Practical tips for using social media for corporate social responsibility
How companies can manage brands and trust in social media
Should a business turn off social media comments?
Proper ethical conduct on social media
How to apply Kantian Ethics when using social media for business purposes
How employees can use social media ethically to achieve a company’s objectives
How to enhance ethics when using social media for business

Business Ethics Essay Topics for College Students

Perhaps, you want to write an essay on an ethics topic in business. In that case, consider these ideas for your paper.

How fair play can improve a company’s bottom line
Corporate responsibility- What are the ethical underpinnings?
Is ethics a required course in business?
Ethical practices for modern businesses
What causes unethical behavior by companies
Is personal integrity a moral and a function for corporate success?
Ethical decision-making rules in a corporate environment
What are the qualities of an ethical business leader?
Transparency and objectivity as business leadership traits
How ethical leaders maintain their temper
How ethical business leaders deal with anger
Is using violence and strength a trait of ethical leaders?
What is the role of corporate culture in business ethics?
Methods of incorporating ethics in a company’s corporate culture
How the management affects an organizational culture
Factors determining people’s behavior in a corporate environment
How to conduct a cultural audit in a company
Lessons from organizational crises and corporate scandals
Business ethics in mergers’ management
How organizational culture can enhance a company’s performance
How encoding business values can prevent destructive technologies
Building a robust foundation for a company’s data to improve security
Stakeholder privacy in information dissemination
How to cultivate trust when dealing with dangerous technologies
How to demonstrate transparency when using business technology
How ethical is data surveillance?
How to deploy technology’s power of all
How to advise employees about the ethical use of technology
How unethical use of technology can affect a business
How to train technologists about ethical ways of eliminating product bias

This category also has hot topics in business ethics that educators and the audience will find interesting to read. Nevertheless, extensive research is necessary to come up with a brilliant essay on any of these ideas.

Dissertation Topics in Business Ethics

Perhaps, you’re pursuing an MBA or Ph.D., and you need a topic for your dissertation. In that case, this section has some of the best business ethics topics for presentation to your dissertation committee. Consider the following ideas for your paper.

These are ethics topics in business that most experts will find interesting. Yet, hese ideas still require extensive research to develop comprehensive papers.

Business ethics in the publishing industry- Authorship collaboration and sponsorship
How higher education institutions can teach business ethics- Comparing developing and developed countries
How to define the aesthetics concept in business ethics
Challenges facing ethical practices in the tourism sector
Ethics in practice and theory- What is the difference?
Business research ethics- An evaluation of incentives and more profound objectives in business
Analyzing ethical decision-making when doing business online
Historical countdown of ethical decision-making in business
Exploration of ethic code in a company via the management perspective
How to use the code of ethics to win trust among the employees
Business ethics within the share market
Motivations for business decisions by citizens- An ethical perspective
Corporate egoism, bribery, and exploitation- What are the links?
Business ethics practice and perceptions by students doing business while pursuing higher education
Business contracts and corruption among the international society
Investigating gift-giving, pharmaceutical representatives, and business ethics
Analyzing the relationship between business organizations and civil society via an ethical perspective
How corporate ethic code influences the employees’ sales behavior
How to integrate business ethics in corporate social responsibility
A critical analysis of a company’s management ethics

Business Ethics Debate Topics

Debates around business ethics aim to argue a position’s merit, differences between right and wrong, and common ethical boundaries. Here are controversial business ethics topics to consider for your project.

Should companies ban workplace relationships?
A comparison of genetically modified seeds versus pesticide use on seeds
Should clearance pricing have controls?
Is monopolizing all industry aspects ethical for a company?
How antibacterial soap affects people
Should countries that have legalized marijuana allow businesses to advertise it?
How ethical and relevant is performance review in a company?
Should companies compensate customers for delayed deliveries?
How over criminalizing a company affects society
The effectiveness of shareholder model in public company’s management
Is native advertising ethical and appropriate?
How large companies use their monopoly to influence consumers
Are white-collar criminals corporate psychopaths?
Should pharmaceutical companies sell their drugs at high prices?
Is tracking customers’ phones an ethical practice for banks to reduce fraud?
Is seeking opportunities that conflict with a government job ethical misconduct?
Using predictive analytics in siphoning worker’s email for risk- Is it ethical?
Why is reducing tax payment through inversion unethical?
Is colonizing another planet ethical from a business perspective?
Companies should give women more time to nurse their newborn babies
Should companies buy products from a business that doesn’t practice business ethics?
Should public institutions like schools hire the services of private companies?
Should amusement parks have unique safety regulations, depending on their locations?
Should business leaders and CEOs earn higher salaries than the other employees?
Should a small business have similar recall rules with global corporations?
Should US companies depend on the federal government’s bailout during financial trouble?
Should businesses use healthcare programs to pay for employees’ yoga studios, health clubs, and fitness needs?
Should companies share cancer research data with the general public?
Should firms that manufacture dangerous or addictive products contribute resources to the research for their use?
Why using workplace surveillance systems on employees is unethical
Why internet censorship is unethical and ridiculous
Businesses should ethically pay employees the minimum wage that the federal government mandates them
Companies should pay equal wages to all employees regardless of their gender or sex identity
Companies should prevent sexual harassment
Businesses should be responsible for preventing workplace discrimination
Companies should educate employees about ethical issues regarding their social media usage
Every company should be responsible for the safety and health of employees at the workplace
Every business should be held accountable for ethical issues surrounding its environmental responsibility

These are exciting topics about business ethics that learners can work on when writing academic papers and essays. However, learners can use a professional research paper writing service if unable to write academic papers . Several online companies offer custom writing help to learners at different study levels. Nevertheless, choose a company with ENL expert writers to get fast, cheap, and reliable assistance. That way, you’ll end up with a paper that will impress the professor to award you the top grade in your class.

Write my thesis
Thesis writers
Buy thesis papers
Bachelor thesis
Master's thesis
Thesis editing services
Thesis proofreading services
Buy a thesis online
Write my dissertation
Dissertation proposal help
Pay for dissertation
Custom dissertation
Dissertation help online
Buy dissertation online
Cheap dissertation
Dissertation editing services
Write my research paper
Buy research paper online
Pay for research paper
Research paper help
Order research paper
Custom research paper
Cheap research paper
Research papers for sale
Thesis subjects
How It Works

80 World’s Finest Business Ethics Topics For Research Paper

What is business ethics? MBA students in college or university need top business ethics research paper topics for their course. Any business cannot exist without ethics. It is a vital aspect that companies in numerous countries uphold to ensure their reliability and credibility.

Building a consensus between the moral aspects and the economic setting is what lecturers aim to see in students with such a paper. You will know how to write more topics on your own painstakingly with our top business ethics paper topic ideas in a moment.

Topics in Accounting: Business Ethics Research Paper

The perception of tax evasion ethics
Acceptable ethical behavior in the accounting workplace
The history of ethics in accounting
How governments handle accounting ethics
A case study of philosophers who contributed to the ethics of accounting
Cultural and political situations leading to accounting ethics
The concepts behind accounting ethics precepts and their applications
Different educational approaches in teaching accounting ethics

Corporate Culture Business Ethics Paper Topics

What role does corporate culture play in business ethics?
The place of organizational culture in improving performance
Business ethics in the management of mergers
Lessons from corporate scandals and organizational crises
Conducting a corporate cultural “audit.”
Factors determining the behavior of people in a corporate environment
How management impacts organizational culture
Methods used to incorporate ethics into the corporate culture.

Technology Business Ethics Research Topics

Encoding company values to stop destructive technologies
How to build a more robust data foundation to enhance security
Stakeholder privacy in the dissemination of information
Cultivating trust in destructive technologies
Demonstrating transparency using technology in business
Is data surveillance ethical?
Deploying the technology “power of all.”
Training business technologists to eliminate product bias
Advising employees on how technology may affect their jobs in the future

Business Ethics Paper Topics For Advertising

Is the use of misleading advertising unethical?
Why do companies use women in product advertising?
Is it ethical to use minors for business adverts?
Should alcohol companies advertise before the watershed period?
Is it ethical to advertise the sale of guns on TV?
What should happen to agencies with scam adverts?
Discuss why it is unethical for boxing companies to use provocatively dressed ladies
The impact of misleading headlines in advertisements
Is it ethical to use vague and obscene language in advertising?
Why should cigarette adverts have a warning for excessive use?
Compare and contrast men versus women adverts. Which ones sell?

Ethical Research Paper Topics in Business during Pandemics

Is it ethical to hike prices during pandemics
Should companies lay off their staff during the coronavirus period
Should small income businesses pay tax during adverse conditions
Why do enterprises hide commodities in times of crises
Is it ethical for real-estate agencies to continue charging rent?
Should governments supply subsidized products to stop competition?
Why pandemics may increase internal control risks
Is slashing more than 50% of salaries ethical?
Should employers grant their employees mandatory unpaid leaves?

Ethics Research Paper Topics for Managers

Why managers should have a Corporate Conscience
How good ethics translates to profit: A guide for managers
A critical approach to the integrity of managers
The social nature of morality in managerial positions
Is shrewd bargaining ethical for managers?
How can managers effectively resolve ethical problems
How unethical management can affect a company’s bottom line
Moral management is suitable for both the law and the market
Ethical managers save companies legal compulsion
How does good ethics result in excellence for managers?

Interesting Legal Business Ethics Topics

Why lawyers should not pursue their interests in the representation of a client
Are law schools teaching legal ethics effectively?
How should lawyers behave towards each other?
Should lawyers be compelled to honor their obligation?
How law and morality conflict
Can a promise be used in place of a contract?
How far should companies stand behind their products?
Is it ethical to use mentally insane people in adverts?
Claiming a product is better than others in ads.
Employment discrimination law ethics

Social Media Business Ethical Issues Topics for Papers

Should employers monitor employee behavior?
How social media leads to a breach of confidentiality
Social media and improper business practices and activities
Have blogs toned-down business ethics?
Use of social media by employees for their personal, non-company use
Discuss how employees use social media for the company’s business objectives
How to ethical answer questions on social media
Healthy employee social media policies
How applicable is the Kantian Ethics to the use of social media in business?
Proper ethical standards for social media use
Should companies turn off comments on social media?
Trust and brands management in social media
How to improve ethics using social media
Corporate social media policy for companies
Tips for posting on social media

The list of business ethics topics above should inspire you to get a paper and begin your essay or create more of them.

Our team of eminent writers is on standby to offer you all the writing help you need for your papers on business ethics and much more! All you need to do is to tap that “Place Order” button.

Useful Links

How much will your dissertation cost?

Have an expert academic write your dissertation paper!

Dissertation Services

Get unlimited topic ideas and a dissertation plan for just £45.00

Order topics and plan

Get 1 free topic in your area of study with aim and justification

Yes I want the free topic

Business Ethics Dissertation Topics

Published by Owen Ingram at December 29th, 2022 , Revised On October 10, 2023

Many students find it difficult to choose an appropriate topic for their business ethics dissertation paper because the field is complex and contains interesting and contentious issues. Furthermore, the current issues keep evolving as more and more people get involved in different enterprises.

What we know for certain is that a business cannot be conducted without ethics. In order to maintain their integrity and dependability, companies must follow an ethical code of conduct.

The purpose of a dissertation or a research paper is to assess the student’s understanding of the various issues of business ethics and propose appropriate solutions through research and writing.

Students should choose compelling and intriguing business ethics dissertation topics to ensure good grades. For those who do not know where to begin, here are some business ethics research topics to consider.

Important & Related Resource: Dissertation Topics Database , Dissertation Writing Services .

Is overly high pricing and levies imposed by businesses related to corporate social responsibility (CSR)?
How ethical behaviour among business managers contributes to a company’s success.
The effect of deceptive advertising techniques on consumer trust.
The impact of discrimination and gender bias on worker performance inside a business.
How higher education institutions use ethics in their hiring procedures.
Difficulties in implementing ethical business practices, which are necessary for the growth of sustainable tourism.
Should businesses that benefit from other people’s risk be permitted to continue operating? A case study of unhealthy items sold by cigarette and alcohol manufacturers on the American market.
Case study on business ethics; a quick analysis of Facebook’s privacy and surveillance violations.
Examine child labour as an unethical practice and a source of cheap labour.
Women face discrimination at work and are frequently seen as sex symbols.
Describe how you, as a business manager, could stop this.
Examine the concept of honesty in business ethics.
Examine privacy violations on social media as a breach of company ethics.
How does a company’s inadequate environmental management affects consumer loyalty and trust?
A study on the conflict between publication incentives and business research.
How does an organisation’s profit incentive affect the quality of its products?
The effects of worker exploitation on the industrial market
The usefulness of academic theories of business ethics in real-world corporate settings.
Approach to publishing industry ethics in author sponsorship deals.
Using ethics to guide decision-making in the context of internet commerce.
A comparison of how business ethics are taught in rich and developing countries higher education institutions.
Apply business ethics to determine how much a corporation must invest in health, maternity, and other benefits when moving to a foreign nation.
Is it morally acceptable for businesses to be completely upfront with their target market?
Is it moral for employers to use birth control to prevent workplace pregnancies?
A thorough analysis of the impact on society and the economy of illicit activities like corruption, bribery, nepotism, and overpricing of contracts.
An analysis of a case study including sexual harassment and other unethical behaviour in commercial companies.
The several moral conundrums that contemporary corporate firms must choose between.
Components of a shared ethical responsibility culture between a company and employees.
How do corporate ethics affect employees’ mental health?
Corporate crime and white-collar crime characteristics in modern business.
Teaching personnel from various ethnic origins a shared code of conduct.
Things that multinational corporations should take into account while creating their environmental policies in various nations.
The need for ethics in good corporate governance, item number.
Personal and professional conduct in connection to work ethics, moral conduct, and workplace crisis management.
The importance of ethics in the management and prevention of disputes in the workplace
Businesses in the industrial and production sectors have made major contributions to pollution and global warming.
Explain the many breaches and ethical violations such firms have committed from the business ethics perspective in the paragraph.
What does corporate social responsibility (CSR) entail? Describe the numerous ways that businesses can implement CSR.
The connection between pharmaceutical corporations’ gift-giving practices and corporate ethics.

Get Dissertation Help

Orders completed by our expert writers are

Formally drafted in an academic style
Free Amendments and 100% Plagiarism Free – or your money back!
100% Confidential and Timely Delivery!
Free anti-plagiarism report
Appreciated by thousands of clients. Check client reviews

The field of business ethics entails establishing the moral rules that govern an organisation’s conduct or administration. Changing business practices are eroding ethical principles over time. Academics must study business ethics to determine its causes, benefits, and effects.

Our assistance in finding good thesis topics will require you to choose an original topic that deals with ethically contentious issues. Our dissertation writing experts can assist you in navigating the moral dilemmas of today in the form of a dissertation paper. We will provide appealing business ethics dissertation topics to help you achieve the highest possible grade.

Frequently Asked Questions

List down the 5 best business ethics dissertation topics.

Certainly! Here are 5 great Business Ethics Dissertation Topics: 1. Ethical Decision-Making in Corporate Governance 2. Sustainability and Social Responsibility in Business 3. Ethical Implications of Artificial Intelligence in Business 4. Whistleblowing and Ethical Accountability in Organizations 5. Corporate Social Responsibility in a Globalized World.

Business Ethics

(9 reviews)

OpenStax College

ISBN 13: 9781947172579

Publisher: OpenStax

Language: English

Formats Available

Conditions of use.

Learn more about reviews.

Reviewed by Ingrid Greene, Clinical Assistant Professor, Loyola Marymount University on 6/6/23

Comprehensiveness rating: 3 see less

I think that the subjects that are covered are thorough and they use great examples. But, I also feel that the textbook is missing a lot of key topics such as the role of technology and a deeper dive into the role of governments and non-profits. I understand that it is important to include a lot about philosophy, but I think that there is a lot of room for improvement with a deeper dive of some other key parts of the curriculum. The philosophy part has many sources outside of a traditional textbook since this topic is has been studied for thousands of years, and doesn't need to be covered as thoroughly here. More time could be spend on other topics like non-profits and governance. I think that it is missing key parts about the role of a Board of Directors, how they are elected, and their responsibilities.

Content Accuracy rating: 5

Everything looked accurate and detailed properly.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 4

Yes, updates will be possible, and they link to relevant articles or cases that are very up-to-date. Again, I would just add more about technology and the role of non-profits.

Clarity rating: 4

I like the book, but the slides could be more clear and complete. Many of the slides have only a small photo and very limited text. They do not include much of the text material. I needed to create my own slides, and/or skip much of the material.

Consistency rating: 5

The book is very professional, and easy to read. There are key diagrams, and highlighting of key ideas. The slides, again, could use some help to coordinate better with the book.

Modularity rating: 5

It is very easy to read. I assigned the book to an 8th grader, and she was able to move through it easily and it engaged her interest. I took this as a good sign that it is good as an introduction to ethics for someone who is not familiar with the topic.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 5

The topics are well organized, but I would add a lot more about the world of non-profits. The external references to HBR cases is great. The frequent cases are also great.

Interface rating: 5

This is great. No problem with viewing it on multiple devices and computers.

Grammatical Errors rating: 5

Cultural Relevance rating: 5

Since this book centers a lot around culture, it would be hard to not give it a 5.

As I mentioned, it is important to have slides that really include much of the text, and I found the teacher resources for this very weak. I am hopeful that this could be improved. I did not have a chance to test the integration with our CMS, but I am hopeful that it could be helpful. I like that they include quizzes since this too can be time consuming for students. Lastly, I very much recommend that they include the work of non-profits in the discussion with business since this is a key player when we talk about doing things ethically, and getting input from key stakeholders.

Reviewed by Alysa D Lambert, Professor of HRM, Indiana University - Southeast (New Albany) on 2/21/23

The text covers a wide breadth of ethics and addresses all major and then some secondary topics in ethics. It also provides some of the history of ethical frameworks and their origins. It provides brief cases and critical thinking questions for... read more

Comprehensiveness rating: 5 see less

Content Accuracy rating: 4

I saw very few errors. The tone of the book reads as unbiased and covers all major theories of ethics.

Updates will be required but only as related to current ethical issues in business. As technology and business change, globalization continues to grow then the ethical issues will change and need to be updated. The ethical frameworks and the history of ethics will not change very much.

The book was clearly written with understandable examples. The resources are clear, relevant and recent.

Consistency rating: 4

The framework, format and vocabulary used were consistent and did not require extra explanation. For example, the "Link to Learning" boxes were great for giving students the chance to learn more about a topic. These will have to be checked frequently to ensure they are still live links which relates to the how relevant the book is in the future.

Modularity rating: 3

This could be improved. More headings, more sub-headings and more short case examples would increase the modularity of the text. Have short ethical dilemmas as conversation starters would also be a great addition.

I saw no issues with the organization of the material. My only suggestion would be to consider changing the "epilogue" chapter. It is titled, "Why ethics still matters?" I would hope after reading some much about ethics that much of this discussion would be obvious so breaking these points out and including them throughout may be one way to keep the relevance of studying ethics at the forefront of the course.

I did not see anything of concern here.

Cultural Relevance rating: 4

Culture has a prominent place in the book. I selected a 4 rating because there is always room for growth, but I believe the text does a really good job of reminding students of the cultural implications related to ethics. More examples could be added on LGBTQ+ issues, in particular the ethical implications related to inclusion and protecting those in the workplace who are in transition or who have transitioned.

Reviewed by Elizabeth Collier, Christopher Chair in Business Ethics, Dominican University on 5/2/22

This book includes the standard theories covered in most business ethics textbooks, along with a few additional frameworks that include cross-cultural opportunities for discussion and a broadening of what students may consider as they develop their understanding of ethics. It covers a wide range of topics and cases and could be used in a general undergraduate course to cover a lot of ground. The many opportunities for critical thinking and the deeper discussion questions allow for this to be used at a general graduate level MBA course as well. If used in an MBA course, additional materials or lectures would need to be added because book moves at a quick clip and has just the basics on each topic, while covering many different topics.

The materials are accurate and there are many critical thinking questions provided that allow for deeper engagement with the frameworks and cases through assignments and discussions.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 5

The content includes traditional cases that all students should be aware of and also many recent cases that explore issues not covered in the past. The ability for sections of these types of books to be updated semi-regularly means that the book should not be obsolete any time soon and could be augmented/updated very easily in the future with new cases that have arisen.

Clarity rating: 5

The book is well written, clear, very concise, and includes references and a glossary for each chapter.

The book maintains consistency throughout in format, cases, questions, glossary, photos, videos and opportunities for engagement.

In addition to the book being easily broken up by week into a quarter or semester, there are optional Canvas and Blackboard downloads that are comprehensive, along with resources for assignments aiding an instructor in maintaining the modularity, clarity and organization.

The book has a clear organization that it maintains throughout.

Interface rating: 4

There is an "errata" function on the OpenStax site that explains all issues related to this category and the book seems to be updated every spring to address issues with links, quiz questions and other minor corrections.

I did not find any grammatical errors.

This book does make use of examples that are inclusive of a variety of races, ethnicities and other aspects of diversity in the workplace.

This is an excellent option for those looking to include OER materials into the business classroom. Many people from a wide range of academic disciplines contributed to or reviewed the text. There are very few resources for OER business ethics texts, so the comprehensiveness of this text, along with the many supplemental resources for faculty, are really a great resource at this time.

Reviewed by Rebeca Book, Professor, Pittsburg State University on 4/19/22

The textbook is very comprehensive and covers many areas. Good background in providing the foundation and history of ethics and the different perspectives. Thought the different links to current stories and interviews also was beneficial. Was very comprehensive in that with the OpenStax and this particular textbook, the instructor has access to importing information (to me it was the Canvas Learning Management System) such as tests, powerpoints, etc. This additional information could also be downloaded and separate from a Learning Management System if needed.

Content was accurate and did not find any errors. Felt some areas might be a little biased, but in ethics this can easily happen and information was discussed in a relevant and thoughtful manner.

Interesting to think if it would become obsolete because I could relate to some of the interviews and stories, but later in a few years they might become obsolete but not the actual content or purpose of the information. Student might not relate as well to the stories later if they don't recognize the names or companies. Since the textbook is OpenStax I would think that the authors and audiences that use the textbook might update or bring in discussions to bring more current stories to the textbook.

The text is very lucid and easy to understand and read. Information is clearly explained and there are even portions of each area with key terms, summary and assessment. The textbook even has outlined expected outcomes for each chapter.

The text is consistent in terminology and framework.

The text can be divided into different reading sections easily. For my own purposes I do not devote a whole semester to ethics, so because there is so much good content and thought provoking insights, it will be hard to decide what to assign or use. But if the textbook were to be used entirely for a course, everything is well laid out.

I do believe the text is laid out in a logical and clear fashion.

I did not find the text itself to have interface problems. Was pleasantly surprised that I could even download the textbook onto my Kindle! The only problems that I had were using it with Canvas, but the problems were on my end and not with the textbook itself. I wonder in the future if there could be problems with links if they are discontinued or websites change, but hopefully there won't be any issues.. I didn't have any problems with the links when I used them in going through and reading the textbook.

The book, being on ethics, is very careful of cultures. It attempts in a very thoughtful way to help navigate and be sensitive to different races, ethnicities, and backgrounds.

Reviewed by Elissa Magnant, Visiting Instructor, University of Massachusetts Lowell on 6/29/20

This textbook is comprehensive. In fact, it provides more than enough information for either an undergraduate course in Business Ethics or a more in-depth analysis for seminar or graduate students if the video case studies are utilized fully. Because of the depth of content, for undergraduates the text might be best assigned by specific page numbers to cover specific topics, instead of full chapters all at once.

The text is well researched by astute world renown faculty who use peer reviewed materials.

One reason to use this book is that it is up to date. It covers more recent business ethics dilemmas than print or print/digital texts because by virtue of being open source and fully digital, it is kept more up to date than other textbooks I have used.

This book is well written and easy for the student to comprehend. It also provides instructor support material of a test bank which is also well designed.

This book is compatible with the humanistic ethics framework, including a focus on dignity, fairness and collaboration.

This textbook implements short case studies called "Cases from the Real World," opportunities for students to think and reflect on ethics questions as well as multiple headings/sub-headings for ease of division and assignment.

I like the organization of this textbook as it starts with the basic philosophical frameworks and moves to modern day real business ethics challenges so that the student progresses through stages, understanding how topics build upon each other as the book evolves.

Students really enjoy the option of buying a paper version of this book, which is made available on our campus for under $20. They also enjoyed the easily downloadable version of the text with clickable links, especially because they can download it or view it from any device. It makes it very easy to ask them to read and then evaluate their ethical considerations of the material in class or online.

I am unaware of any grammatical errors in this text.

This text does an exceptional job of providing students with a balanced understanding of ethical globalization. It is liberal toward US government ethics and could perhaps provide more balanced nuances when addressing those topics.

I used two other popular Business Ethics textbooks prior to making the change to this textbook. I am so happy I did. It provides a no-cost option to those who use it digitally, a low-cost option to those who want to also have access to a professionally printed version, and it covers more up-to-date business ethics topics than either of the previous texts I used. I look forward to the updates as they help to keep the class relevant and challenging for all.

Reviewed by Kerry Dolan, Accounting/Business Department Chair, TRAILS on 11/22/19

The content is of the book is more than enough to support a full semester 200-level business ethics course and it does a good job of covering the basic ethics principles as well as specific examples that are relevant to the contemporary business... read more

I'm not an expert in the field of business ethics, but given my background in general business and accounting, I did not encounter any information in the textbook that appeared to be inaccurate.

Relevance is always an issue with business-related textbooks because real-world examples quickly become outdated. However, this issue does not appear to be more pervasive with this text, nor would it be difficult to update or supplement any outdated examples. The basic concepts presented are not subject to obsolescence.

The text is very clear and understandable for lower-level college students that are encountering the basics of business ethics for the first time.

Text appeared to be consistent throughout. Clear organization and presentation.

I really liked how the book was organized with chapters and sections making it easy to assign partial chapters and/or specific sections and a manageable number of chapters and sections.

The text starts with broad concepts and moves to specific applications in business. The organization makes the presentation of the information clear to those who are being exposed to this discipline for the first time with this textbook.

Interface rating: 3

When reading this on a Kindle device, there were some areas where it was hard to decipher a picture caption from the string of text as as a result of digital page breaks and adjusted text sized, but once you got through the first chapter and were more familiar with the organization of each chapter it was not a distracting issue.

I didn't notice any grammatical errors.

The textbook did not appear to go out of its way to make sure that all races, ethnicities, and backgrounds were included, but there was a range of diverse images and examples. I did not see any culturally insensitive or offensive examples or images from my perspective.

Reviewed by Lou Cartier, Adjunct Instructor, Business and Management, Aims Community College on 8/1/19

At 367 pages, with 10 integrated, substantive chapters, constructive “end notes” and assessments on the evolution of ethical reasoning, leadership, and the challenges of “becoming an ethical professional” and “making a difference in the business world,” this is a comprehensive text, suitable for undergraduate business students and instructors not necessarily trained in philosophy. It is a great fit for single semester course, whether offered in conventional blocks of 15 weeks, 10 or eight. Topical case studies, video links, “what would you do” scenarios and assessments, chapter glossaries, and a helpful index reflect a breadth of industry, organizational, and cultural perspectives. The Preface, outlining the book’s purpose, architecture, contributing authors and student and instructor resources (i.e., “Getting Started” guide, test bank and PPts) appears responsive to both a student’s critical eye and an instructor’s operational check list. Moreover, the test banks (10) appear solid, with multiple choice and short essay answer questions linked to the Bloom’s Taxonomy grid (plus instructor’s answer guide). Power Point slides (15-25 per unit) offer critical thinking and discussion prompts. Collectively, these components illuminate the principles, practices, and historical seeds of business ethics and corporate social responsibility in a compelling presentation.

I encountered no obvious error or mischaracterization. The authors evidently have taken pains to document their content, including graphic and video links. In citations, I appreciate both the hard information and informal context provided. In Ch. 6, for example, minimum wages in every state rely upon 2017 data from “the National Conference of State Legislatures, U.S. Dept. of Labor and state websites” (Fig. 6.9), while in the next (Fig. 6.10), under the colorful graphic, we have this: “Right-to-work states have typically been clustered in the South and Southeast, where unions have been traditionally less prevalent.” That attribution references “Copyright Rice University, Open Stax, under CC BY 4.0 license,” sufficient for “educational use,” it would seem. Faculty also will appreciate the ease of flagging and correcting three kinds of errata: factual, typo, broken links.

As other reviewers have noted, this text – like most in “applied ethics” – relies on contemporary examples of business practice, including articles and video segments drawn from the business press and government oversight venues that may grow less compelling in another five years or so (think Enron and its accounting partner, Arthur Andersen, 2000-era exemplars of white collar crime not referenced here). Yet this text does a serviceable job of setting cases as old as Ford Motor Company’s fraught introduction of the Edsel (1958) and the “Chicago Tylenol Murders (1982) and as fresh as United Airlines forced removable of a ticketed passenger from a seat needed by an airlines employee (2017) amid sufficient historical, theoretical, and organizational context to grasp the key lessons of Unit 3.2: “Weighing Stakeholder Claims.” There is little danger of obsolescence, particularly since the open textbook network makes it so easy to correct errors and substitute current examples for the somewhat dated.

The clarity and quality of writing is superb, likely a reflection of lead collaborators Stephen Byars, who teaches “oral and written communication” as well as business ethics, and Kurt Stanberry, whose “legal and leadership” credentials are exercised in his continuing education seminars with CPA’s, attorneys, and business execs … nice fits for this subject. Students still ln high school, or in the growing cadre of “co-enrolled” in community college may struggle with this text, yet the publisher’s clear attention to content “building blocks” may comfort even the less mature and experienced student. For example, in any given chapter, readers 1) begin with an outline, learning objectives, and 500 – 1,000 word introduction, 2) encounter “cases from the real world” and “what would you do” tests of comprehension, and 3) close with a narrative summary, glossary of key terms, and short set of “assessment” questions. “Links to learning” include such clever questions as whether Coca-Cola’s soft pedaling of its huge demands for water in arid climates amounts to “greenwashing” (Ch. 3) or whether certain animals ought to be off limits for human consumption because of “sentience,” their ability to think and/or feel pain, (Peter Singer, Ch. 8). In addition “key terms” for every chapter are short and clear, i.e. “Integrity … because there is unity between what we say and what we do.”

Like two previous reviewers, I found the prose and organization to be coherent and consistent. Depth, attention to detail, terminology, and overall framework are consistent, linked by “key terms” and succinct introductions and summary reviews of each chapter. In the main cases, scenarios, and references to events are compelling, current or sufficiently grounded in context to be evergreen. Videos, on the other hand, come in all types, lengths, and flavors, from five minutes to more than an hour, from sit-down interview to taped panel discussion to challenging presentation in front of a group. The resourceful or determined instructor might guide students to a time code? This is not necessarily a weakness, though uneven production values should be expected.

Yes, this material lends itself to modularity, this despite a carefully constructed progression from “why this subject matters” to “how our forebears have grappled with responsibility” to “who has a stake in these decisions” to “what we owe each other” in specific manifestations of corporate and professional enterprise. It appears that in every chapter, its major units could be assigned separately, within an instructor’s unique unifying paradigm. Individual “features” could backstop of enrich discussions in class or online. There are no “enormous blocks of text” to impede easy snipping, and thoughtful subheadings appear to break up the challenge to comprehension and endurance.

The inherent logic of this text is apparent. Authors move from a philosophical foundation (“Why ethics matters?” and approaches to “intention v. outcomes” over time) to exploration of the stakeholder theory to close examination of ethical issues in business, the professions, and organizations in the voluntary and public sectors. A unifying feature is the Introduction, key terms, “assessment questions” and “end notes” for each chapter. Personal interviews or video clips from business owners and other stakeholders, supplemented by relevant documents such as ethics policies, training materials, and previews of business development … such as New Belgium CEO Kim Jordan’s (and “contemporary thought leader”) rationale for an east coast brewery in Asheville NC (opened May 2016) help cement understanding of such integral topics in corporate social responsibility as “sustainability.”

This textbook is available online, in pdf or web view, and in print (presumably suitable for loose leaf binder for nominal cost, which instructors may facilitate through campus bookstores, if appropriate). While some are not fond of “text boxes interspersed with the main text” my students using other similar e-texts have not reported problems. That said, I did not experience the online version of this text on Kindle or my phone, which might be instructive. On the other hand, while not “distorted” I found some of the power points unhelpful, to the point of distracting or annoying the viewer. Some seem busy, with narrative text blocks under anecdotal photos or graphics in print too small for comfortable display in class. Moreover, the “what would you do?” questions in this mode seem to me presumptive, less helpful than, say, bullet references to facts, principles, or events. Instructors and overseers of “access and accessibility” may care to note that not all videos are followed by transcriptions. Overall, the heading and body styles are consistent. Selection of fonts (style and size) maximize on screen legibility. Text blocks are in contrasting color to distinguish it from background, with minimal highlighting that does not appear arbitrary. On the whole, I found layout and design mechanically sound, with pages and links numbered and labelled consistently and - to the extent sampled -- no broken links.

None observed.

There is plenty to commend on this criteria. For one thing, Ch. 5, “The Impact of Culture and Time,” engages fundamental faith beliefs globally as well as the authority of religion tradition, and challenges students to explore the “universality “of values in business ethics. For instance this text does not shrink from illustrations of both “honor and shame” in business. In Appendix C, “A Succinct Theory of Business Ethics, the authors plainly and forcefully state their underlying thesis: that business ethics ought be grounded in deontology more than in utilitarianism, that “ends” are insufficient justification for questionable “means” in formulating and executing business strategy. Illustrations of demographic and behavioral diversity and inclusion – including animal rights and the implications for research and recreation – are plentiful, addressed in Ch. 8, “Recognizing and Respecting the Rights of All,” as well as the succeeding chapter on various professions.

This is an excellent “open educational resource” for business ethics and corporate social responsibility, one I intend to tap personally. The “closing parts” especially – including “Succinct Themes in Business Ethics” – are attractive guides to curriculum development and standalone discussion prompts in the classroom or online. “Lives of Ethical Philosophers (500 to 1,000 word summaries), and “Profiles in Business Ethics: Contemporary Thought Leaders,” adds a valuable philosophical heft that, for community and junior colleges especially, our accrediting and articulation partners will be pleased to see. I further value the selection of relevant supplemental material from independent consultants that range from the very basic, i.e., “Five Questions to Identify Key Stakeholders” to those that verge on the proprietary. These include descriptions of systems to monitor and “manage” customer and other stakeholder involvement, corporate codes of conduct … even a link to free personality test (Sec. 7.3), for which “bonus” I am grateful to Steve Custer of Oakland City University for pointing out.

Reviewed by Debra Sulai, Instructor, Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania on 3/12/19

This book provides a comprehensive introduction to the key elements of ethical theory (Aristotelian virtue, Kantian deontology, utilitarianism, Rawls' theory of justice); the social, political, and cultural contexts of business; and the importance of ethics to business, while going into greater philosophical depth than comparable textbooks. It addresses most of the key topical areas of business ethics but avoids the listicle approach of other business ethics textbooks in which every topic under the sun is stitched together with little overarching context. It also includes things like a discussion of ethics and organized labor, which other books overlook. I would, however, like to see more dedicated attention to the ethical issues raised by technology, perhaps by engaging with a philosopher of technology.

The index at the back and the detailed table of contents will make information easy to find. Each chapter's glossary will be helpful to students who are new to the subject. I particularly like the profiles of the four philosophers in the appendix: so often, ethics is taught in a disembodied and ahistorical manner, which makes it harder for students to see the relevance of the ideas being taught. These supplementary contextual elements would make this a good textbook for an instructor whose primary training was not in philosophy.

As an added advantage, the number of chapters does not exceed the number of weeks in a standard semester, and at 10 chapters plus an epilogue could also fit within a quarter system.

As far as I can tell, the content is accurate and clear. It was reviewed by dozens of faculty from a wide variety of institutions.

The book's use of contemporary examples means that it will date, but no more than any other textbook in applied ethics. As many of the examples are set out in textboxes or as links to external resources, it would be a relatively simple matter for an instructor to substitute recent examples when necessary. Chapter 10 on changing work environments and future trends is the chapter most likely to date quickly. The other applied sections will probably last 5-10 years; the ethical theory sections will remain relevant for a longer period of time.

I think this is appropriate for a general-education course in business ethics. I found it to be clear, although a student new to the subject or to philosophy may find that concepts are introduced at a quick pace. It does not suffer from unnecessary jargon; it is, as Aristotle said, as clear as the subject matter allows.

The prose and organization is consistent; it could have been single-authored.

Modularity rating: 4

It would be possible to use some portions of the text and not others, but it is not fully modular in that it was carefully constructed to provide the necessary philosophical and social context for business ethics prior to considering particular applied topics in business ethics. As it presents a sustained argument about business ethics (and this is a strength; philosophy is, after all, largely about making good arguments), it isn't the sort of thing that one could simply cut up and reassemble willy-nilly. However, I can easily see how an instructor could use various chapters to supplement or introduce other material. Chapters are internally divided into sections that could be read, assigned, or discussed separately.

Many business ethics textbooks combine three or four different courses in one: a book about ethics, a book about management and stakeholder theory, and a book about work and vocation, and give the impression of fairly disparate topics somewhat awkwardly and haphazardly stitched together. This book is logically organized to take students from basic moral theory through the application of those theories to key issues in business ethics, before circling back again to ethics in the epilogue.

Rather than being organized into chapters according to common areas of ethical problems in business (finance, accounting, affirmative action, greed, advertising and marketing, sexual harassment, sustainability, stakeholder theory, etc.) with few connections made between, this book addresses those issues under a relatively small number of chapter headings, and presents them through an ethical and social framework that is developed in the early chapters. I find this to be a more cohesive approach to the subject than is present in other textbooks.

I experienced no problems with the interface. The book is professionally produced. I personally do not like the use of text boxes interspersed with the main text, but I recognize that this is a common textbook feature.

I saw no grammatical issues. This book has been professionally edited.

This book includes a Confucian look at virtue ethics and attends to the cultural context in which the philosophers worked. It also contains a chapter on business ethics across time, place, culture and religion, a more comprehensive approach than the usual "business in a global context" topical chapter of other books. A chapter on respecting the rights of all addresses disability, gender inclusivity, religious diversity, animal ethics, and income inequality. In the following chapter there is a section on the business of health care, which I have not seen in any other similar text.

This is an outstanding introductory text in business ethics, with a level of philosophical sophistication and organizational coherence that exceeds most comparable texts. The chapter summaries, glossaries, and review quizzes are helpful aids to student learning, and the embedded links to interviews, videos, and case studies make it easy to adapt to active learning or on-line instruction. The amount of philosophical context makes it a particularly good choice for instructors of business ethics whose primary training is in business, management, law, or a related field, rather than in ethics or philosophy, or for a philosopher whose primary area of expertise is outside business ethics.

It does read as though it is a written version of excellent lectures in business ethics, which is not necessarily a weakness. The most significant drawback to this text, in my view, is that it includes no primary sources. As a philosopher teaching applied ethics, I know that business ethics may be the only course in philosophy that my students take. I also know this may be my students' primary or sole opportunity to read the classics of the western tradition. Therefore, I think this book could be enhanced by presenting some primary source readings. These could be added as an appendix or at the beginning or end of each chapter, or taken from other sources by the instructor.

I currently use an Oxford anthology for my business ethics course. However, if I were to assign a traditional textbook, I would switch to this book without reservation, and I am very likely to try this book in future courses.

Reviewed by Steve Custer, Associate Professor, Oakland City University on 2/25/19

The Business Ethics textbook is comprehensive in that it covers a broad range of ethical issues as well as delving into the history of ethics. The online format enhances the easy of use for the index. read more

I found the textbook to be accurate. I did not find any outstanding errors in the book. It is very well written and easy to understand.

From Toyota to Samsung and Starbucks, excellent examples of business ethics abound. Additionally, this textbook is quite effective in bringing to life many current events.

The book exceeds expectations in clarity. The key terms and assessment questions at the end of each chapter give extra help to those seeking to know the material in depth.

The dictionary defines consistency as a "condition of adhering together." I feel that this textbook accomplished that purpose. Moreover, it brought together principles of business ethics in a well-developed manner.

The online format enhances this textbook's modularity. The online links to learning are a welcome addition and add a nice touch.

The book is organized very well, and the online format makes keyword searches very easy to navigate.

The Business Ethics textbook is easy to navigate and understand. Nothing is wasted that takes away from the material.

I found the Business Ethics textbook to be free of any outstanding grammatical errors.

There are many examples this book gives on cultural relevance: #metoo, transgender ethics, environmental ethics, animal ethics, and diversity and inclusion.

I really enjoyed the link to the free personality test. That was a great bonus feature. "It is nice to be important, but more important to be nice." What a powerful sentiment and an appropriate quote to be included! This is a great textbook and I plan to utilize it in an upcoming business ethics course.

Chapter 1: Why Ethics Matter

1.1 Being a Professional of Integrity
1.2 Ethics and Profitability
1.3 Multiple versus Single Ethical Standards

Chapter 2: Ethics from Antiquity to the Present

2.1 The Concept of Ethical Business in Ancient Athens
2.2 Ethical Advice for Nobles and Civil Servants in Ancient China
2.3 Comparing the Virtue Ethics of East and West
2.4 Utilitarianism: The Greatest Good for the Greatest Number
2.5 Deontology: Ethics as Duty
2.6 A Theory of Justice

Chapter 3: Defining and Prioritizing Stakeholders

3.1 Adopting a Stakeholder Orientation
3.2 Weighing Stakeholder Claims
3.3 Ethical Decision-Making and Prioritizing Stakeholders
3.4 Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)

Chapter 4: Three Special Stakeholders: Society, the Environment, and Government

4.1 Corporate Law and Corporate Responsibility
4.2 Sustainability: Business and the Environment
4.3 Government and the Private Sector

Chapter 5: The Impact of Culture and Time on Business Ethics

5.1 The Relationship between Business Ethics and Culture
5.2 Business Ethics over Time
5.3 The Influence of Geography and Religion
5.4 Are the Values Central to Business Ethics Universal?

Chapter 6: What Employers Owe Employees

6.1 The Workplace Environment and Working Conditions
6.2 What Constitutes a Fair Wage?
6.3 An Organized Workforce
6.4 Privacy in the Workplace

Chapter 7: What Employees Owe Employers

7.1 Loyalty to the Company
7.2 Loyalty to the Brand and to Customers
7.3 Contributing to a Positive Work Atmosphere
7.4 Financial Intergrity
7.5 Criticism of the Company and Whistleblowing

Chapter 8: Recognizing and Respecting the Rights of All

8.1 Diversity and Inclusion in the Workforce
8.2 Accommodating Different Abilities and Faiths
8.3 Sexual Identification and Orientation
8.4 Income Inequalities
8.5 Animal Rights and the Implications for Business

Chapter 9: Professions under the Microscope

9.1 Entrepreneurship and Start-Up Culture
9.2 The Influence of Advertising
9.3 The Insurance Industry
9.4 Ethical Issues in the Provision of Health Care

Chapter 10: Changing Work Environment and Future Trends

10.1 More Telecommuting or Less?
10.2 Workplace Campuses
10.3 Alternatives to Traditional Patterns of Work
10.4 Robotics, Artificial Intelligence, and the Workplace of the Future

Chapter 11: Epilogue: Why Ethics Still Matter

11.1 Business Ethics in an Evolving Environment
11.2 Committing to an Ethical View
11.3 Becoming an Ethical Professional
11.4 Making a Difference in the Business World

Ancillary Material

About the book.

Business Ethics is designed to meet the scope and sequence requirements of the single-semester business ethics course. This title includes innovative features designed to enhance student learning, including case studies, application scenarios, and links to video interviews with executives, all of which help instill in students a sense of ethical awareness and responsibility.

About the Contributors

Contribute to this page.

Free Business Ethics Essay Examples & Topics

What is business ethics? An essay about it can be a task in your class. For that, you need to understand the term and what it implies.

Running a successful business, negotiating a contract, or simply dealing with clients is impossible without understanding and applying business ethics and its practices. It is a study of appropriate policies that companies and employees can use. They are vital in controversial situations that involve corporate governance, fiduciary responsibility, corporate social responsibility, etc.

That’s where the importance of business ethics comes from. For a company to be successful in the modern world, it should implement techniques and practices of business ethics. Customers and clients expect firms to behave appropriately. Operating this way is more than not breaking laws.

Our team came up with some tips that can help you write your business ethics essay. Additionally, you will find topics for different academic papers, and you can check our free samples.

How to Start a Business Ethics Essay

Let’s start with learning the basics of a business ethics essay. Here we will explain how to approach such a type of academic paper.

First of all, you need to see how this essay will differ from other assignments. That’s why we’ve prepared a step-by-step plan for you:

Pick an idea.

As you can imagine, you need to have a solid idea. It does not have to be defined at the very beginning. However, you need to know what direction you want to take. You need to come up with an assumption that you will later develop in your essay.

Research your topic.

The next step in starting your business ethics essay is to research the case carefully. The Internet, non-fiction books, interviews, business journals can become great sources for your paper.

Take notes.

While doing your research, you should always write down key information. It will ensure that you will not miss any vital data and keep track of good thoughts.

Craft a thesis statement.

After you’ve conducted your research, the next step is to explain your message and position. A thesis statement usually appears at the end of your introductory paragraph.

Think of your introduction .

After step number four, when your thesis statement is ready, you can develop your introduction. It has to catch readers’ attention and adequately introduce the topic of your essay. Additionally, think about the way it can be connected with your conclusion .

Outline your essay.

One more step before writing is organizing your text. Like any other academic paper, an ethics essay follows a structure. It consists of an introduction, body, and conclusion. The opening and the closing take about twenty percent of the entire article, and the rest eighty percent is left for the body.

17 Business Ethics Essay Topics

Now that you know how to start your business ethics paper, we’ve prepared a list of seventeen topics for your assignment. They can help you compose a fantastic essay about business ethics or use them to inspire your homework.

The topics are 100% original , so you can freely use them as your own:

Raising the minimum wage for minorities.
Issues with child labor.
Analyzing Uber’s business behaviors .
Is capitalism good or bad today?
How does social responsibility connect with business ethics?
Can moral principles guide business decisions?
Ethical issues in business law.
Advantages and disadvantages of Confucian business ethics.
The role of ethics in purchasing decisions.
Ways to eradicate unfair treatment due to race or religion at a workplace.
Walmart business ethics and ethical standards.
Social media in business ethics.
Ways to reduce business’s environmental impact.
Concept of corporate social responsibility.
CSR trends in 2021.
A balance between profit and CSR.
Ethical dilemmas people face every day at the workplace.

5 Business Ethics Research Paper Topics

We also came up with five high-quality business ethics topics for the research paper. Good luck with your essay and with learning more about business ethics!

List major ethical issues that business faces today.
Kantian approach to business ethics and morality.
How utilitarianism ethics can be used in companies.
The role of ethics in international business.
Applying Aristotle’s virtue ethics to business.

Thank you for reading the article till the end. Do not hesitate to share it with your peers who may need our tips or topics. Now, you can also look at our business ethics essay examples below.

1300 Best Essay Examples on Business Ethics

Justice theory: business ethics, utilitarianism, rights, caring, and virtue.

Words: 3792

McDonald’s Ethical Issues: Examples of Unethical Marketing Practices

Words: 17732

Importance of Ethics in Communication Essay

Words: 1264

BP Oil Company Ethical Dilemma

Words: 2280

Business Ethics and Social Responsibility Essay

Words: 1745

Importance of Ethics in Business

Ethics in tourism and hospitality industry report.

Words: 1631

Toyota Ethical Issues and Social Responsibility

Words: 2118

PepsiCo Ethical Issues & Achievements

Words: 1681

Unethical Business Practices Essay

Words: 2511

Nike Inc.’s Corporate Social Responsibility Project

Words: 2252

McDonald’s Corporation’s Social Responsibility

Business ethics is an oxymoron: essay example, adelphia communications scandal and ethical issues.

Words: 1421

Key Ethical Issues in Retailing and Distribution

Words: 1173

Comparison of Codes of Ethics: The American Counseling Association and the American Psychological Association

Workplace ethical issues essay, the philosophical approaches to ethics, cultural norms: fair and lovely and advertising.

Words: 1120

Business & Legal Issues: Ford Pinto

Words: 1774

The Ethical Issues of the Mattel Toy Scandal

Words: 3964

Utilitarianism and Deontology: The Case of Coca-Cola

The lego firm’s corporate social responsibility.

Words: 1210

Corporate Social Responsibility: Shell and BP

Words: 4259

Musk and Tesla: A Strong Code of Corporate Ethics?

Words: 2582

Dealing With Ethical Issues in the Workplace

Words: 2071

The Blood bananas: Chiquita In Colombia

Words: 1200

Corporate Social Responsibility at the Tesco PLC

Words: 2294

Coca-Cola and Corporate Social Responsibility

Words: 1732

Business Ethics: Is It Profitable?

Words: 1424

Business Ethics of the H&M Company

Words: 2539

The National Youth Service Corps Schemes in Nigeria

Words: 4384

Apple’s Ethical Challenges Regarding Labor Practices

Emirate airlines csr strategies and management.

Words: 2518

Starbucks’ Ethical Accusations

Words: 1435

Google and Ethics

Words: 2028

Boldly Go Case Study of Providence Healthcare

Coca cola company’ corporate social responsibility.

Words: 1740

Corporate Social Responsibility: The Toyota Company

Words: 3953

Ethics and Human Resource Management

Words: 1124

Tesco Company Business Ethics: Deontology and Teleology

Words: 1555

Nestlé Ethics and Social Responsibility

Ethics in the business research.

Words: 3608

Wal-Mart’s Ethical Issues

Words: 1279

Corporate Social Responsibility at Ben & Jerry’s

Words: 2363

The Wells Fargo Firm’s Ethical Case Analysis

Words: 2800

Are CEOs Paid Too Much?

The volkswagen company’s emissions scandal.

Words: 1748

CSR in the Telecommunications Industry

Words: 1076

The Wells Fargo Cross-Selling Scandal Analysis

Environmental responsibility in business, resolving ethical issues in the workplace: utilitarianism and kantian ethics, incident at morales.

Words: 1122

Ethical and Social responsibility issues in IHRM

Words: 2030

Ethical Issues in Apple Inc.

Words: 1957

McDonald’s Ethical and Moral Dilemma

Words: 2818

Corporate Social Responsibility in International Human Resource Strategy

Words: 1950

Etihad Airways Company’s Organizational Behaviour

Words: 1581

Volkswagen Group’s Corporate Governance and Ethics

Words: 4016

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) at AstraZeneca

Words: 1771

Application of ethical theory

Words: 1624

British Airways Ethical System

Words: 1350

Conflict of Interest

Words: 1154

How Airline Companies Can Be Corporate Social Responsible and Be Profitable?

Words: 2672

The Ethical Dilemma: Siemens

Words: 1372

The Unilever Global Company’s Business Ethics

Words: 3427

New Balance Company’s Major Issues

The nestle company’s environmental sustainability efforts, emirates airlines csr application.

Words: 5315

Business Ethics and Child Labour

Organizational structures, nike business code of ethics.

Words: 8208

Is the Only Aim of a Business to Make Maximum Profit?

Words: 1944

Ethical Theories and Ethical Business Practices

Words: 3108

Ethics and corporate governance

Factors influencing individuals’ ethical behaviour, xyz company business ethics management.

Words: 1352

Coca-Cola and Its Corporate Social Responsibilities

Bmw and gm corporate social responsibility.

Words: 3958

Quebec Bridge Collapse and Ethical Issues

Words: 1680

Business Ethics: Reflective Essay

Application of normative case theories, ethical manager.

Words: 1881

The Implementation of Corporate Social Responsibility and Ethical Behavior of Qantas Airways

Business ethics differences around the world.

Words: 1949

H&M Company Ethical Culture Analysis

Words: 4219

Starbucks’ Corporate Sustainability

Words: 1961

Corporate Social Responsibility: Starbucks

Words: 1656

Unethical Issues at Workplace

“moral issues in business” by shaw and barry, ford motor company ethical strategies and policies.

Words: 1590

Ethics in Financial Management

Unethical organizations.

Words: 3084

Spirituality in the Workplace

Words: 2495

Corporate Social Responsibility in Apple Inc.

Words: 1276

Analysis of a Vacant Position in an Organization

Words: 2400

Business Ethics in John Q. and Wall Street Movies

Words: 1611

Human Resource and Events Management

Words: 3014

Organizational Culture and Business Ethics

Words: 2740

Contemporary Issues in Corporate Social Responsibility

Words: 1366

How Business Ethics Reflected In Milk Powder Production

Words: 4168

Consumer Ethics and Social Responsibility

Words: 1064

Ethical Issues in GlaxoSmithKline

Consumer behaviour in relation to ethical marketing.

Words: 1417

McDonalds Company Corporate Social Responsibility

Words: 1378

Corporate Social Responsibility at Starbucks

Words: 4115

Ethics in Product Safety of Takata Corporation

Words: 2111

Factors and Influences of Integrity and Ethical Behavior by Employees

Words: 1349

Goodrich A7D’s Scandal

Words: 1075

Discrimination in The Clicks Hair Ad Saga

Words: 1221

IKEA: Business Responsibility and Sustainability

Words: 3055

Twitter Company’s Code of Business Ethics

Apple inc.’ short term action plans to improve its corporate social responsibility.

Words: 1046

Business Ethics Strengths and Weaknesses

Words: 4066

Differences between China and Canada in Business Etiquettes

Legal and ethical issues in international business, ethics of nepotism in business.

Words: 2504

Walmart Company’s Global Ethics and Compliance Challenges

Words: 4403

Chapters 2-3 of “The Corporation” by J. Bakan

Guess jeans.

Words: 1229

McCombs School of Business

Español ( Spanish )

Videos Concepts Unwrapped View All 36 short illustrated videos explain behavioral ethics concepts and basic ethics principles. Concepts Unwrapped: Sports Edition View All 10 short videos introduce athletes to behavioral ethics concepts. Ethics Defined (Glossary) View All 58 animated videos - 1 to 2 minutes each - define key ethics terms and concepts. Ethics in Focus View All One-of-a-kind videos highlight the ethical aspects of current and historical subjects. Giving Voice To Values View All Eight short videos present the 7 principles of values-driven leadership from Gentile's Giving Voice to Values. In It To Win View All A documentary and six short videos reveal the behavioral ethics biases in super-lobbyist Jack Abramoff's story. Scandals Illustrated View All 30 videos - one minute each - introduce newsworthy scandals with ethical insights and case studies. Video Series

Case Studies UT Star Icon

Case Studies

More than 70 cases pair ethics concepts with real world situations. From journalism, performing arts, and scientific research to sports, law, and business, these case studies explore current and historic ethical dilemmas, their motivating biases, and their consequences. Each case includes discussion questions, related videos, and a bibliography.

A Million Little Pieces

James Frey’s popular memoir stirred controversy and media attention after it was revealed to contain numerous exaggerations and fabrications.

Abramoff: Lobbying Congress

Super-lobbyist Abramoff was caught in a scheme to lobby against his own clients. Was a corrupt individual or a corrupt system – or both – to blame?

Apple Suppliers & Labor Practices

Is tech company Apple, Inc. ethically obligated to oversee the questionable working conditions of other companies further down their supply chain?

Approaching the Presidency: Roosevelt & Taft

Some presidents view their responsibilities in strictly legal terms, others according to duty. Roosevelt and Taft took two extreme approaches.

Appropriating “Hope”

Fairey’s portrait of Barack Obama raised debate over the extent to which an artist can use and modify another’s artistic work, yet still call it one’s own.

Arctic Offshore Drilling

Competing groups frame the debate over oil drilling off Alaska’s coast in varying ways depending on their environmental and economic interests.

Banning Burkas: Freedom or Discrimination?

The French law banning women from wearing burkas in public sparked debate about discrimination and freedom of religion.

Birthing Vaccine Skepticism

Wakefield published an article riddled with inaccuracies and conflicts of interest that created significant vaccine hesitancy regarding the MMR vaccine.

Blurred Lines of Copyright

Marvin Gaye’s Estate won a lawsuit against Robin Thicke and Pharrell Williams for the hit song “Blurred Lines,” which had a similar feel to one of his songs.

Bullfighting: Art or Not?

Bullfighting has been a prominent cultural and artistic event for centuries, but in recent decades it has faced increasing criticism for animal rights’ abuse.

Buying Green: Consumer Behavior

Do purchasing green products, such as organic foods and electric cars, give consumers the moral license to indulge in unethical behavior?

Cadavers in Car Safety Research

Engineers at Heidelberg University insist that the use of human cadavers in car safety research is ethical because their research can save lives.

Cardinals’ Computer Hacking

St. Louis Cardinals scouting director Chris Correa hacked into the Houston Astros’ webmail system, leading to legal repercussions and a lifetime ban from MLB.

Cheating: Atlanta’s School Scandal

Teachers and administrators at Parks Middle School adjust struggling students’ test scores in an effort to save their school from closure.

Cheating: Sign-Stealing in MLB

The Houston Astros’ sign-stealing scheme rocked the baseball world, leading to a game-changing MLB investigation and fallout.

Cheating: UNC’s Academic Fraud

UNC’s academic fraud scandal uncovered an 18-year scheme of unchecked coursework and fraudulent classes that enabled student-athletes to play sports.

Cheney v. U.S. District Court

A controversial case focuses on Justice Scalia’s personal friendship with Vice President Cheney and the possible conflict of interest it poses to the case.

Christina Fallin: “Appropriate Culturation?”

After Fallin posted a picture of herself wearing a Plain’s headdress on social media, uproar emerged over cultural appropriation and Fallin’s intentions.

Climate Change & the Paris Deal

While climate change poses many abstract problems, the actions (or inactions) of today’s populations will have tangible effects on future generations.

Cover-Up on Campus

While the Baylor University football team was winning on the field, university officials failed to take action when allegations of sexual assault by student athletes emerged.

Covering Female Athletes

Sports Illustrated stirs controversy when their cover photo of an Olympic skier seems to focus more on her physical appearance than her athletic abilities.

Covering Yourself? Journalists and the Bowl Championship

Can news outlets covering the Bowl Championship Series fairly report sports news if their own polls were used to create the news?

Cyber Harassment

After a student defames a middle school teacher on social media, the teacher confronts the student in class and posts a video of the confrontation online.

Defending Freedom of Tweets?

Running back Rashard Mendenhall receives backlash from fans after criticizing the celebration of the assassination of Osama Bin Laden in a tweet.

Dennis Kozlowski: Living Large

Dennis Kozlowski was an effective leader for Tyco in his first few years as CEO, but eventually faced criminal charges over his use of company assets.

Digital Downloads

File-sharing program Napster sparked debate over the legal and ethical dimensions of downloading unauthorized copies of copyrighted music.

Dr. V’s Magical Putter

Journalist Caleb Hannan outed Dr. V as a trans woman, sparking debate over the ethics of Hannan’s reporting, as well its role in Dr. V’s suicide.

East Germany’s Doping Machine

From 1968 to the late 1980s, East Germany (GDR) doped some 9,000 athletes to gain success in international athletic competitions despite being aware of the unfortunate side effects.

Ebola & American Intervention

Did the dispatch of U.S. military units to Liberia to aid in humanitarian relief during the Ebola epidemic help or hinder the process?

Edward Snowden: Traitor or Hero?

Was Edward Snowden’s release of confidential government documents ethically justifiable?

Ethical Pitfalls in Action

Why do good people do bad things? Behavioral ethics is the science of moral decision-making, which explores why and how people make the ethical (and unethical) decisions that they do.

Ethical Use of Home DNA Testing

The rising popularity of at-home DNA testing kits raises questions about privacy and consumer rights.

Flying the Confederate Flag

A heated debate ensues over whether or not the Confederate flag should be removed from the South Carolina State House grounds.

Freedom of Speech on Campus

In the wake of racially motivated offenses, student protests sparked debate over the roles of free speech, deliberation, and tolerance on campus.

Freedom vs. Duty in Clinical Social Work

What should social workers do when their personal values come in conflict with the clients they are meant to serve?

Full Disclosure: Manipulating Donors

When an intern witnesses a donor making a large gift to a non-profit organization under misleading circumstances, she struggles with what to do.

Gaming the System: The VA Scandal

The Veterans Administration’s incentives were meant to spur more efficient and productive healthcare, but not all administrators complied as intended.

German Police Battalion 101

During the Holocaust, ordinary Germans became willing killers even though they could have opted out from murdering their Jewish neighbors.

Head Injuries & American Football

Many studies have linked traumatic brain injuries and related conditions to American football, creating controversy around the safety of the sport.

Head Injuries & the NFL

American football is a rough and dangerous game and its impact on the players’ brain health has sparked a hotly contested debate.

Healthcare Obligations: Personal vs. Institutional

A medical doctor must make a difficult decision when informing patients of the effectiveness of flu shots while upholding institutional recommendations.

High Stakes Testing

In the wake of the No Child Left Behind Act, parents, teachers, and school administrators take different positions on how to assess student achievement.

In-FUR-mercials: Advertising & Adoption

When the Lied Animal Shelter faces a spike in animal intake, an advertising agency uses its moral imagination to increase pet adoptions.

Krogh & the Watergate Scandal

Egil Krogh was a young lawyer working for the Nixon Administration whose ethics faded from view when asked to play a part in the Watergate break-in.

Limbaugh on Drug Addiction

Radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh argued that drug abuse was a choice, not a disease. He later became addicted to painkillers.

U.S. Olympic swimmer Ryan Lochte’s “over-exaggeration” of an incident at the 2016 Rio Olympics led to very real consequences.

Meet Me at Starbucks

Two black men were arrested after an employee called the police on them, prompting Starbucks to implement “racial-bias” training across all its stores.

Myanmar Amber

Buying amber could potentially fund an ethnic civil war, but refraining allows collectors to acquire important specimens that could be used for research.

Negotiating Bankruptcy

Bankruptcy lawyer Gellene successfully represented a mining company during a major reorganization, but failed to disclose potential conflicts of interest.

Pao & Gender Bias

Ellen Pao stirred debate in the venture capital and tech industries when she filed a lawsuit against her employer on grounds of gender discrimination.

Pardoning Nixon

One month after Richard Nixon resigned from the presidency, Gerald Ford made the controversial decision to issue Nixon a full pardon.

Patient Autonomy & Informed Consent

Nursing staff and family members struggle with informed consent when taking care of a patient who has been deemed legally incompetent.

Prenatal Diagnosis & Parental Choice

Debate has emerged over the ethics of prenatal diagnosis and reproductive freedom in instances where testing has revealed genetic abnormalities.

Reporting on Robin Williams

After Robin Williams took his own life, news media covered the story in great detail, leading many to argue that such reporting violated the family’s privacy.

Responding to Child Migration

An influx of children migrants posed logistical and ethical dilemmas for U.S. authorities while intensifying ongoing debate about immigration.

Retracting Research: The Case of Chandok v. Klessig

A researcher makes the difficult decision to retract a published, peer-reviewed article after the original research results cannot be reproduced.

Sacking Social Media in College Sports

In the wake of questionable social media use by college athletes, the head coach at University of South Carolina bans his players from using Twitter.

Selling Enron

Following the deregulation of electricity markets in California, private energy company Enron profited greatly, but at a dire cost.

Snyder v. Phelps

Freedom of speech was put on trial in a case involving the Westboro Baptist Church and their protesting at the funeral of U.S. Marine Matthew Snyder.

Something Fishy at the Paralympics

Rampant cheating has plagued the Paralympics over the years, compromising the credibility and sportsmanship of Paralympian athletes.

Sports Blogs: The Wild West of Sports Journalism?

Deadspin pays an anonymous source for information related to NFL star Brett Favre, sparking debate over the ethics of “checkbook journalism.”

Stangl & the Holocaust

Franz Stangl was the most effective Nazi administrator in Poland, killing nearly one million Jews at Treblinka, but he claimed he was simply following orders.

Teaching Blackface: A Lesson on Stereotypes

A teacher was put on leave for showing a blackface video during a lesson on racial segregation, sparking discussion over how to teach about stereotypes.

The Astros’ Sign-Stealing Scandal

The Houston Astros rode a wave of success, culminating in a World Series win, but it all came crashing down when their sign-stealing scheme was revealed.

The Central Park Five

Despite the indisputable and overwhelming evidence of the innocence of the Central Park Five, some involved in the case refuse to believe it.

The CIA Leak

Legal and political fallout follows from the leak of classified information that led to the identification of CIA agent Valerie Plame.

The Collapse of Barings Bank

When faced with growing losses, investment banker Nick Leeson took big risks in an attempt to get out from under the losses. He lost.

The Costco Model

How can companies promote positive treatment of employees and benefit from leading with the best practices? Costco offers a model.

The FBI & Apple Security vs. Privacy

How can tech companies and government organizations strike a balance between maintaining national security and protecting user privacy?

The Miss Saigon Controversy

When a white actor was cast for the half-French, half-Vietnamese character in the Broadway production of Miss Saigon , debate ensued.

The Sandusky Scandal

Following the conviction of assistant coach Jerry Sandusky for sexual abuse, debate continues on how much university officials and head coach Joe Paterno knew of the crimes.

The Varsity Blues Scandal

A college admissions prep advisor told wealthy parents that while there were front doors into universities and back doors, he had created a side door that was worth exploring.

Providing radiation therapy to cancer patients, Therac-25 had malfunctions that resulted in 6 deaths. Who is accountable when technology causes harm?

Welfare Reform

The Welfare Reform Act changed how welfare operated, intensifying debate over the government’s role in supporting the poor through direct aid.

Wells Fargo and Moral Emotions

In a settlement with regulators, Wells Fargo Bank admitted that it had created as many as two million accounts for customers without their permission.

Stay Informed

Support our work.

Business Ethics Journal Review

Edited by alexei marcoux & chris macdonald — issn 2326-7526.

About BEJR — Now 10 years in!
Books Received
Instructions for Authors
Past Issues
The Editors

Student’s Guide to Writing Critical Essays in Business Ethics (and beyond)

Here is some advice for writing critical essays, in business ethics but also in other fields. There is of course much more to say on the topic, but this is a start.

Writing your own critical essay:

What kinds of criticisms should you offer in your essay? There are a nearly infinite number of errors or problems that you might spot in an essay or book that you want to critique. Here are a few common ones to look for, to get you started:

Point out one or more logical fallacies. Did the author present a false dilemma , for example? Or an argument from ignorance ? Has the author presented a false analogy or a hasty generalization ?
Critique the scope of the author’s claim. For example, does the author claim that his or her conclusion applies to all cases, rather than just to the small number of cases he or she has actually argued for?
Point out unjustified assumptions. Has the author made questionable assumptions about some matter of fact, without providing evidence? Alternatively, has the author assumed that readers share some questionable ethical starting point, perhaps a belief in a particular debatable principle?
Point out internal contradictions. Does the author say two things that, perhaps subtly, contradict each other?
Point out undesirable implications / consequences. Does the author’s position imply, perhaps accidentally, some further conclusion that the author (or audience) is unlikely to want to accept, upon reflection?

In general, a good critical essay should:

Describe and explain in neutral terms the article or book being critiqued. Before you start offering criticism, you should demonstrate that you understand the point of view you are critiquing.
Be modest. Your goal should be to offer some insight, rather than to win a debate. Rather than to “show that Smith is wrong” or “prove that Sen’s view is incorrect,” you should set your aims on some more reasonable goal, such as “casting doubt” on the view you are critiquing, or “suggesting reason why so-and-so should modify her view.”
Be fair. Sometimes this is referred to as the “principle of charity.” It has nothing to do with donating money. Rather, it is about giving the other side what you owe them, namely a fair reading. Your goal is not to make the author whose work you are criticizing sound dumb. Rather, the goal is to make her sound smart, but then to make yourself sound smart, too, but showing how her view could be improved.
Be well structured . Professors love structure. Remember: a critical essay is not just a bunch of ideas; it is an orderly attempt to convince someone (in most cases, your professor) of a particular point of view. Your ideas will only have real punch if you put them in a suitable structure. That’s not all that hard. For example, make sure your opening paragraph acts as a roadmap for what follows — telling the reader where you’re going and how you propose to get there. Make sure each paragraph in the body of your essay has a main point (a point connected to the goal of your essay!) and that its point is clearly explained.
Stick to two or maybe three main arguments . “The three main problems with Jones’s argument are x, y, and z.”
Be clear. That means not just that your essay should be clearly structured, but also that each sentence should be clear. Proof-reading is important: get someone with good writing skills to proof-read your essay for you. If you can’t do that before your deadline, you can proof-read your essay yourself by reading it out loud. We’re serious. It is much easier to spot errors in your own writing if you read out loud.

A few more tips:

Cite your sources carefully. Use whichever citation method your professor says to use. If in doubt, use one of the established methods (such as APA or Chicago ). But whatever you do, make sure to give credit to the people whose ideas you use, if you want to avoid being charged with plagiarism.
Use what you’ve learned in class. Your professor would love nothing more than to know that you’ve been paying attention. So try to make use of some of the concepts discussed in class, or in your course textbook.
Don’t try to sound like an author. Just say what you want to say. Trying to sound like an author just leads people to use big words they don’t understand and to write complex sentences that overshoot their grammatical skills. Just write it more or less the way you would say it out loud, in short, clear sentences.
Follow instructions. Failing to follow instructions is easily the most common way students screw up when writing critical essays. Read the assignment instructions through carefully — twice! — and then if anything is unclear, ask your professor for clarification.

Looking for essay topics? Check out Business Ethics Highlights .

See also: The Concise Encyclopedia of Business Ethics

BEJR is published by

Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
Subscribe Subscribed
Copy shortlink
Report this content
View post in Reader
Manage subscriptions
Collapse this bar

Introduction

Chapter outline.

Ethics consists of the standards of behavior to which we hold ourselves in our personal and professional lives. It establishes the levels of honesty, empathy, and trustworthiness and other virtues by which we hope to identify our personal behavior and our public reputation. In our personal lives, our ethics sets norms for the ways in which we interact with family and friends. In our professional lives, ethics guides our interactions with customers, clients, colleagues, employees, and shareholders affected by our business practices ( Figure 1.1 ).

Should we care about ethics in our lives? In our practices in business and the professions? That is the central question we will examine in this chapter and throughout the book. Our goal is to understand why the answer is yes .

Whatever hopes you have for your future, you almost certainly want to be successful in whatever career you choose. But what does success mean to you, and how will you know you have achieved it? Will you measure it in terms of wealth, status, power, or recognition? Before blindly embarking on a quest to achieve these goals, which society considers important, stop and think about what a successful career means to you personally. Does it include a blameless reputation, colleagues whose good opinion you value, and the ability to think well of yourself? How might ethics guide your decision-making and contribute to your achievement of these goals?

As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

This book may not be used in the training of large language models or otherwise be ingested into large language models or generative AI offerings without OpenStax's permission.

Want to cite, share, or modify this book? This book uses the Creative Commons Attribution License and you must attribute OpenStax.

Access for free at https://openstax.org/books/business-ethics/pages/1-introduction

Authors: Stephen M. Byars, Kurt Stanberry
Publisher/website: OpenStax
Book title: Business Ethics
Publication date: Sep 24, 2018
Location: Houston, Texas
Book URL: https://openstax.org/books/business-ethics/pages/1-introduction
Section URL: https://openstax.org/books/business-ethics/pages/1-introduction

© Mar 31, 2023 OpenStax. Textbook content produced by OpenStax is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License . The OpenStax name, OpenStax logo, OpenStax book covers, OpenStax CNX name, and OpenStax CNX logo are not subject to the Creative Commons license and may not be reproduced without the prior and express written consent of Rice University.

IMAGES

Ethical Topics to Write About in Your Assignment
Introduction to Business Ethics assignment
Do You Need Business Ethics Assignment Help
Business Ethics Assignment.docx
Business Ethics Topics to Write About
Business Ethics Assignment 1 2021 HRM-1

VIDEO

Various approach to business ethics
Explain Business Ethics Chapter 1 in detail
Introduction To Business Ethics 03. 02. 2024
Assignment 1C Ethics and International Finance
Business Ethics Spring 2024
Ethics assignment

COMMENTS

80 Excellent Business Ethics Research Paper Topics
Interesting Business Ethics Topics on Social Responsibility. Making ethical decision making in big corporations. Understanding the concept of corporate responsibility. An inspiration for social responsibility in the workplace. Investing in corporate social responsibility. How CSR trends are evolving over time.
Business Ethics Research Paper Topics | 170+ Ideas
Moral principles and decision making in business. Employee relationships as an ethical principle of an employer. Ethical issues that surround corporation governance. Social responsibility in business. How to think, act, and compete ethically in business. Business ethics and environmental policies.
80+ Brilliant Business Ethics Topics For Research Papers
Topics in Accounting: Business Ethics Research Paper. The perception of tax evasion ethics. Acceptable ethical behavior in the accounting workplace. The history of ethics in accounting. How governments handle accounting ethics. A case study of philosophers who contributed to the ethics of accounting. Cultural and political situations leading to ...
Business Ethics Topics to Write About - AssignmentBro
The concept of business ethics revolves around the moral and ethical principles that guide the decision-making and actions of individuals and organizations engaged in business. These principles can be broadly categorized as honesty, integrity, fairness, and respect for others. Professors can assign a variety of business ethics assignments to ...
Business Ethics Dissertation Topics - Research Prospect
Business Ethics Dissertation Topics. Published by Owen Ingram at December 29th, 2022 , Revised On October 10, 2023. Many students find it difficult to choose an appropriate topic for their business ethics dissertation paper because the field is complex and contains interesting and contentious issues. Furthermore, the current issues keep ...
Business Ethics - Open Textbook Library
Business Ethics is designed to meet the scope and sequence requirements of the single-semester business ethics course. This title includes innovative features designed to enhance student learning, including case studies, application scenarios, and links to video interviews with executives, all of which help instill in students a sense of ethical awareness and responsibility.
Free Business Ethics Essay Examples & Topics - IvyPanda
17 Business Ethics Essay Topics. Now that you know how to start your business ethics paper, we’ve prepared a list of seventeen topics for your assignment. They can help you compose a fantastic essay about business ethics or use them to inspire your homework. The topics are 100% original, so you can freely use them as your own:
Case Studies - Ethics Unwrapped
More than 70 cases pair ethics concepts with real world situations. From journalism, performing arts, and scientific research to sports, law, and business, these case studies explore current and historic ethical dilemmas, their motivating biases, and their consequences. Each case includes discussion questions, related videos, and a bibliography.
Student’s Guide to Writing Critical Essays in Business Ethics ...
Read the assignment instructions through carefully — twice! — and then if anything is unclear, ask your professor for clarification. Looking for essay topics? Check out Business Ethics Highlights. See also: The Concise Encyclopedia of Business Ethics
Ch. 1 Introduction - Business Ethics | OpenStax
Ethics consists of the standards of behavior to which we hold ourselves in our personal and professional lives. It establishes the levels of honesty, empathy, and trustworthiness and other virtues by which we hope to identify our personal behavior and our public reputation. In our personal lives, our ethics sets norms for the ways in which we ...