SBANC Newsletter
March
22, 2005
Issue
364-2005
QUOTE
"The
true measure of a career is to be able to be content, even
proud, that you succeeded through your own endeavors without
leaving a trail of casualties in your wake."
-- Alan Greenspan
FEATURE
PAPER
Business Ethics
For Unseasoned Entrepreneurs: Trends And Concerns For Professionals
And Stakeholders
This
paper was presented by Michael W. Boyd of the University of Tennessee
at Martin at the Allied Academies International Conference in
New Orleans, Louisiana on April 7-10, 2004.
Ethics
in business is not a new issue. In 1550 Charles V of Spain contemplated
the status of the natives discovered in
the New World. Should they be slaves or be assigned a higher status?
Naturally, they had to be Christianized if they were going to be
of any value in the known world. The ethos and mores of the Spaniards'
own European society and culture did not allow them to even think
about the natives as another culture of equal status. This was
one of the problems discussed and argued in the 1500's, and similar
problems are deliberated today with little more progress towards
a solution than in the sixteenth century. Today’s scholars
argue about such issues as to whether or not payment should be
made to third parties for the right of doing business in another
country. In the free market system, our American culture teaches
us that it is not moral, ethical, or legal to bribe an employee
of another company in order to gain contractual preference. However,
in some societies and cultures, this type of behavior is perfectly
acceptable and even expected if a company is to succeed economically.
In the current world economy with its ethnic and religious diversity
and the sheer volume of daily business deals conducted among all
countries, how do we establish and/or maintain an acceptable level
of ethical standards? Different cultural groups across the world
often have different approaches to the ethical issues generated
by the world economy and its myriad of transactions.
Board
of Directors:
The board of directors is the most powerful level of company
management- at least by the formal hierarchical
standards of today's business world. If the board of directors
is at the top of the hierarchy, it would seem logical that this
is where the ethical behavior patterns for the corporation should
be developed. In today's society it appears that the gain or loss
of large sums of money is not thought to be as important as whether
or not the player followed the currently perceived business rules
of fair play. In Adam Smith's day, the issues were basic constructs
like "level playing field," equal access to market intelligence,
non-monopolistic competition, and other similar premises. Today,
an organization can ethically pursue and maximize profit as long
as it obeys the written rules of business, established customs
of the work place, and traditions. Although legislative bodies
establish rules and laws, the top echelons of corporate management
establish the customs and traditions in the culture of that company.
Within this system, a disturbing trend has developed. Many companies
have a written code of ethics or conduct that all employees are
supposed to follow; however, that compliance seems to stop just
outside the boardroom door. Inside that boardroom one will find
many of the top level managers of the company who are also acting
as board members whose role is to monitor management; thus, they
are monitoring themselves. Also, these managers/executives are
sitting on each other's corporate boards, somewhat as a clique,
and approving major compensation packages for one another while
downsizing and laying off thousands of workers in the company to
save money. It’s not difficult to arrive at the conclusion
that the concept of "arm length's transaction" has been
violated. Enron’s Board of Directors appears to have fallen
short in many areas. They were receiving minimal information on
the extent of partnerships that were being formed and allowing
management to report large earnings from these deals.
Read the Entire Paper...
TIP
OF THE WEEK
The Twelve Institute of Supply
Management Codes of Conduct
- Perceived
impropriety. Avoid the intent and appearance of unethical or
compromising conduct in relationships, actions and communications.
- Responsibilities
to the employer. Demonstrate loyalty to the
employer by diligently following the lawful instructions of the
employer, using reasonable care and granted authority.
- Conflict
of interest. Avoid any personal business or professional
activity that would create conflict between personal interests
and the interests of the employer.
- Issues
of influence. Avoid soliciting or accepting money, loans,
credits or preferential discounts, and the acceptance of gifts,
entertainment, favors or services from present or potential suppliers
that might influence, or appear to influence, supply management
decisions.
- Confidential
and proprietary information. Handle confidential
or proprietary information with due care and proper consideration
of ethical and legal ramifications and governmental regulations.
- Supplier
relationships. Promote positive supplier relationships
through courtesy and impartiality.
- Reciprocity. Avoid improper reciprocal agreements, which is both
a legal and an ethical issue.
- Applicable
laws. Know and obey the letter and spirit of laws
applicable to supply management, including agency law, UCC, UCITA,
OSHA, antitrust laws and EPA laws.
- Small,
disadvantaged and minority-owned business. Encourage
support for small, disadvantaged and minority-owned business.
- Professional
competence. Acquire and maintain professional competence,
which can be defined as the mastery of a body of knowledge, continued
efforts to to increase one's ability and knowledge of the profession,
communication skills, the willingness to share knowledge with others,
and conformance to the highest standards of ethical behavior.
- National
and international supply management conduct. Conduct
supply management in accordance with national and international
laws, customs and practices, your organization's policies and these
ethical
principles and standards of conduct.
- Responsibilities
to the profession. Enhance the stature of
the supply management profession.
Schildhouse,
Jill. "Corporate Ethics: Taking the High Road." Inside
Supply Management Mar. 2005: 30-32.
CONFERENCES
Demographic
Analysis and GIS Mapping Workshops
Calm River Demographics is holding a series of workshops
on Demographic Analysis and GIS Mapping at the C.A. Vines
Arkansas 4-H Center in Little Rock, AR. The first workshop
is a one-day workshop on Demographic
Analysis Using the 2000 U.S. Census - Focus on Arkansas
on April 25, 2005. The second
workshop is a two-day workshop on Using Census Data in
GIS Mapping on April 26 & 27, 2005. Other workshops
will be held throughout Texas, New York, and Florida.
For more information, visit: http://www.calmriver.com/workshops/
Allied Academies International Conference
The Allied Academies will hold its 2005 International meeting at
the Hilton Hotel in Memphis, Tennessee. Presentation dates will be
April 14 - 16, 2005, with registration on the evening of April 13.
For more information, visit: http://www.alliedacademies.org/memphis-call.html
International Council for Small Business 50th World
Conference
The International Council for Small Business (ICSB) is holding its
50th World Conference at the Crystal Gateway Marriott in Washington,
D.C. on June 15-18, 2005. The theme for the Conference is “Golden
Opportunities for Entrepreneurship.”
For more information, visit: http://www.usasbe.org/conference/2005-ICSB/index.asp
International
Association for Computer Information Systems
The International Association for Computer Information Systems (IACIS)
is holding its Pacific 2005 Conference at the Grand Hotel in Taipei,
Taiwan
on
May 19-21, 2005. The theme for the conference is "Technology
and Information Security Issues in Knowledge-Based Organizations"
For more information, visit: http://www.iacis.org/web/pacconf.htm
Neighborhood
Networks
Neighborhood Networks is hosting its 10th Anniversary National Training Conference
at the Hilton in the WALT DISNEY WORLD® Resort, Lake Buena Vista, Florida
on June 29-July 1, 2005. This year's conference offers more than 30 sessions
designed to help centers build capacity, create new and improved programs for
residents, and acquire funding to sustain themselves.
For more information, visit: http://www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/mfh/nnw/2005conf.cfm
CALL
FOR PAPERS
International
Symposium on Free/Open Source Software, Technologies and Content
The International Symposium on Free/Open Source Software, Technologies and Content
is holding FOSSTEC 2005 at Rosen Centre Hotel, Orlando, Florida on July 10-13,
2005.
Submission Deadline: March 29, 2005
For more information, visit: http://www.iiisci.org/fosstec05/
IPSI-2005
Amsterdam
IPSI is holding a Symposium on Challenges in the Internet and Interdisciplinary
Research at the Hotel Okura, Amsterdam, Holland on September 1-4, 2005. Topics
for the symposium include: Education, Computer science and engineering, B2B,
B2C,
E-Business Management.
Submission Deadline: April 1, 2005
For more information, visit: http://www.internetconferences.net/amsterdam2005/index.html
Institute
for Small Business & Entrepreneurship
The Institute for Small Business & Entrepreneurship will hold its 28th National
Conference at the Hilton Hotel, North Promenade in Blackpool, UK on November
1-3, 2005. The Conference theme is "ILLUMINATING ENTREPRENEURSHIP: the theory
and practice of enterprise creation and development."
Submission Deadline: April 30, 2005
For more information, visit: http://www.isbe2005.org/
Society for Marketing Advances Annual Conference
The Society for Marketing Advances (SMA) will hold its Annual Conference
at the Sheraton Gunter Hotel in San
Antonio, Texas on November 2-5, 2005. This year’s meeting
will include the Elsevier Science Distinguished Scholars Series,
the Sherwin-Williams
Distinguished Teaching Competition Award, and the McGraw-Hill/Irwin
Stephen J. Shaw Award for Outstanding Conference Paper.
Submission Deadline: April 1, 2005
For more information, visit: http://www.marketingadvances.org
The
CIBER Research Institute
The CIBER Research Institute is holding its EABR Conference (business & economics)
and TLC Conference (teaching methods, styles, and administration) at the Aressana
Hotel in Santorini
Island, Greece
on June 20-22, 2005. For both conferences, there is a best paper award for the
best paper in each session. Papers winning the best paper award will be reviewed
for possible publication in one of the Institute's five academic journals. Papers
not
winning
a best paper award may be submitted for possible publication.
Submission Deadline: May 15, 2005
For more information, visit: http://www.ciberinstitute.org/EEmain.htm
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Correction
in Last Week's Newsletter
The lead paper in last week's newsletter, Concepts To Profits:
Helping SBI Student Consulting Teams and Clients to Understand
And Control Success, was part of the joint conference
of USASBE and SBI in Indian Wells, California.
USASBE
Survey
USASBE needs your help for a quick survey (less than 5 minutes) to learn more
about any courses that you may be teaching, or that you may be aware of at
your college or university, that deal with the subject of franchising, as well
as your interest in franchising. USASBE is currently working with the International
Franchise Association Educational Foundation to develop cooperative programs
between USASBE and the Foundation, including research and scholarships related
to franchising and entrepreneurship. This information will be shared between
both organizations and will be valuable in developing future programs and services
to benefit USASBE members. Any information about your program or university
will not be released without your permission.
For more information, visit: https://www.formsite.com/IntlFranchiseAssn/form656179114/secure_index.html
The SBANC Newsletter is provided as
a service to the members of our affiliates: Academy
of Collegiate Marketing Educators (ACME), Association
for Small Business& Entrepreneurship (ASBE), Decision Sciences
Institute (DSI), Federation of Business
Disciplines (FBD), International Council for Small
Business Congress (ICSB), Institute
for Supply Management, The International Small Business
Congress (ISBC), Marketing Management Association
(MMA), Small Business
Administration
(SBA), Service Corps of Retired Executives, Small Business
Institute (SBI), Society for
Marketing Advances (SMA), United States Association
for Small Business& Entrepreneurship
(USASBE), U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and Western
Decision Sciences Institute (WDSI). If you are interested
in membership or would like
further information on one of our affiliates, please
see our web site at http://www.sbaer.uca.edu
SBANC STAFF
Main Office Phone: (501) 450-5300
Dr. Don B. Bradley III, Executive
Director of SBANC & Professor
of Marketing
Direct Phone: (501) 450-5345, E-mail: donb@uca.edu
Esther
Mead, Co-Lead Development Director, E-mail: estherledelle@yahoo.com
Amanda Harris, Development Intern,
E-mail: abharris84@yahoo.com
Michael Flanagin, Development Intern, E-mail: whiffleball@aol.com
To subscribe or unsubscribe to the SBANC
Newsletter, please E-mail SBANC at sbanc@uca.edu
