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Issue Date: September 3, 2006
HOT COLLEGE TOPIC: Re-examining business ethics
Across America, students show renewed interest.
By Gary M. Stern
First came the scandals. Then came the backlash. As a result of the much-publicized Tyco, Enron and WorldCom scandals, interest in business ethics in undergraduate, MBA and doctoral programs is spiking across the United States.
"There's a renewed push for courses in ethics from [undergrad] students and accreditation associations," says Joe DesJardins, executive director of the Society for Business Ethics. The same goes for MBA students, who "requested that the [ethics requirement] be extended to more classes," says Thomas W. Dunfee, chairman of the business ethics department at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School.
In fact, an estimated 1,000 U.S. colleges now offer undergrad courses in business ethics, DesJardins says. Traditionally, philosophy professors teach most of the classes, but now business faculty members also are creating and conducting courses in accounting and marketing ethics.
"We've seen an erosion of ethics in corporations and in every area of our culture. The courses enable us to do something," says John C. Maxwell, the author of There's No Such Thing as Business Ethics: There's Only One Rule for Making Decisions (the Golden Rule).
At Wharton, ethics courses "help MBAs identify issues and techniques for dealing with them. MBAs can see in the WorldCom and Enron cases how underlings simply went along with questionable practices and then came to regret it," Dunfee says.
Many business ethics graduates are hired by corporate compliance departments, DesJardins says, to be the "ugly canary in the coal mine who says, 'Stop doing these things. You're putting the company at risk.' "
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TEENS: Not since the Olsen twins ...
The stars of "Zack & Cody" share their rules for success in life -- and business.
By Gayle Jo Carter
"Get active. Do something simple, like pick up trash."
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Twin brothers Dylan and Cole Sprouse, of the Disney Channel's squeaky clean, tween-friendly series "The Suite Life of Zack & Cody," already are huge with the pigtail set. Now, they want to become household names. Hoping to cash in on their TV fame, the shaggy blond twins, 14, hope to venture into clothing, sporting goods, video games, ring tones and even grooming products. Last month, they debuted their own hip teen magazine, "Code." To sweeten their odds, the Sprouses are working with the company owned by those other famous TV child-star twins, Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen.
So how do such charmingly sweet boys make it in the often unsavory world of Hollywood? We asked, and they gave it up. Here, the twins share their real-life "code":
Respect your parents. "You need their rules to organize your life. People always come up and tell us we are polite, and we thank our dad for that."
Tell the truth. "A liar is not something you want to be. It will come back to you."
It's OK to be a kid. "Laughing is the best."
Be nice to people on the way up. "You might need them on the way down!"
Don't sit back; get active. "Do something simple: Pick up trash, turn off the water when you brush your teeth. We visit the hospital with the Make-A-Wish Foundation. The kids are so excited."
Be good to your body. "Eat right. Don't do drugs. Exercise. We like going down to the park to play football or walk the dog."
Treat the ladies right. "They are special. We try to be gentlemen all the time."
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SUDDENLY CHIC: Home fashion parties
Forget the mall. Now, home fashion parties let you shop current designs while sipping a drink on a friend's sofa. These modern-day Tupperware parties are gaining in popularity. They accounted for about $1.9 billion in clothing, accessory and jewelry sales in 2004, says Amy Robinson, of the Direct Selling Association in Washington, D.C.
So, what can you buy? Fashion retailer Jones Apparel Group sells jewelry and accessories through its Million Wishes company. Jockey, Aerosoles, left, and even The Body Shop also are on board. Here, some tips:
1. Treat a home party like a mall trip. Bring a friend who will give you honest feedback, says Sue Henderson, a Million Wishes style consultant. But be sure to R.S.V.P. with a "plus-one."
2. Don't be afraid to touch. Try on jewelry, belts and shoes, and do a catwalk turn for guests.
3. Listen. Be social, but don't talk over presentations. You could miss information on discounts.
4. Get freebies. Sign on as party host and you could rack up free products. Incentive programs vary; Janice Lefebvre of New Jersey scored six free pairs of Aerosoles shoes with one party!
5. Live it up. These parties are the new "girls' night out," says Betty Palm, president of Million Wishes. "It's fun when women get together and play dress up."
-- Arnesa A. Howell
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