SECTION 5


FOCUS ON ONLY THE BUSINESS


LEADERSFOR 2003


SECTION 5


FOCUS ON ONLY THE BUSINESS LEADERS FOR 2003


INTRODUCTION


In this section, the focus is only on the business leaders for the 2003 study.Table 5A presents a summary version of the information for each of the 47 attitudinal questions.For each question, the percent that agreed with each statement is given.In addition, the average response (low is positive) and the standard deviation for each question are provided.The number of responses completes the information for each group for each question.Questions 30 to 38 are given at the end of the table since their answers should have reflected to what extentinstead of a SA to SD perspective.See Table 5B for a clearer understanding of these questions.Table 5B gives the percentage of respondents who either Strongly Agreed, Agree, gave No Opinion, Disagreed or Strongly Disagreed for each question.


ANALYSIS


One can examine the differences in the actual responses in these two tables depending upon his or her interest in the particular question and/or group.A detailed analysis of the information in this section is beyond the scope of the project.



TABLE 5A.���� PERCENT OF THE BUSINESS LEADERS IN 2003 AGREEING WITH EACH STATEMENT (1 = SA; 5=SD)


Q#


QUESTION


Year


Type

%

Agree


Mean

Std.

Dev.


n=


1

The corporation has a responsibility to take the lead in solving major social problems such as pollution,

discrimination, and safety.


2003


Business Leaders


76%


2.1


1.0


66


2

The corporation has a

responsibility to not become involved in solving social problems unless doing so becomes a cost of doing business or the opportunity to earn a profit.


2003


Business Leaders


11%


4.0


1.0


66


3

The corporation has the

responsibility to get involved in social responsibility projects because outside pressures make suchan involvement a cost of doing



Business






business.

2003

Leaders

35%

3.1

0.9

66


4

The corporation has a

responsibility to promote equal opportunity in hiring and promotion.


2003


Business Leaders


99%


1.3


0.5


66


5

The corporation has a

responsibility to promote conservation of energy even if doing so means a reduction in profits.


2003


Business Leaders


71%


2.4


1.0


66


6

The corporation has a

responsibility to conserve natural resources, even if doing so means a reduction in profits.


2003


Business Leaders


70%


2.4


1.0


66


7

The corporation has a

responsibility to clean up or avoid causing air, noise, and water pollution even if doing so means a reduction in profits.


2003


Business Leaders


92%


1.9


0.8


66


8

The corporation has a

responsibility to contribute money and management time to civic activities in communities where the firm has plants or offices.


2003


Business Leaders


88%


1.7


0.9


66


9

The corporation has a

responsibility to help minority owned businesses.


2003


Business Leaders


56%


2.6


1.1


66


10

The corporation has a

responsibility to be truthful in advertising.


2003

Business Leaders


99%


1.2


0.4


66


11

The typical business

executive has two sets of ethical standards, one which he/she applies to business activities and another which is applied to his/her private life.


2003


Business Leaders


12%


4.3


1.0


66


12

Ethical standards in business

are lower than in government.


2003


Business Leaders


11%


4.2


0.9


66


13

Ethical standards in business

are lower than in most religious organizations.


2003

Business Leaders


28%


3.5


1.2


66


14

Ethical standards in business

are lower than in the typical American family.


2003

Business Leaders


19%


3.8


1.1


66


15

The ethical standards used in

business are as high as those practiced with family and friends.


2003


Business Leaders


67%


2.5


0.9


66


16

Occasionally, business

people make decisions that are right for business but which are inconsistent with their personal ethical principles.


2003


Business Leaders


59%


2.8


1.1


66


17

Much advertising done by

business is misleading to the consumer.


2003


Business Leaders


29%


3.3


1.0


66


18

Effective advertising may

have to be somewhat misleading.


2003

Business Leaders


8%


4.1


0.8


66


19

It is in the long run self-

interest of business to protect


Business






the customer.

2003

Leaders

91%

1.8

0.8

66


20

The average customer is less

ethical in dealing with business than the business is in dealing with that customer.


2003


Business Leaders


31%


3.1


1.0


66


21

No employee should be

required to engage in business practices that employee considers unethical.


2003


Business Leaders


87%


1.7


0.9


66


22

In accepting an employment

offer each employee implicitly agrees to abide by the ethical standards of the employer, even if the company standards differ from those of the employee.


2003


Business Leaders


53%


2.8


1.2


66


23

Wages and salaries should

vary according to an employees productivity.


2003


Business Leaders


88%


1.8


0.8


66


24

Wages and salaries should

vary according to both the employees productivity and years of service with the firm.


2003


Business Leaders


49%


2.9


1.1


66


25

Wages and salaries should

vary primarily with the employee's years of service with the firm.


2003


Business Leaders


3%


4.2


0.7


66


26

Labor unions serve a useful

purpose by prodding a particular management into fulfilling its responsibilities to labor.


2003


Business Leaders


29%


3.6


1.2


66


27

The corporation should seek

to maximize short run profits.


2003

Business Leaders


29%


3.4


1.2


66


28

The corporation should seek

to earn a satisfactory rate of return for stockholders.


2003

Business Leaders


99%


1.5


0.5


66


29

The ethical standards in

competition are determined by the least ethical competitor.If one firm engages in unethical conduct, the others will have to follow to survive.


2003


Business Leaders


0%


4.5


0.6


66


39

All institutions in our society

should seek to protect and promote the interests of individuals.


2003


Business Leaders


34%


3.1


1.0


65


40

Individual freedom may have

to be partly restricted in order for organizations to effectively function.


2003


Business Leaders


56%


2.7


1.1


66


41

Government should

redistribute income in order to assure a minimum standard of living for all citizens.


2003


Business Leaders


23%


3.7


1.1


66


42

Government should provide

incentives for business to get involved in solving social problems.


2003


Business Leaders


55%


2.8


1.1


66


43

Truth in lending regulations

are needed to protect the


Business






customer.

2003

Leaders

86%

2.0

0.8

66


44

Antitrust laws prohibiting

price fixing benefit the customer.


2003


Business Leaders


85%


2.1


0.8


66

45

Lazy or incompetent

employees should be fired.


2003

Business

Leaders


86%


1.9


0.9


66


46

A company should have

formal policies to guarantee that every employee has an equal opportunity for promotion, pay increases, and other rewards provided by the firm.


2003


Business Leaders


86%


1.8


1.0


66


47

The corporation should seek

to maximize long run profits.


2003


Business Leaders


93%


1.7


0.8


66


30

To what extent are ethical

standards influenced by peer group pressures?


2003

Business Leaders


55%


2.8


1.0


64


31

To what extent are ethical

standards influenced by prevailing industry practice?


2003

Business Leaders


66%


2.6


1.0


64


32

To what extent are ethical

standards influenced by perceived preference of top executives?


2003


Business Leaders


81%


2.2


0.9


64


33

To what extent are ethical

standards influenced by family experiences?


2003

Business Leaders


83%


2.2


0.8


64


34

To what extent are ethical

standards influenced by church experiences?


2003

Business Leaders


74%


2.4


0.9


64


35

To what extent are ethical

standards influenced by your educational experiences?


2003

Business Leaders


83%


2.2


0.7


64


36

To what extent are ethical

standards influenced by company's ethical code or policy?


2003


Business Leaders


90%


1.9


0.8


64


37

To what extent are ethical

standards influenced by professional ethical code?


2003

Business Leaders


85%


2.0


0.8


64


38

To what extent are ethical

standards influenced by society's moral climate?


2003

Business Leaders


75%


2.3


0.9


64

image

image

image

image

image

image

image

image

image

image

image


TABLE 5B.������ PERCENT OF THE BUSINESS LEADERS IN 2003 PROVIDING THEIR DEGREE

OF AGREEMENT WITH EACH STATEMENT (1=SA;5=SD)

Q#

QUESTION

Year

Type

%SA

%A

%NO

%D

%SD

n=

�� 1

The corporation has a responsibility to take the lead in solving major social

problems such as pollution, discrimination, and safety.


2003


Bus. Leaders


29

47

12

9


3


66

�� 2

The corporation has a responsibility to not become involved in solving social

problems unless doing so becomes a cost of doing business or the opportunity to earn a profit.


2003


Bus. Leaders


3


8


8


52


30


66

�� 3

The corporation has the responsibility to get involved in social responsibility

projects because outside pressures make suchan involvement a cost of doing business.


2003


Bus. Leaders


2


33


21


42


2


66

�� 4

The corporation has a responsibility to promote equal opportunity in hiring and

promotion.

2003

Bus. Leaders

76

23

0

2

0


66

�� 5

The corporation has a responsibility to promote conservation of energy even if

doing so means a reduction in profits.


2003


Bus. Leaders


15

56

8

18


3


66

�� 6

The corporation has a responsibility to conserve natural resources, even if doing

so means a reduction in profits.


2003


Bus. Leaders


11

59

11

15


5


66

�� 7

The corporation has a responsibility to clean up or avoid causing air, noise, and water pollution even if doing so means a reduction in profits.


2003


Bus. Leaders


26


66


2


5


2


2003

�� 8

The corporation has a responsibility to contribute money and management time

to civic activities in communities where the firm has plants or offices.

2003

Bus. Leaders

53

35

6

5

2


66

�� 9

The corporation has a responsibility to help minority owned businesses.

2003

Bus. Leaders

14

42

24

15

5

66

10

The corporation has a responsibility to be truthful in advertising.

2003

Bus. Leaders

85

14

2

0

0

66

11

The typical business executive has two sets of ethical standards, one which

he/she applies to business activities and another which is applied to his/her private life.


2003


Bus. Leaders


0


12


2


33


53


66

12

Ethical standards in business are lower than in government.

2003

Bus. Leaders

0

11

5

44

41

66

13

Ethical standards in business are lower than in most religious organizations.

2003

Bus. Leaders

5

23

15

32

26

66

14

Ethical standards in business are lower than in the typical American family.

2003

Bus. Leaders

2

17

11

45

26

66

15

The ethical standards used in business are as high as those practiced with family

and friends.

2003

Bus. Leaders

6

61

9

24

0


66

16

Occasionally, business people make decisions that are right for business but

which are inconsistent with their personal ethical principles.

2003

Bus. Leaders

6

53

6

29

6


66

17

Much advertising done by business is misleading to the consumer.

2003

Bus. Leaders

3

26

15

53

3

66

18

Effective advertising may have to be somewhat misleading.

2003

Bus. Leaders

0

8

8

56

29

66

19

It is in the long run self-interest of business to protect the customer.

2003

Bus. Leaders

35

56

3

6

0

66

20

The average customer is less ethical in dealing with business than the business is

in dealing with that customer.

2003

Bus. Leaders

5

26

30

33

6


66

21

No employee should be required to engage in business practices that employee

considers unethical.

2003

Bus. Leaders

55

32

5

9

0


66

22

In accepting an employment offer each employee implicitly agrees to abide by

the ethical standards of the employer, even if the company standards differ from those of the employee.


2003


Bus. Leaders


14


39


12


27


8


66

23

Wages and salaries should vary according to an employees productivity.

2003

Bus. Leaders

36

52

6

6

0

66

24

Wages and salaries should vary according to both the employees productivity

and years of service with the firm.

2003

Bus. Leaders

8

41

11

35

6


66

25

Wages and salaries should vary primarily with the employee's years of service

with the firm.

2003

Bus. Leaders

0

3

6

61

30


66

26

Labor unions serve a useful purpose by prodding a particular management into

fulfilling its responsibilities to labor.

2003

Bus. Leaders

3

26

9

33

29


66

27

The corporation should seek to maximize short run profits.

2003

Bus. Leaders

8

21

11

44

17

66

28

The corporation should seek to earn a satisfactory rate of return for

stockholders.

2003

Bus. Leaders

52

47

2

0

0


66

29

The ethical standards in competition are determined by the least ethical

competitor.If one firm engages in unethical conduct, the others will have to follow to survive.


2003


Bus. Leaders


0


0


3


49


49


66

39

All institutions in our society should seek to protect and promote the interests of

individuals.

2003

Bus. Leaders

2

32

25

37

5


65

40

Individual freedom may have to be partly restricted in order for organizations to

effectively function.

2003

Bus. Leaders

6

50

14

24

6


66

41

Government should redistribute income in order to assure a minimum standard

of living for all citizens.

2003

Bus. Leaders

2

21

11

38

29


66

42

Government should provide incentives for business to get involved in solving

social problems.

2003

Bus. Leaders

8

47

14

26

6


66

43

Truth in lending regulations is needed to protect the customer.

2003

Bus. Leaders

21

65

6

6

2

66

44

Antitrust laws prohibiting price fixing benefit the customer.

2003

Bus. Leaders

20

65

8

6

2

66

45

Lazy or incompetent employees should be fired.

2003

Bus. Leaders

33

53

5

9

0

66

46

A company should have formal policies to guarantee that every employee has an

equal opportunity for promotion, pay increases, and other rewards provided by the firm.


2003


Bus. Leaders


44


42


8


2


5


66

47

The corporation should seek to maximize long run profits.

2003

Bus. Leaders

46

47

3

5

0

66

30

* Ethical standards are influenced by peer group pressures?

2003

Bus. Leaders

2

53

13

28

5

64

31

* Ethical standards are influenced by prevailing industry practice.

2003

Bus. Leaders

3

63

8

25

2

64

32

* Ethical standards are influenced by perceived preference of top executives?

2003

Bus. Leaders

17

64

6

9

3

64

33

* Ethical standards are influenced by family experiences?

2003

Bus. Leaders

8

75

6

9

2

64

34

* Ethical standards are influenced by church experiences?

2003

Bus. Leaders

8

66

10

14

2

64

35

* Ethical standards are influenced by your educational experiences?

2003

Bus. Leaders

8

75

9

6

2

64

36

* Ethical standards are influenced by company's ethical code or policy?

2003

Bus. Leaders

27

63

3

6

2

64

37

* Ethical standards are influenced by professional ethical code?

2003

Bus. Leaders

27

58

8

8

0

64

image

image

image

image

image

image

image

image

image

image

image

38

* Ethical standards are influenced by society's moral climate?

2003

Bus. Leaders

8

67

9

14

2

64

Source:� ��������������� 2003 Study of Ethics


* The actual question on the questionnaire was * To what extent are ethical standards influenced by ��