Brian K. Burton

Feminist Ethics as Moral Grounding for Stakeholder Theory

Stakeholder theory, as a method of management based on mor- als and behavior, must be grounded by a theory of ethics. However, traditional ethics of justice and rights cannot completely ground the theory. Following and expanding on the work of Wicks, Gilbert, and Free- man (1994), we believe that feminist ethics, invoking principles of caring, provides the missing element that allows moral theory to ground the stakeholder approach to management. Examples are given to support the suggested general principle for making business decisions under feminist moral theory.

Some determinants of student corporate social responsibility orientation

This study examines the effect of gender, Machiavellian orientation, and socially desirable reporting on the respondent’s orientation toward corporate social responsibility. A sample of 219 undergraduate students from a Midwestern university exhibited differences in orientation across gender and degree of Machiavellian orientation. Social desirability had a minimal effect on the responses.

Corporate Social Responsibility Orientation, Goals, and Behavior A Study of Small Business Owners

Corporate social responsibility orientation (CSRO) remains an important topic of researchers. However, one aspect of CSRO that has not been well researched is how it relates to behaviors and goals of managers. In this article, the authors explore that relationship, testing whether emphasis on a particular domain of social responsibility affects time spent dealing with specific stakeholder groups and whether firm size affects that relationship. Results from a survey of small business owners indicate that the emphasis a manager places on a domain does affect behavior and that firm size has little impact on this relationship. Implications of these findings are discussed.

The Caring Approach and Social Issues in Management Education

Most of the conversation, in both research and teaching circles, regarding stakeholder theory has been conducted in the language of absolute principles, of outcomes, and of responding to stakeholders to achieve organizational outcomes. More recently, conversations have occurred that have a different perspective on social issues in management topics—a caring perspective. Using the case of Merck & Co., Inc., and river blindness as an example, the authors show why they believe that these conversations have great potential to increase the quality of management education in the 21st century.

Moral Pluralism in Business Ethics Education: It is About Time

The teaching of business ethics is almost inherently pluralistic, but little evidence of explicitly pluralistic approaches exists in teaching materials besides the available decision-making frameworks. In this article, it is argued that the field needs to acknowledge and adopt pluralism as the standard pedagogical approach, whether the individual teacher uses a philosophical approach or a more applied approach, to best serve students and society. Examples of teaching approaches are offered, including attempts instructors have made to teach ethics in a pluralistic manner.

Make, Source, or Buy: The Decision to Acquire a New Reporting System

The College of Business (COB) at Northern Washington University (NWU) needs new data systems to provide reports and information both internally and for its external accrediting body. Dewitt Brown, COB’s associate dean, has been tasked with determining COB’s needs and developing recommendations for sources of systems. COB could develop the systems internally since it has database expertise among its faculty and staff. Or, it could outsource to NWU’s information technology staff. A third option, at least for some systems, is to purchase from an outside vendor. The decision is crucial: efficient, accurate reporting of data is key to COB’s strategic plan to continue its accreditation as well as ensure that operations are smooth as possible. If COB were to lose its accreditation, it would lose status and likely lose funding and students as well.