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The Potential Use of Sociological Perspectives for Business Ethics Teaching

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  • Johannes Brinkmann

    (BI Norwegian Business School)

Abstract

This paper investigates the potential contribution of sociological perspectives for business ethics teaching. After a brief and selective literature review, the paper suggests starting with sociological thinking and three aspects of it: sociological concepts, sociological imagination, and postponed judgment. After presenting two short case teaching stories (about speaking up or not) and three sociological concepts or frameworks (deviance, roles, and power), the potential inspiration value of a sociological checklist for analysing or diagnosing business ethics cases is tried out. As an open ending, some short final suggestions are made for further use of sociological perspectives in both business ethics teaching and research.

Suggested Citation

  • Johannes Brinkmann, 2019. "The Potential Use of Sociological Perspectives for Business Ethics Teaching," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 156(1), pages 273-287, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jbuset:v:156:y:2019:i:1:d:10.1007_s10551-017-3636-x
    DOI: 10.1007/s10551-017-3636-x
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Peter Mudrack & E. Mason, 2013. "Dilemmas, Conspiracies, and Sophie’s Choice: Vignette Themes and Ethical Judgments," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 118(3), pages 639-653, December.
    2. Ajnesh Prasad & Albert Mills, 2010. "Critical Management Studies and Business Ethics: A Synthesis and Three Research Trajectories for the Coming Decade," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 94(2), pages 227-237, August.
    3. Sean Valentine & Lynn Godkin & Philip Varca, 2010. "Role Conflict, Mindfulness, and Organizational Ethics in an Education-Based Healthcare Institution," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 94(3), pages 455-469, July.
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    5. John Hendry, 2001. "After Durkheim: An Agenda for the Sociology of Business Ethics," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 34(3), pages 209-218, December.
    6. Johannes Brinkmann, 2009. "Using Ibsen in Business Ethics," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 84(1), pages 11-24, January.
    7. Claus-Heinrich Daub & Yvonne Scherrer, 2009. "Doing the Right Thing Right: The Role of Sociological Research and Consulting for Corporate Engagement in Development Cooperation," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 85(3), pages 573-584, April.
    8. Ioanna Boulouta, 2013. "Hidden Connections: The Link Between Board Gender Diversity and Corporate Social Performance," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 113(2), pages 185-197, March.
    9. Johannes Brinkmann, 2009. "Putting Ethics on the Agenda for Real Estate Agents," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 88(1), pages 65-82, August.
    10. Johannes Brinkmann & Patrick Lentz, 2006. "Understanding Insurance Customer Dishonesty: Outline of a Moral-Sociological Approach," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 66(2), pages 177-195, June.
    11. Michael Brown & Linda Treviño, 2014. "Do Role Models Matter? An Investigation of Role Modeling as an Antecedent of Perceived Ethical Leadership," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 122(4), pages 587-598, July.
    12. Patricia Werhane, 2008. "Mental Models, Moral Imagination and System Thinking in the Age of Globalization," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 78(3), pages 463-474, March.
    13. Kelly Martin & John Cullen, 2006. "Continuities and Extensions of Ethical Climate Theory: A Meta-Analytic Review," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 69(2), pages 175-194, December.
    14. Richard De George, 2015. "A Response to My Critics," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 127(4), pages 789-803, April.
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    16. repec:elg:eechap:16125_12 is not listed on IDEAS
    17. Mary Godwyn, 2015. "Ethics and Diversity in Business Management Education," CSR, Sustainability, Ethics & Governance, Springer, edition 127, number 978-3-662-46654-4, September.
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    19. Julie Whitaker, 2009. "Mexican Deaths in the Arizona Desert: The Culpability of Migrants, Humanitarian Workers, Governments, and Businesses," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 88(2), pages 365-376, September.
    20. Jason MacGregor & Martin Stuebs, 2014. "The Silent Samaritan Syndrome: Why the Whistle Remains Unblown," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 120(2), pages 149-164, March.
    21. Johannes Brinkmann, 2002. "Business and Marketing Ethics as Professional Ethics. Concepts, Approaches and Typologies," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 41(1), pages 159-177, November.
    22. Chonko, Lawrence B. & Hunt, Shelby D., 1985. "Ethics and marketing management: An empirical examination," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 13(4), pages 339-359, August.
    23. Weber, James, 1992. "Scenarios in Business Ethics Research: Review, Critical Assessment, and Recommendations," Business Ethics Quarterly, Cambridge University Press, vol. 2(2), pages 137-160, April.
    24. Crystal Hoyt & Terry Price, 2015. "Ethical Decision Making and Leadership: Merging Social Role and Self-Construal Perspectives," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 126(4), pages 531-539, February.
    25. Humphry Hung, 2011. "Directors’ Roles in Corporate Social Responsibility: A Stakeholder Perspective," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 103(3), pages 385-402, October.
    26. Peter Mudrack & E. Mason, 2013. "Ethical Judgments: What Do We Know, Where Do We Go?," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 115(3), pages 575-597, July.
    27. Henry Adobor, 2006. "Exploring the Role Performance of Corporate Ethics Officers," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 69(1), pages 57-75, November.
    28. Victoria Groddeck, 2011. "Rethinking the Role of Value Communication in Business Corporations from a Sociological Perspective – Why Organisations Need Value-Based Semantics to Cope with Societal and Organisational Fuzziness," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 100(1), pages 69-84, April.
    29. Johannes Brinkmann & Ann-Mari Henriksen, 2008. "Vocational Ethics as a Subspecialty of Business Ethics – Structuring a Research and Teaching Field," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 81(3), pages 623-634, September.
    30. Lydia Segal & Mark Lehrer, 2013. "The Conflict of Ethos and Ethics: A Sociological Theory of Business People’s Ethical Values," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 114(3), pages 513-528, May.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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