Oct 20th, 2009
by pam pringle.
“Ethical scandals in today’s businesses quickly make it to the national spotlight. Almost every newspaper highlights some situation or issue reeking of unethical behavior, questionable business practices, or outright law violations. However, Frank Navran writes in a recent issue of Training and Development magazine that those spectacular scandals account for only about 10% of the business losses attributable to poor ethical behavior.
That other 90% accounts for billions of dollars annually across the U.S. and appear in the way we treat each other when we try to protect our own turf, or get ahead at the expense of others, or do the wrong thing because we believe that is what our company wants us to do. Mr. Navran lists these examples of the “silent saboteurs”
- Scapegoating — blaming others for missed commitments, bad decisions or poor results.
- Allowing the boss to fail by withholding information and not pointing out risks.
- Budget games — padding the budget in anticipation of cuts, end-of-year spending sprees to match estimates to actuals.
- Overpromising to win a customer, gain support for a pet project or avoid a confrontation.
- Turf-guarding — protecting yourself from losing control or power.
- Endless meetings and memos to make sure that you are covered or that you can distance yourself from a bad decision.
- Under delivering on commitments because the other person’s priorities are not important to you or because you look good by looking better than someone else.
- Risk aversion — not doing what is needed to succeed because you fear the consequences of failure more than you value the reward of success.
- Sharp penciling — fudging on reported results because everyone else does it so you have to do it to stay competitive for pay and promotions.
The cost of these activities is high…in the areas of motivation and morale, stress, quality, turnover, productivity, pride, and customer satisfaction, all of those areas that we want to emphasize in a highly ethical company.”
The above exerpt was taken from an article posted on The Online Ethics Center at the National Academy of Engineering. What do you think?
Posted in: Ethics in Business.
Oct 20th, 2009
by pam pringle.
It was great to have an opportunity to welcome so many high school students to Christopher Newport University to discuss and consider the issue of integrity in our schools and universities. Dr. Don McCabe of Rutgers University, has done much research in the area of academic integrity. According to his data over 60% of high school students engage in some form of academic cheating.
Does this match what you see in your school?
Data seems to indicate that students cheat more today than they did 20 years ago. Why do you think we are seeing this increase?
What can you do to make a difference?
Posted in: High School Forum.
Oct 17th, 2009
by pam pringle.
Do honor codes in schools and universities make a difference?
What can CNU do to improve honor and integrity on its campus?
Please comment on these questions and share your thoughts.
Posted in: A Culture of Integrity.
Oct 10th, 2008
by student.
Before becoming a freshman at CNU. I had not been exposed to a honor code like I have here at CNU. CNU takes it very seriously and even has a Honor Council. My high school printed it in our student handbook and encouraged us to be honest but nothing like here at CNU. We didn’t have to see it on every test. As you enter freshman year, you sign a card, saying that you will maintain the CNU honor code during the Honor Convocation in August.I believe that there have been great efforts that have been put in place to promote honor in the CNU community. I know I always question myself to see if what I am doing is the most right and ethical thing to do. From posting signs to signing of the honor code on every exam there have been great strides to promote honor. The Honor Council can not make every student do the right thing, so it is up to the student ultimately at the end to choose the right thing. It is a decision of cheating or not, lying or telling the truth.Some ideas to create intregrity and honor in the Luter College community:hold workshops and seminars on ethicsIn order to truly understand being honorable and having integrity is to practice it. So, I would encourage some types of social responsibility and give back to our community.knowledge of the consequences is essentialhonor code posters in every classrooma listing of honor code violations in the newspaper
CNU Business Student
Posted in: Honor at CNU.
Oct 10th, 2008
by student.
As a transfer student from another college, the first difference I noticed was the importance of the honor code. I think it’s implemented in a way that makes students want to do the right thing instead of just annoying and making them care even less. Abiding by the honor code can make students feel uncomfortable in certain situations, however I think once a student has made the right choice they feel good about themselves and do the right thing more often. I think students at CNU take the honor code seriously even if they don’t say it outloud.
CNU Business Student
Posted in: The CNU Honor Code.
Oct 10th, 2008
by student.
I think the Honor Council has done a great job promoting the CNU honor code. Students see it on every exam they take at the university. It all comes down to the student though. It is the interest of the student. Is obeying the code more important than cheating to get a better grade? Hopefully it is more important. I certainly double check every thing I do to make sure it is ethical. It has made me double think on many issues. Some other ways that the honor council could do: promoting social responsibility within the community (practicing it), honor code posters in classrooms and providing knowledge of consequences. I think a website does help. I am not sure what else the council can do to promote honor, integrity at the Luter College.There is not much more one can do as it comes down to each student’s decision.
CNU Business Student
Posted in: The Luter Honor Council.
Sep 30th, 2008
by faculty.
Honor is where the rubber hits the road. If an individual does not have honor then ultimately they have nothing. It is very important to me as a faculty member to be in a university that upholds the value of honor and integrity. Freshmen get a feel for its importance as they take part in our honor ceremony in Getting Started Week. I would like to see other events developed that include sophomores, juniors, seniors, faculty and staff. As faculty we need to lead by example and encourage our students to also set an example in each of their classes, in their residences and in whatever they do. Honor and integrity should be the filter for everything we do. We can make a difference.
CNU Business Faculty
Posted in: The CNU Honor Code.
Sep 30th, 2008
by faculty.
I think CNU is doing a great job of promoting a culture that supports honor in every form–both inside the classroom and outside of the classroom. The plaques on the wall with the golden verse of the CNU Honor Code is a gentle reminder to all who enter about the “promise” or oath that each student took when he or she first became a member of the CNU Community. The service component of our university is testament to honorable community outreach. The many organizations that promote honor, like the Luter Honor Council, reinforce the concept in a student’s junior and senior years.The annual CNU Honors Convocation has become a wonderful event with great emotion put forth by all involved. It promotes a true spirit of both honor and community. Is there room for improvement? Of course, there always is…but CNU is currently doing an excellent job in my humble opinion.
CNU Business Faculty
Posted in: A Culture of Integrity.
Sep 29th, 2008
by alumni.
As a 2006 alumni, I am very proud CNU established a stringent honor policy. If the individuals that made bad judgements at financial instituions had paid attention to ethics and morals, the nation would not be in this dire bail out situation.
CNU Business School Alumni
Posted in: A Culture of Integrity.
Sep 29th, 2008
by alumni.
The CNU Honor Code was my first experience with any type of honor code. I think the school definitely relayed the importance of it to me so that it was always in the back of my mind. I think it is a good tool to use to prepare current students for real world experience!
CNU Business School Alumni
Posted in: Perspectives from Alumni.
Sep 29th, 2008
by faculty.
I think CNU community is not perfect in terms of honor; but certainly is not that bad either. I would guess that we would rank quite high among other colleges across the nation.
CNU Faculty
Posted in: A Culture of Integrity.
Sep 29th, 2008
by faculty.
…students, faculty, and staff abiding by a set of core values and beliefs, and endeavoring toward a common goal. Together, much progress has been made at CNU. Ultimately, however, achievement will be measured by the extent to which productive interaction between the academic and professional communities-at-large is maximized.
CNU Faculty
Posted in: Honor at CNU.
Sep 29th, 2008
by faculty.
I feel that the efforts of the Honor Council to promote awareness of the honor code at the Business Luter School is very important as both faculty and students are more careful and critical of their actions and the actions of others regarding awareness and enforcement of the honor code at CNU.
CNU Faculty
Posted in: Honor at CNU.
Sep 26th, 2008
by student.
For the past four years, the honor code of CNU has been a big part of my education and my life. At the beginning, it was always something I thought about before, while and after doing my work. As my time passed at CNU I didn’t have to think about the code anymore. It just seemed to to happen. There was no thought about whether to break the code, it was just natural. Do the right thing. Honestly and with integrity. I feel the honor code is very important to not only the CNU community but also the real world. College is supposed to train us for the real world. The honor code is something every college student should take into the real world.
CNU Business Student
Posted in: The CNU Honor Code.
Sep 26th, 2008
by alumni.
I am an alumni and served for almost two years in the honor council. I was an executive board member and learned a lot from my experience within the LHC. I remember when I first joined the LHC. I joined because Professor Pringle needed a replacement officer and I was sort of thrown into the mix. Initially I did not take it seriously. However, after learning to be a leader within the LHC and learning to consider my actions I realized that my actions were very important, as are all students at CNU and in the business school. CNU is only as good as its reputation and the respect its graduates are afforded by the public and other professionals. If you cheat or act dishonorably, you not only demean your degree and credibility, but you significantly undermine the hard work of those who are honorable. This respect is contingent upon each individuals actions and how CNU is perceived through the actions of its constituents as a whole. Consider, on an individual and isolated basis, how you evaluate others. If you know someone who is an incessant cheater and does not earn their place, I guarantee that you do not respect them, in fact, you may feel disdain for them regardless of how smart they are. I know that I do. However, people who are honorable, regardless of other flaws deserve respect and possess the character with which to build and improve. CNU is a great school, but it is not the best in Virginia. Academically we are behind UVA, W & L, VT, JMU, and a few others. However, we are up and coming and have much to offer. We should strive for a competitive and comparative advantage in honor. With honor, and the justified perception of such, we will only keep rising. Be proud of yourself, act as if you are always being watched, and as a captain represent your university well.
Business School Alumni
Posted in: Honor at CNU.
Sep 26th, 2008
by student.
Honor is an extremely important part of the CNU community. It is stressed from day one, and is made a part of everyday student life. As a freshman class, we made a promise at the convocation, and this was a very memorable event. Every class we go to starts off with part of the lecture dealing with honor, and there is usually a section of each professors syllabus related to it. There are also numerous plaques on the walls that stress it, and this to me really says what honor and integrity mean to CNU. I am proud to be part of a community where this is so highly emphasized.
CNU Business Student
Posted in: A Culture of Integrity.
Sep 26th, 2008
by student.
I feel like the honor code is very important to our university and to any business, school, association, or really anything that deals with interactivity between beings. CNU’s honor code, for example, promotes “honesty, integrity, and personal responsibility.” These are three very essential traits that every moral student and human being should encompass. The last part of the code states, “I am committed to creating an environment of respect and mutual trust.” I like this statement a lot, because it is the overall goal that we, as a community, should try to create. It begins with us, as individuals, acting in good faith and it ends in a trusting environment for us all.
CNU Business Student
Posted in: The CNU Honor Code.
Sep 26th, 2008
by student.
I believe that here at CNU, our teachers emphasize the honor code to us on a daily basis, whether it be when you look at your syllabus for a certain deadline, or when you are about to take a test, and you must sign something before taking it. I think it is very important to let all the freshmen know what we stand for when they sign that piece of paper, and come to CNU. I also believe that the teachers tell us about it just enough. I have never been bothered by the fact that they tell us to be honest and do our own work, and to not cheat. I believe that anyone should be able to tell you what is in the honor code, maybe not word for word but the basic components, of do not lie cheat or steal!!! Especially other peoples ideas and thoughts. It may have taken them a while to come up with it, and when you try to show that you thought of it, others feel that it was a waste of time to come up with something so amazing. So I believe that our honor code is perfect for this school, and CNU is the best!!!!
CNU Business Student
Posted in: Questions.
Sep 26th, 2008
by student.
I believe the Honor Code at CNU is one of the characteristics of the school that makes it stand out from other schools. The stress CNU faculty and staff place on the honor code makes everyday at CNU a more pleasant experience. With the honor code in place, students can be confident that their work will not be compromised by other students trying to pass it off as their own. In addition, the honor code makes the school feel more like a family environment. Since the majority of the population of the campus upholds what the honor code stands for, no one is going to lie to you, steal from you, or cheat you…making at least me feel like I’m living with a big family that is there to look out for you rather than try to take advantage of you. By ensuring that the honor code is upheld, I believe CNU will continue on its path to becoming one of the countries best universities.
CNU Business Student
Posted in: Questions.
Sep 26th, 2008
by student.
CNU often uses the phrase “Community of Honor” when describing the campus environment. I remember President Trible outlining his expectation of this when I was a freshman recruit to the school. The President said he expected that if a student saw a $20 bill on the ground that they would leave it there until the rightful owner came back and picked it up. Trible, in usual fashion, made an impressive point and awed the audience. I think that a community of honor is essentially what the President’s vision was: a safe environment where we can trust our fellow classmates to do the right thing. The emphasis placed on the Honor Code has helped this process along, but I worry we might become over saturated by the idea of “Communities of Honor” and have it lose its meaning to us.
CNU Business Student
Posted in: Questions.
