Teaching Business Ethics to a Cynical Generation: Research and Implications
David Mathison Loyola Marymount University Many have observed that there is a growing shift in values and attitude among today’s university students. Reflecting both Generation X and 2001, it is argued that students tend to trust less, resent both authority and the prior generation; also money, power, and status prevail over the well-being of others. Furthermore, research indicates there is less concern about ethics: students cheat more in school and are hesitant to make value judgements of other’s behavior. Clearly many of these patterns have profound ramifications when teaching Business Ethics. A Time/CNN poll was replicated with 81 Business and Society students, and the results strongly confirmed this shift in values. The paper concludes with four implications for teaching Business Ethics to this new generation: 1. New cynicism needs to be met with new approaches to teaching Business Ethics 2. Like it or not, to be ethical you must be willing to make judgement 3. Build upon their strength of compassion 4. We must rekindle their dormant sense of integrity, character, and virtue ethics