Events such as Trafigura's illegal dumping of toxic waste in Cote d'Ivoire and BP's environmentally disastrous oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico have highlighted ethical issues in international business at a time when business leaders, academics and business schools were reflecting on their own responsibilities following the global financial crisis. The scope and scale of the global operations of multinational businesses means that decisions taken in different parts of the world have far reaching consequences beyond the national settings where employees are located or where firms are registered and as such, an awareness of these responsibilities needs to be integrated into all levels and all subjects.

Using four guiding principles - a critical multi-level approach rooted in the tradition of European social theory, a comparative and international perspective, a global rather than just a European or American stand point and engaging with subject-specific issues this book aims to 'mainstream' business ethics into the work of teachers and students in business schools. This comprehensive volume brings together contributions from a range of experts in different areas of business studies thereby facilitating and encouraging a move away from business ethics being a box to be ticked to being an integrated consideration across the business disciplines.

This impressive book brings ethical considerations back to the heart of the business curriculum and in doing so, provides a companion for the progressive business student throughout their university career.

About the Author
Patrick O'Sullivan is Professor and Head of Department of People, Organizations and Society at Grenoble Ecole de Management, France. Mark Smith is Associate Professor of Human Resource Management at Grenoble Ecole de Management, France. Mark Esposito is Associate Professor of Organizational Behaviour and Leadership at Grenoble Ecole de Management, France.

Reviews

'Ethical issues have moved to the forefront of public policy debate following a series of crises affecting business, finance and government over many years. These culminated most recently in the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, the American subprime crisis and the sovereign debt crisis in the Eurozone. Consequently this provocative and stimulating new book is a welcome diagnosis of the ethical issues underpinning a wide range of academic disciplines and subjects that bear on business finance and government in particular, but also a normative essay on what policies government, regulators and managers might pursue to avoid these ethical dilemmas in future. While business ethics has been a Cinderella subject in business schools, this collection of essays places ethical considerations centre stage for the first time and the acute analysis will stimulate debate through the innovative range of case studies at the end of each chapter. Every discerning business school, manager and bureaucrat should read this book and follow its wise prescriptions.'

Nigel F. B. Allington, Downing College and Centre for Economic and Public Policy Research, University of Cambridge, UK

'The authors provide a lively reflection on contemporary business ethics theory and practice and a original multi-level critique that helps the reader questioning conventional beliefs in strategic management. They offer a constructive critique to rethink business models and the managerial mindset towards responsible capitalism.'

Simone de Colle, Dublin City University, Ireland

'The gist of this book is a challenge - a challenge to reflect on and to rethink the role of business in society. The authors of this book pose questions that are at once inspiring, intriguing, and compellingly urgent.'

Christina Garsten, Stockholm University, Sweden

Book Information
ISBN 9780415663588
Author Patrick O'Sullivan
Format Paperback
Page Count 370
Imprint Routledge
Publisher Taylor & Francis Ltd
Weight(grams) 710g