Voices from Business Ethics
A new thinking: You have to look at
profit as an intermediate point towards
capital value. The creation of long-term
wealth and sustainability [must] become
the focus and that is happening more and
more these days.
Creating a great company: If you go
back to the formation of great Minnesota
companies—Cargill, General Mills, Dayton
Hudson Corporation—they were begun
by families who were not at all focused on
the short term, but instead wanted legacy
businesses that would be good corporate
citizens and last for generations.
The MBA Oath: It’s a behavior. You have
to decide how you are going to act. Where
does your motivation come from?
Accepting ethics: For years we had to
be kind of on the defensive about what we
do. But people do care now. I no longer
have to defend myself or my work or
explain what I do. It’s almost like they’re
saying it’s a good thing that someone is
thinking about this. –Stephen Young,
global executive director of the business
ethics organization Caux Round Table
Ethics must be
engrained: We need to
integrate ethics into our
everyday existence so
that doing the right thing
becomes second nature.
We need to create an
atmosphere where ethically run businesses are
simply deemed superior to those that aren’t.
–Julian Schuster, dean of the graduate school
of management at Hamline University
Steve younG and ken GoodpaSter photoS by tate carlSon; Julian SchuSter photo by MarShall franklin lonG.
Profit as reward, not goal: Our students
leave with the concept that profit is the reward
for being a good business, not simply the goal
of being in business.
Where ethics comes into play: Take the
financial crisis. Nobody has gone to jail over
this. People are getting fired and losing jobs
and companies are going under of course, and
it was stupid and inappropriate behavior on
a lot of fronts, but it wasn’t “illegal.” This is
where ethics is supposed to come in.
–Christopher Puto, dean of the University of St.
Thomas Opus College of Business
Ethics and profit: I
don’t see the day when
the primary reason to be
ethical will be driven by a
profit motive.
–Dr. Ken Goodpaster,
Ph.D., University of St.
Thomas
Adapting the ethics conversation: Alone, the golden rule, religious tenets and other static belief
systems are no longer viable options in our ever-changing world. We must continuously adapt to
unique situations and make decisions that benefit all people. –Brother Louis De Thomasis, FSC, Ph.D.,
chancellor and president emeritus of Saint Mary’s University in Winona
Fair. Strength.
Smiles. Rooted.
Passion. Open.
Loyal. Strength.
Solutions. Agile.
Vision. Proven.
Genuine. One-to-One. Loyal.
Collaboration.
Agile. Intuitive.
Courage.Open.
Community.
Solutions.Trust.
Opportunity.
Fair. Principles.
Dependable.
Solid. Honest.
Collaboration.
Jazzed. Trust.
Opportunity.
Solid. Honest.
Responsive.
Loyal. Strength.
Vision. Proven.
Heart. Steady.
Agile. It’s the
Western way.
Smiles. Rooted.
Solutions. Trust.
