Research Guides: Business Ethics: Background Information

Call Numbers

The call numbers for Business Ethics range from HF5387 to HF5387.5.

The call numbers for Corporate Social Responsibility range from HD60 to HD60.5.

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Definitions

Here are some definitions to help you understand some initial terms and concepts.

Business Ethics: Accepted standards of conduct for business decision making. Operating in an ethical manner means knowing what is right and wrong and attempting to do what is right in dealing with stakeholders.

Code of Ethics: A collection of rules of conduct to be used in guiding ethical behavior.

Conflict of Interest: A situation in which a person has competing personal and professional interests. For example, a corporate executive who is part owner of a company that does business with the firm at which the executive is employed.

Ethical: Performed in a manner that is consistent with accepted standards of conduct.

Fair Use: In copyright law, the legal reproduction of copyrighted material without permission of the copyright holder and without paying a fee. Fair use is not clearly defined but is generally considered to include reviews, scholarly research, and news reports.

Transparency: The full, accurate, and timely disclosure of information. Transparency makes it more likely that assests with be accurately valued.

Whistleblower: An employeed or former employee who reports misconduct by one or more members of an organization. For example, an employee reports that members of management are participating in an illegal surveillance program.

For more terms related to Business Ethics, use the book below:

The American Heritage Dictionary of Business Terms by David L. Scott
Publication Date: 2009

Call number: HF1001 .S348 2009

From arbitrage to leverage to zero-coupon bond, financial expert David L. Scott defines more than 6,000 terms from all aspects of business in clear, understandable language. This dictionary is an indispensable reference for business professionals and investors at all levels of expertise. Business students also will find it an informative supplement to their curriculum.

Encyclopedias

Below are some recommended encyclopedias to help with your initial research.

Encyclopedia of Business Ethics and Society by Robert W. Kolb (Editor)
Publication Date: 2007

The five volumes of this ultimate resource recognize the inherent unity between business ethics and business and society, that stems from their shared primary concern with value in commerce. This Encyclopedia spans the relationships among business, ethics, and society by including more than 800 entries that feature broad coverage of corporate social responsibility, the obligation of companies to various stakeholder groups, the contribution of business to society and culture, and the relationship between organizations and the quality of the environment.
The Blackwell Encyclopedic Dictionary of Business Ethics by Patricia Hogue Werhane; R. Edward Freeman
Publication Date: 1998

The "Blackwell Encyclopedic Dictionary of Business Ethics "provides clear, concise and highly informative definitions and explanations of the key concepts in one of the most important fields in contemporary business.
Encyclopedia of Business by Malonis; John G. Maurer (Editor)
Publication Date: 1995

Intended to be of use to researchers and professionals as they investigate major business concentrations and theories, this reference work covers: business ethics; accountants and accounting; finance; public relations; valuation; advertising; global marketing; cross-cultural/international communication; international monetary fund; world bank; doing business in Japan; doing business in China; doing business in Africa; NAFTA; family leave; and globalization.
Gale Encyclopedia of U. S. Economic History by Thomas Carson (Editor)
Call Number: e-book
Publication Date: 2000

Gale Encyclopedia of U.S. Economic History is designed to answer key questions such as: How has the U.S. Constitution shaped the economy in the United States? What were the consequences of Prohibition on consumers' behavior? The Encyclopedia presents 1,000 alphabetically arranged entries that range from one paragraph to several pages in length. Look for era overviews, event/movement profiles, biographies, business/industry profiles, geographic profiles and more.

Business Ethics Through Movies: A Case Study Approach
This book examines a wide range of ethical dilemmas, principles and moral reasoning that arise in contemporary business through a series of popular films and real-world case studies. It explores ethical theory by using movies and both national and international case studies in business as the vehicle for analysis and reflection and facilitates comprehension of ethical issues by showing how characters in films confront issues, make choices, and face the consequences.

Subject Headings

Here are some of the Library of Congress subject headings that are related to Business Ethics:

Business Ethics

Commercial Ethics

Corporate Ethics

Corporation Ethics

Professional Ethics

Wealth--Moral and Ethical Aspects

Business Intelligence

Corporations--Corrupts Practices

Nepotism

Social Responsibility of Business

Global Financial Crisis, 2008-2009

Online Entries

Business Ethics
from Encyclopedia of Science, Technology, and Ethics
Ethics, Business
from International Encyclopedia of the Social Sciences
Business Ethics
from Encyclopedia of Small Business
Business Ethics
from Encyclopaedia Judaica
Case Study Research in Business Ethics
from Encyclopedia of Case Study Research