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Business Ethics
Best Practices for Designing and Managing Ethical Organizations
Fourth Edition
- Denis Collins - Edgewood College
- Eric D. Yordy - Northern Arizona University, USA
Other Titles in:
Business & Management (General)
Business & Management (General)
December 2025 | 520 pages | SAGE Publications, Inc
Business Ethics: Best Practices for Designing and Managing Ethical Organizations, Fourth Edition focuses on how to create organizations of high integrity and superior performance. Authors Denis Collins and Eric D. Yordy explain how to reinforce ethical behavior and reduce ethical risks using a unique Ethical Systems Model that outlines how to hire and train ethical employees, make ethical decisions, and create a trusting, productive work environment. Taking a practical approach, this text is packed with tips, strategies, and real-world case studies that profile a wide variety of businesses, industries, and issues.
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Preface
Acknowledgments
About the Authors
Part I: An Introduction to Business Ethics
Chapter 1: Business Ethics – The Costs and Benefits
Chapter 2: Ethical Decision-Making
Chapter 3: Organizational Governance and Stakeholder Relationships
Part II: Reinforcing Ethics by Preparing Personnel
Chapter 4: Hiring Ethical People
Chapter 5: Codes of Ethics and Codes of Conduct
Chapter 6: Ethics Training
Chapter 7: Respecting Employee Diversity
Part III: Managing Internal Operations
Chapter 8: Managers as Ethical Leaders
Chapter 9: Ethically Engaging and Empowering Employees
Chapter 10: Ethics Reporting Systems
Part IV: Being An Ethical Citizen in A Global Economy
Chapter 12: Global Corporate Citizenship
Part V: Cases
Case Study 1 Opioid Responsibility: Big Pharma, Doctors, Consultants, and Patients
Case Study 2 Bayer and Monsanto: Acquiring A Global Giant With a Giant Image Problem
Case Study 3 The Ethical Use of AI in Business: Opportunities and Risks
Case Study 4 The Happiness Minimum Wage: The Story of Dan Price and Gravity Payments
Case Study 5 Volkswagen’s Diesel Scandal: Failure of the Code of Conduct
Case Study 6 Meta’s Conflict: Attracting Teen Users without Damaging Mental Health
Case Study 7 Deutsche Bank’s Path Back to Profitability: From Corruption to Compliance
Case Study 8 Starbucks: A Socially Responsible Firm and a Diversity Crisis
Case Study 9 Boeing 737 Max and the Challenger: The Tale of Flying Objects Falling From the Sky
Case Study 10 The Wells Fargo Scandal: A Tale of a Toxic Corporate Culture
Case Study 11 Uber’s #MeToo Reckoning: Sexual Harassment and Gender Discrimination
Case Study 12 The Paris Climate Change Agreement: Walmart and Amazon as Sustainability Leaders
Case Study 13 Corporate Citizen or Public Parasite? Amazon’s Complicated Relationship With the Tax Man
Appendix: Ethical Considerations
Glossary
Endnotes
Index
Supplements
This is a comprehensive, well-written textbook on business ethics. It's a great option for an undergraduate business ethics class.
Baylor University
This book is very easy to read and has relevant content and examples.
Indiana Wesleyan University
This is a "how to" book for putting theory on business ethics into practice in the workplace. The advice is practical. There are resources included to take the guesswork out of implementation.
Wayne State University
In depth coverage of the subject matter with stimulating visuals and excellent questionnaires and case studies.
Lee College
This book is a thorough textbook to use to teach business ethics and tackles individual ethical dilemmas. It includes the laws and agencies that apply to international business as well as teachings on how to hire individuals with the same ethics and values. The case studies are interesting and thought-provoking for students.
Ohio University
Logical, lots of application. Student focused.
Immaculata University