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RESEARCH PROJECTS
Ethics : the Corporate Achilles' Heel
Benefits for Business :
• Identify and track the early warning signs of potential crises;
• Link ethical dimensions to more traditional management functions;
• Provide greater assurance of the durability and sustainable development of businesses.
In this project, we are studying the causes behind the
decline or collapse of corporations that were not
only major innovators but who in some cases created new
industries - such as Atari (who essentially
created video game industry), PanAm (who gave rise to
the international airline industry), Arthur Andersen,
Barneys, Eatons, Enron, Lloyd's of London, Polaroid, Rolls-Royce.
Our working hypothesis is that the loss of ethical values
preceded - and in fact provoked - the strategic, financial
and other errors that ultimately led to the demise of
these once great innovators.
If this hypothesis is verified, the study will demonstrate
that ethics are not simply a variable to be considered
in the lives of corporation, but are in fact critical
to their very existence. We expect to publish case studies
on each of the businesses indicated above, with the resulting
collection to be published in a book format.
This project will generate concrete tools that will facilitate
the inclusion of ethical considerations in overall business
strategy.
Researchers:
Joé Trempe-Martineau (coordinator), Thierry C.
Pauchant
See also Joé Trempe-Martineau : "Ethical Lessons from the Enron Case: An Integral Approach"
Fundraising campaign for this project
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