I’m sitting in a business ethics class and wondering why am I sitting here? Well I don’t have to bang my head for an answer, it is simple, for attendance and hence eligibility for semester-end exams. This opening remark might suggest that I’m against ethics in business, but it’s not that. I just don’t believe that you can teach a person to be ethical over a period of a two credit course.
I have learnt that personality is built over a period of time and cannot be changed unless something radical happens. I wonder what ‘radical’ change sixteen lectures will bring about in a student’s personality.
With due respect to the college management, I think that this classroom teaching of ethics is… ahem useless. It is baffling that a college can even think about something like classroom teaching of ethics and moral values. Ok so before taking the course you are unethical and after sixteen classes…tadaaa…you are morally right and ethical. So people enter like devils (ok fine the petty humans) and after 16 classes move out with a halo over their head. I wonder where is my halo (probably still in the process). And at the end of the course there will be an exam judging whose halo is better, bigger and brighter.
I’m not sure as to what exactly is the purpose of this course? To make students ethical or just for the heck of it. Well if it is the latter then I’m not complaining, but if it is for the former (which should be in ideal scenario), then I have issues.
I’m surprised that the management of the college is totally oblivious to what students feel about the course. Classroom teaching of ethics! We are no more in primary school so that we could be molded accordingly. If this could work then all the satans would turn out to be saints, or semi-saints/semi-satans (depending upon how you see the glass) by teaching them ethics.
I think there are three things that should be clearly understood, first, as we all know the definition of ethics is not the same for all, so no universal code of ethics is possible. Secondly, it’s not possible to change the moral build-up of any one at this age. The most that can be done is that make a less ethical person relatively more ethical. And thirdly, if this change is to be brought about then it can’t be done via classroom teaching. Instead students should be exposed to some social initiatives. As an alternative to teaching through books and power point, it is better to actually let the students witness the plight of the underprivileged. It might just revolve around the philanthropic aspect of ethics; still it will trigger the latent sensitivities of students. Again it will not bring about any drastic transformation, but I’m hopeful of a temporary alteration in their psyches.
There would be a percentage of people who would not be interested in this, but I have seen that most of the people would appreciate it (yeah contrary to the popular belief, the gen Y is not that insensitive), if not in the first instance, then maybe in the second and the third ones. Moreover it will anyways be much more effective than the present method being followed, so worth taking a chance. Of course all this is under the assumption that the purpose of teaching ethics is to make a person more ethical. Otherwise it’s just a matter of passing 16 x 1.45 hours.
There is an old Hindu saying..For the first thirty years of your life, you make your habits,for the last thirty years of your life, your habits make you..I agree with your argument that ethics can't be taught in class, however for real morons this can bring some kind of awareness. Brilliant article though
ReplyDeletethanx 4 ur appreciation, the point is that can any textbook teach u to be ethical??
ReplyDeleteI cant resist arguing this, the whole purpose the of the course is not to teach u Ethics, its BUSINESS ethics, as most ppl have not yet faced the corporate environment, this course teaches you the common types of ethical issues, best practices followed etc. it never tries to teach u personal ethics but urges you to apply it in complex business scenarios n try to see the big picture during ethical decision making
ReplyDeleteagree itz about teaching u business ethics, but the aim is to make u an ethical corporate citizen,also m not denying the importance of the course m saying u can't make anyone change his/her beliefs coz there are certain set of theories and dogmas that tell u to behave and act in a certain way. n do note that personal ethics n business ethics are not completely separate things.
ReplyDeleteFrom so far what i have heard in class, the subject teaches you not to look at the short term gain but to look at the long term loss in any scenario or when making a decision should the company lawyer has to to be consulted or not; and like teaching law, it wont make you good citizen but get you informed on the facts what can land you with penalty.
ReplyDeletewell i have learned it teaches u what u ought to do...so if there are ppl who can benefit from the same, then itz great...keep it up guys :)
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ReplyDeleteA front--- being judgmental on a phenomena is but a human nature. If only 5% of the populace present in a classroom can adhere to what you believe is right, the rest 95% can't be ignored. A professor, a preacher, a teacher, has to respect a fact that they are not guiding individuals rather they are trying to mould as many students in a single 1.45hrs classroom. Yes, for those inquisitive enough, they should take initiative to join an NGO and serve it to learn better. Finding out time for such service to an NGO is your deal, and am not preaching just like that, I initiated a cloth/books/accessories donation movement in my university and was SPOC for an NGO. Must say, I personally learned a lot. So, an advice, one can't change the wind but for sure adjust his/her sails accordingly... :)
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