Ethical Decision-Making by Business Students: Factors of Influence

Abstract

Business and university stakeholders ask what institutions of higher education are doing to improve student ethics. Our research produces a theoretic model offering insight into a comprehesive process of influences to business student ethical decision making, and its implications for the purposeful moral development of students. Using qualitative, grounded theory methods, we asked 27 business juniors and seniors how the university environment influences their ethical decision making in university life. The resulting model reveals five major categories found within this process: internalized ideals and beliefs, institutional expectations, influential stakeholders, university experiences, and academic context. Implications suggest the need for a comprehensive university plan of student development engagement by leveraging all aspects of university experience (academic, job, service, and social contexts). Recommendations include the active involvement of external agencies in the development process, and the integration of the student body in limited institutional rule making and policy.