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# Ethical Systems

## Sitemaps

- [XML Sitemap](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/sitemap.xml): Contains all public & indexable URLs for this website.

## Posts

- [When Criminals Rule the Land](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/when-criminals-rule-the-land/) - At the beginning of 2023, the state of Sinaloa endured hours of violence as Mexican authorities hunted down and captured Ovidio Guzmán, the son of the famous drug trafficker Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán.
- [Higher Ground: How to be an Ethical Business in a Divided, Polarized World](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/alison-taylor-higher-ground/) - In the 2020s, we’ve never been so confused about what it takes to be a ‘good’ or ethical business. The conversation has become polarized, highly confused, and suffused with confounding jargon. Alison Taylor discussed what it means to cut through the noise, set sharp priorities, think holistically about governance, and rebuild trust, in an era of hyper transparency, mistrust and misinformation.
- [A New Home for Ethical Systems](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/a-new-home-for-ethical-systems/) - A new and exciting chapter for Ethical Systems! Learn more about the new home of Ethical Systems and what the future will hold.
- [Very Worrying: VW, Leadership and Ethical Culture](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/very-worrying-vw-leadership-and-ethical-culture/) - Guest post from Dennis Gentilin of the National Australia Bank and author of the forthcoming book, “The Origins of Ethical Failures” As we all know, last week the car manufacturer Volkswagen admitted to installing software in over 11 million of their diesel engine cars that was designed to cheat emission tests. At worst, some commentators have suggested that Volkswagen are responsible for the premature death of people with respiratory conditions. At best, it is extraordinarily deceitful and unethical conduct. It is highly unlikely that a scandal of this magnitude is the work of a handful of rogues. Rather it points to a systemic disrespect for principled conduct at numerous levels of the organization. No doubt the pending investigation will uncover failures in governance and compliance. However, as with all corporate scandals of this nature, my hypothesis is that at least one (or some) of the following five factors would have been at play:
- [Navigating the Amazon: Workplace Culture and Ethics](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/navigating-the-amazon-workplace-culture-and-ethics/) - While talk in August can normally drift to Labor Day vacation plans and how to brew the perfect pitcher of iced tea, a different sort of discussion began to surface in offices (and backyards) across America: that of workplace culture and the different extremes that workers at Amazon report as the norm. The New York Times article that started it all, "Wrestling Big Ideas in a Grueling Workplace," provided an eye-opening look into the management practices, feedback loops and performance measurement metrics at Amazon, eliciting both accolades and acrimony from current and former employees. After much debate, the dust settled at a realization that the intensity is both a blessing and a curse and tailored for only certain kinds of personalities. An overarching theme was that burnout is common and, to a certain extent, expected.
- [3 Ways Companies Can Work with Employee Activism](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/3-ways-companies-can-work-with-employee-activism/) - Should the trend of employee denunciations, which have rattled companies like Basecamp, Coinbase, Facebook, and others, make organizations fret? There is reason to be concerned. Hardly confined within the tech industry, this new type of employee voice is on the rise. Companies are dumbfounded as they deal with the consequences of ostensibly another form of today’s
- [Why Abuse in Women’s Professional Soccer Was an “Open Secret”](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/why-abuse-in-womens-professional-soccer-was-an-open-secret/) - An investigation has found that widespread abuse of players in U.S. women’s professional soccer existed despite some of the behavior of coaches being “an open secret.”
- [What The Economist Gets Wrong About ESG](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/what-the-economist-gets-wrong-about-esg/) - The Economist published an eight-part series last month on ESG investing.
- [The Hot News of Union Battles at Big Corporations Is Good for the Labor Movement](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/the-hot-news-of-union-battles-at-big-corporations-is-good-for-the-labor-movement/) - Union drives have suddenly become hot news. In a closely watched Nov. 29, 2021, decision, the National Labor Relations Board ruled that Amazon had committed serious violations of federal labor law during a union campaign at a warehouse in Bessemer, Alabama. In the decision, the NLRB attacked Amazon’s “flagrant disregard” for election rules, saying it
- [Don't Underestimate the Experience of Doing the Right Thing](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/dont-underestimate-the-experience-of-doing-the-right-thing/) - Patagonia has long been considered one of the world’s most-admired companies. Apart from their millions of dollars in annual contributions to environmental causes and land conservation, the outdoor apparel company is known for their generous benefits and employee-centric workplace. But there’s an even more important reason to respect them: In the nearly 50 years since they
- [Navigating Ethical Systems: How professional accountants can drive ethical behaviour](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/ethical-systems-cpa-canada/) - Learn about the individual psychology behind ethical behaviour, some of the issues impacting ethical systems and specific considerations for professional accountants and their teams to improve ethical behaviour.
- [Rethinking DEI in an Era of Outrage](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/rethinking-dei-in-an-era-of-outrage/) - Is DEI a long-overdue solution for centuries of prejudice or a diabolical power grab by underqualified progressives? Is it a way to enable a more empowered and effective generation of corporate leaders or a way to define and categorize human beings in limited, simplistic, social identity categories? No one agrees, but everyone is sure they
- [Good vs. Good: Using Empathy and Effort to Grasp Opposing Views](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/engaging-opposing-views-with-effort-and-empathy/) - Approaching opposing views with empathy and effort can increase civility and understanding, leading to reduced tensions in the workplace.
- [Detoxifying DEI: How to Clean Up the Reality and Perception of DEI](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/detoxifying-dei/) - Detoxifying DEI: As complaints about ill effects fuel criticism of diversity, equity, and inclusion—and companies “rebrand” their efforts to render them less obtrusive—is DEI destined to follow ESG in becoming the “latest dirty word in corporate America”? 
- [Advancing DEI With More Psychological Safety and Authenticity ](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/advancing-dei-with-more-psychological-safety-and-authenticity/) - In Part 1 of this two-part series, I wrote about identifying and removing toxic elements from diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts. However, it isn’t just DEI’s combative issues or toxic approaches that can be problematic. Crudely spotlighting diversity and asking employees to take part in the process of enhancing it can cause threats to safety . . .
- [In The Age Of AI, Critical Thinking Is More Needed Than Ever](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/in-the-age-of-ai-critical-thinking-is-more-needed-than-ever/) - The rise of AI has proven to be a watershed moment in history, with countless arguments for and against its use in practically every industry and use case conceivable. With generative AI receiving the majority of the public’s attention, writers and other creatives have been especially vocal about the risks of AI being used to supplant their
- [Where Business Needs To Step Up On Human Rights In 2024](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/where-business-needs-to-step-up-on-human-rights/) - In an increasingly unstable and polarized world, far too many governments are unwilling or unable to protect their own people, undermining core human rights. As a result, global companies are being pressed to assume greater responsibility for protecting these rights. Here are four areas relating to human rights where corporate leaders need to focus attention
- [One More Time: Why Diversity Leads To Better Team Performance](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/one-more-time-why-diversity-leads-to-better-performance/) - Discussions on diversity in the workplace can be heated and contentious. All too often, we see attitudes toward diversity in the workplace shift like a pendulum, as the explosion in corporate DEI efforts that began in 2020 has changed dramatically to groups pushing against corporate investment in DEI initiatives. Over the past year, scores of companies have slashed
- [Unveiling the Unobtrusive: The Rising Power of UICs in Culture Measurement](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/unveiling-the-unobtrusive-the-rising-power-of-uics-in-culture-measurement/) - There are several ways a business might choose to measure its company culture. The fruits of most are confidential to the organization. But a more public, open-source method of measurement is gaining popularity: unobtrusive indicators of ethical culture (UICs) that collect data without engaging employees and require no special access or permission. Since these are
- [Ready or Risky? Assessing Organizational Preparedness for Political Polarization](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/ready-or-risky-assessing-organizational-preparedness-for-political-polarization/) - Is your organization prepared to face politically charged problems in the workplace as we enter the 2024 election cycle, or does it remain vulnerable? With polarization in our culture reaching record highs, the likelihood and severity of workplace incidents driven by politics have risen to unprecedented levels. Talk of the upcoming elections should come as
- [Corporate Culture Assessment](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/corporate-culture-assessment/) - A review of available organizational culture assessments, relevant organizational psychology theory and research, and strengths and weaknesses of approaches.
- [Interested in an Ethical Culture? Build an Ombuds Program](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/interested-in-an-ethical-culture-build-an-ombuds-program/) - Guest post by John W. Zinsser, Pacifica Human Communications, LLC. There is a mechanism for employees of all levels to safely (without fear of retaliation) raise any concern or ask a needed question — an organizational ombuds program. Properly constructed and executed organizational ombuds programs provide those who access the function a place to: Consider possible solutions; Navigate the complexity of today’s organizations; Sound out an idea; and Build a plan of action to address a situation. As a result of being involved in these activities, the ombuds program is positioned to raise leadership’s awareness and understanding of key issues the organization faces.
- [These 8 Levers Of Organizational Culture Will Drive Great Performance](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/these-8-levers-of-organizational-culture-will-drive-great-performance/) - Forty-six percent of business leaders say that culture drives employee productivity, engagement and retention — and 90% say that the importance of a company’s culture has increased in the current business climate. Ironically, fewer aspects of organizations are more misunderstood than culture. Easily confused, and often over-simplified as “employee engagement” or “the values,” organizational culture is
- [From Citi To Meta, Companies Cutting Manager Roles Need A New Management Model](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/from-citi-to-meta-companies-cutting-manager-roles-need-a-new-management-model/) - It is said that a leader’s effectiveness comes down to their behavior. But what leaders value can be as important. After all, behavior is often a means to an end.
- [In Memory of Noel Boyland](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/in-memory-of-noel-boyland/) - Dear Friends, We have some devastating news. Earlier this month, Ethical Systems lost our beloved colleague Noel Boyland to a heart attack. Noel was our corporate engagement director and a dear friend—to us, and to many within the wider Ethical Systems network. His good nature was infectious and lives on in our memories. Below, we
- [Participate in a 5-minute global consultation survey on the evolution of corporate sustainability](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/participate-in-a-5-minute-global-consultation-survey-on-the-evolution-of-corporate-sustainability/) - Join thought leaders Robert Eccles & Alison Taylor, in partnership with Salesforce and GlobeScan for a 5-minute global consultation on the evolution of corporate sustainability. As a thank you for your time GlobeScan is offering a wealth of valuable, relevant and exclusive findings and planting ten trees for each response. Join the conversation here: https://survey.confirmit.de/wix/p745025365714.aspx?lktyp=5
- [The Office's Rainn Wilson on meaning and happiness](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/the-offices-rainn-wilson-on-meaning-and-happiness/) - Rainn Wilson was a late bloomer: he landed the role of Dwight Schrute on “The Office” after over a decade of struggling as an actor. But success didn’t solve all of his problems — and it even created some new ones. In this live conversation for the Authors@Wharton series, Adam asks Rainn about his unlikely
- [Why aiming for the best isn't always good for you (w/ Barry Schwartz and Coco Krumme)](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/why-aiming-for-the-best-isnt-always-good-for-you-w-barry-schwartz-and-coco-krumme/) - Many people are obsessed with optimizing their lives, but this might be a suboptimal way to live. Adam brings together psychologist Barry Schwartz (author of “The Paradox of Choice”) and applied mathematician Coco Krumme (author of “Optimal Illusions”) to discuss the dark side of maximizing everything. The three discuss the unintended consequences of always aiming
- [Do we really need to ‘move fast and break things’?](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/do-we-really-need-to-move-fast-and-break-things/) - From “move fast and break things” to “hacker culture,” Silicon’s Valley’s mantras over the past two decades have seemingly encouraged employees to cast aside moral concerns in pursuit of innovation. Perhaps due to this mindset, its companies have faced increasing backlash for ethically questionable or outrightly immoral decisions. It seems that managers, and not just
- [Workplace Political Polarization](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/workplace-political-polarization/) - Political polarization in the United States is increasing more rapidly than among other democratic-style governments (Brown University, 2020; Pew Research, 2014) and becoming more problematic in terms of workplace civility and productivity (Dinkin, 2022; Telford, 2022). The left and right each blame the other for becoming more radical; what is certain is that the distance
- [Positive Psychology & Ethical Organizations](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/positive-psychology-ethical-organizations/) - The modern movement of Positive Psychology is often said to have begun when Martin Seligman, in a 1998 speech as APA President, introduced the idea of a “reoriented science that emphasizes the understanding and building of the most positive qualities of an individual: optimism, courage, work ethic, future‑mindedness, interpersonal skill, the capacity for pleasure and
- [Workplace Surveillance](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/workplace-surveillance/) - Surveillance and monitoring in the workplace have evolved alongside advancing technologies, presenting ever-multiplying opportunities, risks, and emerging ethical questions. More pervasive and personal every year, the "datafication" of employee behavior attracts employers as it promises improved compliance, performance, and security. Pursuit of these benefits has led to increasingly intertwined tracking--ingrained and ubiquitous--fed to management dashboards
- [Leadership lessons from Zelenskyy and Putin](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/leadership-lessons-from-zelenskyy-and-putin/) - As Russia continues to attack Ukraine, the whole world is watching a momentous clash of leadership styles. No one is more qualified to analyze the situation than political scientist and former US ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul. In this episode, he and Adam discuss Putin’s motives, Zelensky’s rise, and the leadership lessons from this crisis.
- [Seeking Corporate Ethics Trainers and College Ethics Instructors for Research Survey](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/seeking-corporate-ethics-trainers-and-college-ethics-instructors-for-research-survey/) - Are you a corporate ethics trainer or College ethics professor/instructor? If you are, then please take this brief Global Survey of Business Ethics conducted by the World Congress of Business, Economics, and Ethics (ISBEE). If you are interested in participating please click here. The survey aims to capture and publish a comparative perspective on the
- [Why Meetings Suck and How to Fix Them](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/why-meetings-suck-and-how-to-fix-them/) - Meetings often drain our joy and sap our focus – and meeting overload kills productivity. So why do we have so many of them, and is a better world possible? Adam investigates the science of improving meetings and explores how workplaces are fighting meeting bloat. Adam Grant is an organizational psychologist who studies work motivation, job
- [How To Approach AI Adoption Ethically And Responsibly Within Your Organization](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/how-to-approach-ai-adoption-ethically-and-responsibly-within-your-organization/) - Over the past few years, there has been an explosion of artificial intelligence technology across all channels. According to McKinsey & Company, organizations used an average of 3.8 AI capabilities in 2022 compared to 1.9 in 2018. It is no secret that AI is here for good, but recently, there’s been some problems. Facebook and
- [Rethinking Ethics: A Vision for a New Framework Aligned with Human Nature](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/rethinking-ethics-a-vision-for-a-new-framework-aligned-with-human-nature/) - As we reported in our September Newsletter, fraud allegations have been raised against one of Ethical Systems’ past collaborators, Francisca Gino. While the truth of the matter remains in dispute, Gino is suing Harvard University (her employer), after it placed her on leave and revoked her professorship. She is also suing the behavioral scientists at
- [Leaders, Don’t Fear AI...Embrace It](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/leaders-dont-fear-ai-embrace-it/) - The rise of machine learning and AI has been ongoing for quite a while, but it’s only relatively recently that conversations surrounding generative AI have really taken off in business and the world at large. Like any kind of wide sweeping change or advancement, there’s a lot of debate on all sides about how useful these advances
- [Trying to solve an ethical dilemma? Start with changing your mindset](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/trying-to-solve-an-ethical-dilemma-start-with-changing-your-mindset/) - Companies wishing to give employees an effective decision-making framework to confront ethical dilemmas now have a new tool in their arsenal. Recent findings from researchers Ting Zhang, Francesca Gino [Important context: this author has several publications retracted or under review] and Joshua Margolis provide insight for corporate communications programs as well as middle managers. In
- [The Tricky Role of Loyalty at Work](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/the-tricky-role-of-loyalty-at-work/) - It’s fair to say that, overall, organizations can benefit from loyal employees. Loyal employees stay with their organizations longer,1 even when there is conflict.2 They form tighter bonds between each other3 and cheat less.4 But, of course, those benefits can also come with important costs. It’s not surprising that loyal employees, and organizational members more
- [What Pirates Have to Teach Us About Leadership](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/what-pirates-have-to-teach-us-about-leadership/) - In the deep heat of an 18th-century summer, a crew of pirates was sailing off the Virginia coast when a lookout spotted a merchant ship to the south. Springing into action, the pirates launched an attack, rocking the merchant ship with a cascade of musket balls and grenades. The helmsman of the merchant ship abandoned
- [In Confronting a Polarized Workforce, Persuasion Is Not the Goal. Learning Is!](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/in-confronting-a-polarized-workforce-persuasion-is-not-the-goal-learning-is/) - In her new book I Never Thought of It That Way: How to Have Fearlessly Curious Conversations in Dangerously Divided Times, Mónica Guzmán outlines a recipe for disarming and transcending political polarization. A journalist, Guzmán draws from her experience working in communications for a nonprofit depolarization group called Braver Angels. “The book’s greatest offering, I
- [Incentives](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/incentives/) - Introduction Incentives in organizations take many forms. They can include monetary compensation and promotion as well as informal benefits, like influence or access, and social rewards (e.g. accolades, status, titles). They’re meant to improve employee and organizational performance. It is possible to incentivize behavior toward an ethical goal in an unethical manner. Incentives can mutually
- [How the Sustainability Function in Corporations is Transforming](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/how-the-sustainability-function-in-corporations-is-transforming/) - In July 2023, our Executive Director Alison Taylor participated on a panel in London, hosted by Salesforce, on how the sustainability function in corporations is transforming.
- [Decision Making](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/decision-making/) - It is easy to see the faults of others, but difficult to see one’s own faults. One shows the faults of others like chaff winnowed in the wind, but one conceals one’s own faults as a cunning gambler conceals his dice. (Buddha, the Dhammapada) Why do you see the speck in your neighbor’s eye, but
- [Sidetracked](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/sidetracked/) - Sidetracked: Why Our Decisions Get Derailed, and How We Can Stick to the Plan by Francesca Gino [Important context: this author has several publications retracted or under review] Harvard Business Review Press (2013) (public library) Summarized by Jennifer Fang Overview The adage “the best laid plans of mice and men often go awry” succinctly summarizes
- [Fairness](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/fairness/) - INTRODUCTION Image: J.-H. Janßen, "Justice" statue, via Wikimedia Commons Every organization must confront the challenge of motivating its work force. From research on fairness in organizational contexts (‘organizational justice research’) we know that fairness is one key. Organizational justice research consistently finds that employees are more motivated when they feel that organizational resources are allocated fairly, that organizational decisions
- [Liberal Activists In The US Need To Reclaim The American Flag](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/liberal-activists-in-the-us-need-to-reclaim-the-american-flag/) - The flag is an important symbol of patriotism, a visual expression of pride in the ideals of what one’s country should represent. On the left, those feelings are in short supply in the United States, especially among younger liberals.
- [Leaders, Know What You Value If You Want To Have Impact](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/leaders-know-what-you-value-if-you-want-to-have-impact/) - It is said that a leader’s effectiveness comes down to their behavior. But what leaders value can be as important. After all, behavior is often a means to an end.
- [Why Companies Need To Defend Their Diversity Policies](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/why-companies-need-to-defend-their-diversity-policies/) - While the Supreme Court’s rejection of affirmative action last month in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard was focused on admissions in higher education, conservative activists are already mobilizing to extend their victory into the business world.
- [Ethical Systems Releases New Behavioral Science eBook: Head to Head: A conversation on behavioral science and ethics](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/ethical-systems-releases-new-behavioral-science-ebook-head-to-head-a-conversation-on-behavioral-science-and-ethics/) - Ethical Systems Releases New Behavioral Science eBook: Head to Head: A conversation on behavioral science and ethics New York, NY – Ethical Systems is pleased to announce the release of Head to Head: A conversation on behavioral science and ethics a new, free eBook created to help practitioners in the ethics and compliance field integrate social and behavioral science research to help strengthen employee-focused programs. Structured as a series of one-on-one conversations between Ethical Systems CEO Azish Filabi and Ethical Systems collaborator, Jeffrey Kaplan, partner at Kaplan & Walker, LLP, Head to Head demystifies academic research and makes findings applicable to practitioners. Research is curated and explained to make integration into existing programs easy and serviceable. Filabi's deep expertise as a lawyer and work as an Ethics Officer at the NY Fed coupled with Kaplan's pioneering writing on conflict of interest and tenure within the legal community, make for an ideal background from which to distil information and make it palatable for the business world. In addition, Head to Head: A conversation on behavioral science and ethics has been professionally designed to structure content and facilitate the application of the many lessons and tips featured throughout the eBook.
- [Featured Expert of the Month: Max Bazerman](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/featured-expert-of-the-month-max-bazerman/) - Interview with Professor and Author Max Bazerman What is the main research themes for which you are known? I believe that I am best known to different groups of scholars for different chunks of work. Perhaps the research of mine that other scholars first noticed was my integration of the field of behavioral decision research
- [Cultures of Compliance with Donald C. Langevoort](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/cultures-of-compliance-with-donald-c-langevoort/) - Donald Langevoort, Thomas Aquinas Reynolds Professor of Law at Georgetown Law has provided a copy of an article written for the American Criminal Law Review in which he deftly outlines a series of acute observations drawn from different social sciences—economics, psychology, sociology and anthropology—about cultures of compliance and noncompliance. The abstract: In the last few years especially, law-makers have increasingly invoked culture as something crucial to good compliance. The phrase “culture of compliance” has thus made its way into common legal discourse as describing both a goal and a marker. Precisely they mean by this is contestable, but there is enough evidence that the demand for healthy compliance culture is serious to invite careful thought. What is it, or should it be, and how might we know? This article draws from organizational behavior, behavioral ethics, and financial economics to develop an approach to how and why corporate cultures resist naively appealing interventions of “tone at the top” and ethical exhortation.
- [A Tangled Web: The Consequences of Dishonesty](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/a-tangled-web-the-consequences-of-dishonesty/) - “Oh what a tangled web we weave…” We all know that lying can lead to bad consequences for the liar, but what happens to everyone else? A 2015 article by Scott Wiltermuth, David Newman, and Medha Raj in Current Opinion in Psychology reviews findings that illustrate how dishonesty can yield a host of unexpected consequences, which arise when individuals privilege other values over honesty. Although many people act dishonestly for the sake of material gain, others do so from a desire to maintain a positive self-concept, or even out of compassion.
- [Why Modern America Creates Fragile Children](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/why-modern-america-creates-fragile-children/) - In this video produced by Big Think, Jonathan Haidt argues that Gen-Z is more fragile and sensitive to conflict, insults, and exclusion, making them less adept at solving problems on their own.
- [Chobani CEO Hamdi Ulukaya’s “Anti-CEO Playbook”](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/chobani-ceo-hamdi-ulukayas-anti-ceo-playbook/) - In this episode of Re:Thinking with Adam Grant, Adam speaks with Hamdi Ulukaya, CEO of Chobani, an American yogurt company.
- [What the Right Gets Wrong About Adam Smith](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/what-the-right-gets-wrong-about-adam-smith/) - What to make of Adam Smith?
- [The Challenges and Promises of Climate Lawsuits](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/the-challenges-and-promises-of-climate-lawsuits/) - Even the temperate, mountainous country of Switzerland isn’t immune to climate change.
- [The Anthropology Professor in an Amazon Warehouse](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/the-anthropology-professor-in-an-amazon-warehouse/) - My first day of work in an Amazon warehouse I was nervous.
- [Why the PGA Tour Should Not Help Distract from Saudi Arabia’s Human Rights Abuses](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/why-the-pga-tour-should-not-help-distract-from-saudi-arabias-human-rights-abuses/) - The PGA Tour has handed over the keys to its kingdom, in this instance to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
- [How to Cultivate Good Power](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/how-to-cultivate-good-power/) - In this episode of Re:Thinking with Adam Grant, Adam speaks with Ginni Rometty, the former CEO at IBM.
- [Democracy in an Era of Fragmentation, Outrage, and Anomie](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/democracy-in-an-era-of-fragmentation-outrage-and-anomie/) - The final event of the 2023 Phil Lind Initiative series, (Un)Civil Discourse, with Jonathan Haidt.
- [How to Harmonize Human Creativity With Machine Learning](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/how-to-harmonize-human-creativity-with-machine-learning/) - With the rise of machine learning tools such as ChatGPT, we’ve seen a lot of speculation regarding what that looks like for the future of human creativity in the workplace and elsewhere
- [In Shopify Support, Effective Managers Act As Mission Enablers](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/in-shopify-support-effective-managers-act-as-mission-enablers/) - Is there a leadership craft that can help employees feel fully empowered in a remote or hybrid work setting?
- [Why True Empathetic Leadership Is Empowering Mentorship](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/why-true-empathetic-leadership-is-empowering-mentorship/) - Maintaining effective leadership is important to everyone, but being an effective leader can sometimes be confused with being friends with or well-liked by employees.
- [How Corporations Use Greenwashing to Convince You They Are Battling Climate Change](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/how-corporations-use-greenwashing-to-convince-you-they-are-battling-climate-change/) - Many corporations claim their products are “green-friendly.”
- [The Exploitation of Hollywood’s Writers Is Just Another Symptom of Digital Feudalism](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/the-exploitation-of-hollywoods-writers-is-just-another-symptom-of-digital-feudalism/) - The current Hollywood writers strike has drawn international attention to the plight of TV and film writers in the streaming era.
- [It’s Time to Take “Corrupt AI” Seriously](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/its-time-to-take-corrupt-ai-seriously/) - Recently your social media feed may have been flooded with headlines on the advances in AI or even AI-generated images.
- [Can Teens Survive the Digital World?](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/can-teens-survive-the-digital-world/) - In this episode of the Catalysts for Change podcast, host Jill Shah speaks with Jon Haidt about his research on social media’s impact on teenage mental health. They discuss childhood and adolescent development, psychological sex differences in puberty, how to improve social media, the harm of performative behavior, and more. Jonathan Haidt is a social psychologist
- [Getting to the Heart of Team Culture with Pete Carroll](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/getting-to-the-heart-of-team-culture-with-pete-carroll/) - In this episode of Re:Thinking with Adam Grant, Adam speaks with Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll about the ingredients for taking a team to the Super Bowl.
- [Are Elon Musk’s Companies Examples of “Effective Altruism”?](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/are-elon-musks-companies-examples-of-effective-altruism/) - One of the ways tech billionaire Elon Musk attracts supporters is the vision he seems to have for the future.
- [When Employers Reward “Ideal” Workers, Gender Equality Suffers](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/when-employers-reward-ideal-workers-gender-equality-suffers/) - UK deputy prime minister Dominic Raab recently resigned following the publication of a report into workplace complaints about his conduct, including bullying allegations.
- [Who Pays the Price When Cochlear Implants Go Obsolete?](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/who-pays-the-price-when-cochlear-implants-go-obsolete/) - In 2021, my research assistant and I interviewed Nikhil, a father in Delhi, about his family’s experience getting their deaf son Vikas a cochlear implant.
- [The 10-Year Legacy of the Deadly Rana Plaza Collapse](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/the-10-year-legacy-of-the-deadly-rana-plaza-collapse/) - The haunting images of Rana Plaza are still seared in our consciousness.
- [How to Strengthen Company Cohesion in a Polarized Society](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/how-to-strengthen-company-cohesion-in-a-polarized-society/) - To say that we live in a fragmented, polarized world can feel like an understatement.
- [How (& Why) to Start Infusing Your Company with Behavioral Science](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/how-why-to-start-infusing-your-company-with-behavioral-science/) - Leaders looking to foster an ethical workplace culture typically start with what’s familiar.
- [TikTok’s Links to China Demand a Serious U.S. Response](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tiktoks-links-to-china-demand-a-serious-u-s-response/) - The battle over TikTok has become a proxy for worsening U.S.-Chinese relations and the anxieties generated by that clash.
- [The Case Against Social Media Is About to Get More Interesting](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/the-case-against-social-media-is-about-to-get-more-interesting/) - In late March, Reason, a libertarian-leaning politics and culture magazine, ran the emphatic headline: “The Statistically Flawed Evidence That Social Media Is Causing the Teen Mental Health Crisis.”
- [New Evidence That CEOs Rarely Combine Integrity, Innovation, and Risk-Taking](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/new-evidence-that-ceos-rarely-combine-integrity-innovation-and-risk-taking/) - Corporate chief executive officers who have a high degree of integrity—that is, a commitment to act by a morally justified set of principles and values—tend to be less creative, more risk-averse, and less likely to take initiative than other CEOs, according to new research I co-authored.
- [How Ted Lasso Underscores the Importance of Clear Goals and Positive Feedback](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/how-ted-lasso-underscores-the-importance-of-clear-goals-and-positive-feedback/) - Apple TV’s wildly successful comedy, Ted Lasso, has returned for a third season.
- [The Science of Performing Under Pressure](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/the-science-of-performing-under-pressure/) - An episode of Re:Thinking with Adam Grant featuring cognitive scientist Sian Beilock.
- [Political Polarization and Ignored Incivility: A Catastrophic Combination?](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/political-polarization-and-ignored-incivility-a-catastrophic-combination/) - We’re in for what should be an explosive election cycle that very well might inflame or provoke workplace conflict and incivility.
- [The Roots of Polarization](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/the-roots-of-polarization/) - In this episode of The Power of Us podcast—the first of a special two-part series—host Tavia Gilbert presents interviews with psychologists Jay Van Bavel and Dominic Packer (co-authors of The Power of Us), along with Ethical Systems’ Alison Taylor, among others. Together, the guests explain polarization and explores its causes and effects. Dominic Packer studies how social
- [What the Right Gets Wrong in Its War with “Woke Capitalism”](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/what-the-right-gets-wrong-in-its-war-with-woke-capitalism/) - Ron DeSantis, Florida’s Republican governor and likely future presidential contender, has opened up a new front in his party’s war on “woke capitalism.”
- [The Secrets of Cooperation](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/the-secrets-of-cooperation/) - People stop their cars simply because a little light turns from green to red.
- [How to Forge Partnerships That Drive Organizational Change](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/how-to-forge-partnerships-that-drive-organizational-change/) - It’s a surprisingly common problem—businesses become stagnant and stuck in a rut.
- [Why the Biden Administration Needs to Preserve the Right to Asylum](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/why-the-biden-administration-needs-to-preserve-the-right-to-asylum/) - Immigration policy has become a third rail in U.S. politics, especially for Democrats who have been cast unfairly as indifferent to border security and even supportive of “open borders.”
- [5 Things to Do When You Encounter People with “Dark Personality Traits” at Work](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/5-things-to-do-when-you-encounter-people-with-dark-personality-traits-at-work/) - Have you ever suffered through tales of greatness from a self-absorbed “friend” who reminds you of Michael Scott from The Office—and not in a good way?
- [Elon Musk and What Makes an Organization Trustworthy](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/elon-musk-and-what-makes-an-organization-trustworthy/) - “Tell us how you think about trust,” a moderator said to Elon Musk.
- [Navigating Polarization and Activism in the Workplace](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/navigating-polarization-and-activism-in-the-workplace/) - A couple days before the World Cup in Qatar was set to kick off, FIFA, soccer’s governing body, announced a ban on beer.
- [David Sloan Wilson: “Chickens, Cooperation, and a Pro-social World”](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/david-sloan-wilson-chickens-cooperation-and-a-pro-social-world/) - In this episode of The Great Simplification, host Nate Hagens speaks with David Sloan Wilson about how evolution can be used to explain and understand modern human behavior, particularly with respect to cooperation and pro-social behavior.
- [How Yo-Yo Ma Sustains His Creative Energy](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/how-yo-yo-ma-sustains-his-creative-energy/) - In this episode of Re:Thinking with Adam Grant, Adam speaks with renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma about his experience with burnout, how he sustains his energy and creativity, and what it means for music to connect—and celebrate—humanity.
- [The Four Top Workplace Trends That Will Make Or Break Companies in 2023](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/the-four-top-workplace-trends-that-will-make-or-break-companies-in-2023/) - Uncertainty shaped 2022—a tumultuous year in which employees and organizations faced meaningful cultural shifts.
- [Why It’s (Sometimes) OK for the Boss to Play Favorites](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/why-its-sometimes-ok-for-the-boss-to-play-favorites/) - It is managers’ natural tendency to pick favorites.
- [To Meet Global Cobalt Demand, Companies Must Reform Mining Practices in the Congo](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/to-meet-global-cobalt-demand-companies-must-reform-mining-practices-in-the-congo/) - On a recent visit to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Pope Francis condemned the large companies from the West and China that mine the poor country’s abundant mineral resources.
- [Estonia’s Prime Minister Kaja Kallas on Leading with Strength and Sincerity](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/estonias-prime-minister-kaja-kallas-on-leading-with-strength-and-sincerity/) - In this episode of Re:Thinking with Adam Grant, Adam speaks with Kaja Kallas, Estonia’s prime minister—the first woman to hold the position.
- [The Race to Cooperation](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/the-race-to-cooperation/) - In this episode of Re:Thinking with Adam Grant, Adam speaks with Andrea Jones-Rooy, a data scientist who’s skeptical about data (as well as a comedian).
- [In Lebanon, Solar Power Is Booming. Why?](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/in-lebanon-solar-power-is-booming-why/) - I recently returned to Lebanon, where I have been doing ethnographic research for more than a decade, after an absence of several years.
- [How to Make ESG Investing Real and Meaningful](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/how-to-make-esg-investing-real-and-meaningful/) - Attendees at the World Economic Forum in Davos recently made frequent references to ESG. An acronym for environment, social, and governance issues, ESG has become shorthand for what had been known as “corporate social responsibility” or “sustainability.” Judging from programs and conversations in Davos, there is a growing sentiment, at least in some quarters, that global companies need
- [Do Surges in Worker Strikes and Union Elections in 2022 Mark a Turning Point for Organized Labor?](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/do-surges-in-worker-strikes-and-union-elections-in-2022-mark-a-turning-point-for-organized-labor/) - Workers organized and took to the picket line in increased numbers in 2022 to demand better pay and working conditions, leading to optimism among labor leaders and advocates that they’re witnessing a turnaround in labor’s sagging fortunes.
- [Why Humans Thrive on Rituals](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/why-humans-thrive-on-rituals/) - Perhaps most importantly, rituals help solve the central challenge of getting large groups of fiercely tribal primates to cooperate.
- [When Facing Disruption, the Unknown Is Your Greatest Ally](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/when-facing-disruption-the-unknown-is-your-greatest-ally/) - Change is inevitable—we all know this.
- [Fishing in the Shadow of Oil](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/fishing-in-the-shadow-of-oil/) - We cut the engine as the sun was coming up, letting our small boat drift toward our target: a massive ship carrying liquified natural gas that was anchored a few miles offshore.
- [Annual Letter 2022](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/end-of-the-year-letter-2022/) - It’s been a year of hard work at Ethical Systems, as most of the world emerged from the grip of the pandemic into a strange new world of work, where norms around location, time, roles, leadership, culture, and strategy are all up for grabs.
- [Why Data Don’t Have All the Answers](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/why-data-dont-have-all-the-answers/) - In this episode of Re:Thinking with Adam Grant, Adam speaks with Andrea Jones-Rooy, a data scientist who’s skeptical about data (as well as a comedian).
- [The Tim Ferriss Show with Jon Haidt](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/the-tim-ferriss-show-with-jon-haidt/) - In this episode of The Tim Ferriss Show, Jonathan Haidt joins host Tim Ferriss to discuss moral relativism, how to understand human rights, Jon's LSD experience, how safe spaces and character cancellation took over colleges, John Stuart Mill and the importance of viewpoint diversity, and more. Jonathan Haidt is a social psychologist at New York
- [The Obscure Calculation Transforming Climate Policy](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/the-obscure-calculation-transforming-climate-policy/) - Barring a mass Homo sapiens extinction event from, say, nuclear war or another disaster, many more billions of humans will be born on the Earth in the coming millennia. For philosophers and economists, this poses a tricky question: What do we owe these future humans? How should we divide our resources between the 8 billion people alive
- [3 Organizational Issues Most Leaders Fail to Get Right](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/3-organizational-issues-most-leaders-fail-to-get-right/) - When it comes to getting the most from your team and delivering quality results, it’s up to organizational leaders to create the right environment for the job. As a leader you have organizational oversight that allows you to optimize the workspace to get everyone’s best work. Unfortunately, leaders will often overlook or misdiagnose ongoing problems
- [3 Things That Could Start to Restore Voters’ Declining Faith in US Elections](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/3-things-that-could-start-to-restore-voters-declining-faith-in-us-elections/) - The 2022 U.S. midterm elections ran relatively smoothly and faced few consequential accusations of fraud or mismanagement.
- [Business and Human Rights: Key Challenges for 2023](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/business-and-human-rights-key-challenges-for-2023/) - In the United States and worldwide, events in the last year have eroded protections of human rights, creating greater responsibilities for leading global companies.
- [Banking Culture Reform: Trust, Technology, and The New Workplace](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/banking-culture-reform-trust-technology-and-the-new-workplace/) - In this episode of the Bank Notes podcast, from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, host Toni Dechario, a member of the New York Fed’s culture team, speaks with Alison Taylor about her interest in the link between unethical behavior and organizational culture, ethical pressures in finance, the need to do proper behavioral experimental research in real organizations, and more.
- [Financial Markets, Democracy, and Power with Jim Leitner](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/financial-markets-democracy-and-power-with-jim-leitner/) - Listen to "S2-09 I Financial markets, democracy and power with Jim Leitner" on Spreaker. In this episode of our Breaking the Fever podcast, we speak with Jim Leitner about the relationship between democracy and market performance. Starting from his experience in Russia after the end of the Soviet Union, moving to his observations on ancient
- [The U.S. Should Speed Solar Production That Doesn’t Depend on China](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/the-us-should-speed-solar-production-that-doesnt-depend-on-china/) - COP 27, the global climate conference, wrapped up in Egypt without any major breakthroughs, but it yielded a clear picture of how far rich industrial countries like the United States are from meeting their own climate promises.
- [The Culture That Tech Companies Have Worked So Hard to Cultivate Is Lost Amid Layoffs](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/the-culture-that-tech-companies-have-worked-so-hard-to-cultivate-is-lost-amid-layoffs/) - As companies like Amazon and Meta lay off thousands of employees to cut costs, they lose something valuable in the process that can’t be quantified: workplace culture.
- [Misinformation Is Not As Persuasive As People Fear](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/misinformation-is-not-as-persuasive-as-people-fear/) - In 2017, Collins Dictionary crowned “fake news” its word of the year.
- [What Commentators Get Wrong (and Right) About North Korea](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/what-commentators-get-wrong-and-right-about-north-korea/) - This month, North Korea tested around two dozen missiles, including an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) with a range of approximately 5,000 miles.
- [Why the Global Financial Crisis Is Bound to Be Repeated](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/why-the-global-financial-crisis-is-bound-to-be-repeated/) - Most financial crises have plenty in common.
- [How to Strengthen Ties Between Hybrid Team Members](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/how-to-strengthen-ties-between-hybrid-team-members/) - Of the many changes to the working world that emerged after the COVID-19 pandemic, few seem poised to have a greater lasting influence than the rise of hybrid teams.
- [World Cup Abuses Led Qatar to Change Labor Laws, But More Protection Is Needed](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/world-cup-abuses-led-qatar-to-change-labor-laws-but-more-protection-is-needed/) - More than a million migrant construction workers, mostly young men from destitute communities in South Asia, have spent more than a decade building eight gleaming new stadiums for the World Cup in Qatar, as well as roads, hotels, a new rail line, and other facilities. This construction is part of the estimated $200 billion the Qataris
- [FTX Bankruptcy Is Bad News for the Charities That Crypto Mogul Sam Bankman-Fried Generously Supported](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/ftx-bankruptcy-is-bad-news-for-the-charities-that-crypto-mogul-sam-bankman-fried-generously-supported/) - FTX, an exchange for trading cryptocurrencies, quickly became bankrupt and defunct in November 2022.
- [Culture and the New Workplace](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/culture-and-the-new-workplace/) - In this panel discussion hosted by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York as part of its webinar series on culture, the participants—Roshni Raveendhran, Alison Taylor, Jay Van Bavel, Ben Waber, and John C. Williams—considered a range of questions about the evolution of the workplace and its influence on organizational culture.
- [Breaking the Fever: On Corporate Governance, and Power, with Nell Minow](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/breaking-the-fever-on-corporate-governance-and-power-with-nell-minow/) - In this episode of our Breaking the Fever podcast, we speak with Nell Minow about politics, corporations, public opinion, and the trajectory of corporate governance since the 1980s.
- [Breaking the Fever: A Conversation with Wall Street Veteran and Whistleblower Desiree Fixler](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/breaking-the-fever-a-conversation-with-wall-street-veteran-and-whistleblower-desiree-fixler/) - In this episode of our Breaking the Fever podcast, we speak with Desiree Fixler about her time at DWS and her experience as a whistleblower, as well as the evolution of Wall Street culture over two decades, and being a woman in finance.
- [Does Power Promote Sexual Harassment?](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/does-power-promote-sexual-harassment/) - In the wake of #MeToo, many women who valued their relationships with male coworkers and friends, and know the importance of cross-sex networking for their careers, were deeply dismayed to hear Vice President Mike Pence endorse the “Billy Graham Rule.”
- [Rethinking Insurance for Floods, Wildfires, and Other Catastrophes](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/rethinking-insurance-for-floods-wildfires-and-other-catastrophes/) - When Hurricane Katrina hit Louisiana on August 29, 2005, surges of seawater more than 20 feet higher than normal tide levels crested over the levees surrounding New Orleans.
- [It Takes Courage to Acknowledge Your Burnout](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/it-takes-courage-to-acknowledge-your-burnout/) - Of the many changes to the working world brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic and the Great Resignation, one of the most noteworthy is the increased attention given to burnout.
- [At COP 27 in Egypt, Climate Accountability Will Be Challenging](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/at-cop-27-in-egypt-climate-accountability-will-be-challenging/) - The U.N. climate conference known as COP 27 will soon convene in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt. Sadly, the prospects of this meeting yielding any meaningful results seem remote. Addressing the existential global threat of climate change seems even more daunting given the energy crisis caused mainly by the Russian invasion of Ukraine, a continuing Covid health
- [Bandits Are Losing Interest in Robbing Banks, As Some Crimes No Longer Pay](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/bandits-are-losing-interest-in-robbing-banks-as-some-crimes-no-longer-pay/) - Bank robbery is a high-profile crime that fascinates many people.
- [Why Patagonia’s Purpose-Driven Business Model Is Unlikely to Spread](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/why-patagonias-purpose-driven-business-model-is-unlikely-to-spread/) - Patagonia founder Yvon Chouinard, his wife, Malinda, and their two adult children no longer own the outdoor gear and apparel company.
- [How to Strengthen Team Unity in a Virtual Workplace](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/how-to-strengthen-team-unity-in-a-virtual-workplace/) - Unity. It’s one of the most important traits of any successful team—whether in the office, in the military, or on a sports field.
- [Democracy in the Next Cycle of History](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/democracy-in-the-next-cycle-of-history/) - In this conversation with Long Now co-founders Stewart Brand and Kevin Kelly, Jonathan Haidt discusses the prospects for democracy in an age of spiraling polarization. He touches on technological optimism, morality vs ethics, teen mental health, possible social-media platform tweaks that could reduce the damage, and just how long this next cycle of history—where the
- [How Free Solo Climber Alex Honnold Faces Fear](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/how-free-solo-climber-alex-honnold-faces-fear/) - In this episode of the Re:Thinking with Adam Grant podcast, Grant speaks with Alex Honnold, arguably the most daring rock climber alive.
- [Keep These Things in Mind Before Talking Politics at Work](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/keep-these-things-in-mind-before-talking-politics-at-work/) - Over the last several years, more and more Americans have come to view their political opponents as bad people. That’s the disconcerting recent finding from the Pew Research Center. In 2016, 47 percent of Republicans thought Democrats were more immoral than other Americans. In its August 2022 report, Pew found that that number grew to
- [Thinking About Quiet Quitting? Here’s Why—and How—You Should Talk to Your Boss Instead](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/thinking-about-quiet-quitting-heres-why-and-how-you-should-talk-to-your-boss-instead/) - Quiet quitting is a catchy name, popularized on social media, for something we’ve all probably done.
- [Torn Between Keeping People Happy and Delivering Company Results? Do Both](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/torn-between-keeping-people-happy-and-delivering-company-results-do-both/) - The great resignation. Quiet quitting. The great reset. Mass exodus.
- [How Fashion Week Should Really Embrace Sustainability](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/how-fashion-week-should-really-embrace-sustainability/) - New York Fashion Week kicked in early September with an expressed focus on sustainability, an important issue for the $3 trillion dollar apparel industry.
- [A Virtual Dialogue on the Future of ESG](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/a-virtual-dialogue-on-the-future-of-esg/) - In June, r3.0, a global common good not-for-profit platform (“Redesign for Resilience and Regeneration”) held an asynchronous dialogue with people they see as “positive mavericks” in the ESG space. The event, you could say, was an on-point expression of what would seem to be a novel mission: to “crowdsources open recommendations for necessary transformations across
- [Sustainability, Professional Responsibility, and Business Ethics with Alison Taylor](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/sustainability-professional-responsibility-and-business-ethics-with-alison-taylor/) - In this episode of the Sustainable Minds podcast, hosts Gary Baker and Roxanne "Rocket" White are joined by Alison Taylor.
- [Can We Learn to Disagree Better? with Adam Grant](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/can-we-learn-to-disagree-better-with-adam-grant/) - In this episode of the The Economist Asks podcast, host Anne McElvoy is joined by Adam Grant.
- [Michael Schur on Every Moral Question Ever](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/michael-schur-on-every-moral-question-ever/) - In this episode of the Work Life podcast with Adam Grant, TV comedy writer Michael Schur joins host Steven Johnson.
- [DEMENTES Podcast: Question Your Beliefs, with Dan Ariely](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/dementes-podcast-question-your-beliefs-with-dan-ariely/) - In this episode of the DEMENTES podcast, host Diego Barrazas is joined by Dan Ariely to discuss the downside of being an authority in the behavioral sciences, the types of decisions we make, and the choices we get used to making. Dan Ariely is the James B. Duke Professor of Psychology and Behavioral Economics at Duke
- [Has Twitter Been Ignoring Cybersecurity Failings?](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/has-twitter-been-ignoring-cybersecurity-failings/) - Twitter’s former security chief, Peiter “Mudge” Zatko, filed a whistleblower complaint with the Securities and Exchange Commission in July 2022, accusing the microblogging platform company of serious security failings.
- [That Tough Decision You’re Avoiding Won’t Get Easier with Time](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/that-tough-decision-youre-avoiding-wont-get-easier-with-time/) - If the last two years of navigating the pandemic did nothing else, it revealed just how consequential even the most seemingly immaterial decisions can be.
- [The 10 Financial Actors Who Stand in the Way of Slowing Climate Change](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/the-10-financial-actors-who-stand-in-the-way-of-slowing-climate-change/) - Who are the key financial actors that can lead the low-carbon transition in the fossil fuel industry?
- [EY and KPMG Cheating Scandals Expose Ethical Challenges for Audit Industry](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/ey-and-kpmg-cheating-scandals-expose-ethical-challenges-for-audit-industry/) - After getting caught ignoring its employees and cheating on the CPA ethics exam, EY has become the latest example of how industry and company-level mindsets can turn into corporate liabilities.
- [Doing Away With Cash Bail](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/doing-away-with-cash-bail/) - The United States is notorious for having the highest incarceration rates in the world—810 federal, state, and local prisoners for every 100,000 adults, according to one recent study.
- [Why Patagonia CEO Ryan Gellert Is Right About Corporate Taxes](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/why-patagonia-ceo-ryan-gellert-is-right-about-corporate-taxes/) - Corporate leadership takes many forms.
- [What Have We Learned About Business and Ethics from the Pandemic Discussion Series: Part One](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/what-have-we-learned-about-business-and-ethics-from-the-pandemic-discussion-series-part-one/) - In this episode of the Work in Progress podcast, host Christopher Michaelson is joined by Alison Taylor and Ed Freeman to discuss profit and price-gouging during the pandemic and to what extent the cost of doing business has been externalized onto stakeholders.
- [Breaking the Fever: It Takes Two to Tango: In the Life of Oligarchs with Elisabeth Schimpfössl](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/breaking-the-fever-it-takes-two-to-tango-in-the-life-of-oligarchs-with-elisabeth-schimpfossl/) - In this episode of our Breaking the Fever podcast, we speak with Elisabeth Schimpfössl about the targeting of Russian oligarchs with economic sanctions and other restrictive measures.
- [Why It Seems Like So Many Big Tech Whistleblowers Are Women](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/why-it-seems-like-so-many-big-tech-whistleblowers-are-women/) - A number of high-profile whistleblowers in the technology industry have stepped into the spotlight in the past few years.
- [The Lasting Anguish of Moral Injury](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/the-lasting-anguish-of-moral-injury/) - On a Sunday evening in September 1994, David Peters drove to a church service in Beckley, West Virginia, as the sun set over the horizon. He was 19 years old, just back from Marine Corps boot camp.
- [What Organizations Can Do to Solve the World’s Mental Health Crisis](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/what-organizations-can-do-to-solve-the-worlds-mental-health-crisis/) - The world is in the midst of a mental health crisis.
- [The Concept of Net Zero Is Deceptively Simple—and a Dangerous Trap](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/the-concept-of-net-zero-is-deceptively-simple-and-a-dangerous-trap/) - Sometimes realization comes in a blinding flash.
- [Workers Worldwide Just Got Some Good News](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/workers-worldwide-just-got-some-good-news/) - In what has been called the “biggest moment for workers’ rights in a quarter of a century,” the International Labor Organization (ILO) adopted a safe and healthy work environment as one of its five fundamental principles and rights at work for all at its June 2022 international conference.
- [Law Designed to Protect Uyghurs Restricts Products from Xinjiang](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/law-designed-to-protect-uyghurs-restricts-products-from-xinjiang/) - A new law that bans the import of goods produced with forced labor in the Xinjiang, China, presumes that goods manufactured there or that include raw materials from that region deploy forced labor for members of the Uyghur community.
- [Breaking the Fever: Power Dynamics in the Office with Laetita Vitaud](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/breaking-the-fever-power-dynamics-in-the-office-with-laetita-vitaud/) - In this episode of our Breaking the Fever podcast, we speak with Laetita Vitaud about gender equality and shifting power dynamics in the workspace.
- [Breaking the Fever: Breaking Free from the Business Case Paradigm with Rick Alexander](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/breaking-the-fever-breaking-free-from-the-business-case-paradigm-with-rick-alexander/) - In this episode of our Breaking the Fever podcast, we speak with Rick Alexander about the tension between responsible corporate actions and maximizing investors' financial returns.
- [What Does Storytelling Have to Do with Business Ethics?](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/what-does-storytelling-have-to-do-with-business-ethics/) - If you commit to telling stories that lead your employees to certain ethical conclusions, are you upping your odds of guiding those employees to high ethical standards?
- [Leaders, Are You Sure People Trust You?](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/leaders-are-you-sure-people-trust-you/) - Whenever I ask leaders, “Do your people trust you?” they usually return an incredulous look of, “Well, why wouldn’t they trust me?”
- [YouTube Amplifies Misinformation and Hatred, But Here’s What We Can Do About It](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/youtube-amplifies-misinformation-and-hatred-but-heres-what-we-can-do-about-it/) - The House Select Committee investigating the Jan. 6 insurrection at the Capitol is rightly focused on the actions of former President Trump and those around him.
- [Is Donated Blood a Gift or a Commodity?](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/is-donated-blood-a-gift-or-a-commodity/) - An anthropologist dives into the morally fraught blood and plasma industry and what it reveals about human societies—the good, the bad, and the gory.
- [Human Rights](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/human-rights/) - Since World War II and the founding of the United Nations, the established human rights framework under international law has focused on the responsibility of states to protect the rights of their citizens.
- [Ray Dalio and the Game Theory of Choosing Business Partners](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/ray-dalio-and-the-game-theory-of-choosing-business-partners/) - In his 2017 book Principles: Life and Work, the American billionaire investor and hedge-fund manager Ray Dalio offers some tips on choosing business partners.
- [It’s Time to Overhaul Our Understanding of Accountability](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/its-time-to-overhaul-our-understanding-of-accountability/) - Few buzzwords are more cringeworthy than “accountability.”
- [It’s Time to Treat “Stateless” People Fairly](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/its-time-to-treat-stateless-people-fairly/) - Karina Ambartsoumian-Clough and her parents came to the United States in 1996 when she was 8 years old.
- [What Kenya’s Killer Cops Reveal About Police Culture](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/what-kenyas-killer-cops-reveal-about-police-culture/) - Anthropologists studying police violence in Nairobi are uncovering systemic problems that shed light on brutal law enforcement tactics around the world.
- [Breaking the Fever: How to Be Brave in the Workplace with Jim Detert](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/how-to-be-brave-in-the-workplace-with-jim-detert/) - In this episode of our Breaking the Fever podcast, we speak with Jim Detert to talk about courage in the workplace, and how to exercise it effectively.
- [A Better Way to Review Remote Worker Performance](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/a-better-way-to-review-remote-worker-performance/) - Few office workers seem to like performance reviews, those annual examinations of how well workers are doing their jobs.
- [Breaking the Fever: Geopolitical Shifts with Tina Fordham](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/breaking-the-fever-geopolitical-shifts-with-tina-fordham/) - In this episode of our Breaking the Fever podcast, Alison and Jerome talk about the big geopolitical shifts with Tina Fordham.
- [The Most Egregious Failure in ESG](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/the-most-egregious-failure-in-esg/) - A major stock index that tracks sustainable investments dropped electric vehicle-maker Tesla from its list in May 2022—but it kept oil giant ExxonMobil.
- [6 Ways to Make Electric Car Subsidies More Effective](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/6-ways-to-make-electric-car-subsidies-more-effective/) - Electric vehicle subsidies need a radical overhaul to get gas-guzzlers off the road and meet climate targets.
- [Want to Take a Stand for Free Expression, Hollywood? Copy Sony](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/want-to-take-a-stand-for-free-expression-hollywood-copy-sony/) - The latest Spider-Man movie has grossed more than $1.8 billion worldwide since it opened last December—not too shabby even by the superhuman standards of the Marvel franchise.
- [Every Strong Team Starts with Purpose and Belonging](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/every-strong-team-starts-with-purpose-and-belonging/) - In the wake of the Great Resignation, many business leaders may feel like their teams are in shambles.
- [“Severance” and the Philosophy of Separating Work-Me from Home-Me](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/severance-and-the-philosophy-of-separating-work-me-from-home-me/) - If you could take work-life balance to its most literal extreme, what would it look like? That’s the central theme of Severance, the sci-fi series that has just finished airing on Apple TV.
- [Why Public Discourse Has Become So Stupid](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/why-public-discourse-has-become-so-stupid/) - In this episode of The Good Fight, host Yascha Mounk speaks with Jonathan Haidt about how we can make social media less toxic, what political and technological reforms might help fix the problem, and how we can empower the moderate majority to fight for its values.
- [How CEO Pay Shapes Ethical Workplace Culture](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/how-ceo-pay-shapes-ethical-workplace-culture/) - In 2018, The New York Times ran the headline, “Tesla’s Elon Musk May Have Boldest Pay Plan in Corporate History.” It described that Musk would be compensated only if he pulled off some “jaw-dropping milestones based on the company’s market value and operations.” If he didn’t meet those, he’d be paid nothing. “If Mr. Musk,”
- [The Unique Stupidity of the Last Decade in America](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/the-unique-stupidity-of-the-last-decade-in-america/) - In this episode of the Breaking the Fever podcast, we speak with Jonathan Haidt about social media and how these platforms have changed social relationships and political discourse, and how this impacts business.
- [Conflicts of Interest and the Dark Side of Professionalism](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/conflicts-of-interest-and-the-dark-side-of-professionalism/) - Perhaps my favorite ethics story is when the senior partner of a law firm was confronted by a junior partner about an apparent conflict of interest, and replied, “You’re an ethics expert—find a way around this.” I thought about this after coming across a recent study in Academy of Management Perspectives. Sunita Sah, an Associate
- [Why Elon Musk Is Going to Be Bad For Twitter](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/why-elon-musk-is-going-to-be-bad-for-twitter/) - Elon Musk is the richest man on the planet, with personal wealth estimated at $273 billion. This is equivalent to the GDP of Portugal or New Zealand, both ranked among the top 50 wealthiest countries in the world. Musk has been highly successful in developing new technologies: game-changing Tesla electric cars and, more recently, his
- [Why Leaders Need to Prioritize Their Team’s Mental Health](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/why-leaders-need-to-prioritize-their-teams-mental-health/) - Mental health is having its long overdue moment in the workplace. More and more people have come to recognize how significant of an impact anxiety, depression, burnout, and other mental health issues can have on an individual’s well-being. The COVID-19 pandemic brought many of these issues to the forefront, in part because it revealed how
- [Corporations Are More Insect than Person](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/corporations-are-more-insect-than-person/) - In the 1982 film Blade Runner, the bioengineered human Roy Batty confronts his maker, Eldron Tyrell, the head of Tyrell Corporation, a biorobotics company based in the bleak and decrepit city of Los Angeles. The corporation manufactures human “replicants” for slave labor in colonies across the solar system. Batty is one of the best of
- [It’s Time to Protect Migrants in Qatar Working on This Year's World Cup](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/its-time-to-protect-migrants-in-qatar-working-on-this-years-world-cup/) - In November, Qatar will host the World Cup, the most popular global mega-sporting event after the Olympics. The soccer tournament will be the first such event to take place in the Middle East—a significant milestone for the region. Since it was selected to host the World Cup in 2010, the Qatari government has undertaken a
- [The Zelensky Method of Warding Off Bullies](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/the-zelenksy-method-of-warding-off-bullies/) - Over the past few weeks, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky has gone from being someone the world hardly knew to an individual whose heroism and leadership people from around the globe are heralding. It’s no secret why this has happened: in the face of overwhelming odds against Vladimir Putin and his Russian forces, Ukraine’s president has continued to
- [Promoting the Truth About Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/promoting-the-truth-about-russias-invasion-of-ukraine/) - The first casualty of war is truth. Variations of that famous aphorism are attributed to California Senator Hiram Johnson at the turn of the 20th century and the ancient Greek dramatist Aeschylus, among others. The truth certainly has been a casualty of Vladimir Putin’s authoritarian regime in Russia, where state-sponsored media outlets have dispensed a
- [Director J.J. Abrams Read "Think Again" and Interviews Adam Grant About the Book](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/director-j-j-abrams-read-think-again-and-interviews-adam-grant-about-the-book/) - In this episode of Worklife with Adam Grant, from TED, the director J.J. Abrams takes Adam's job and interviews the author and psychologist about the ideas behind the book, and shares the points that resonated with him. Together, they illuminate strategies for maintaining humility, curiosity, and mental flexibility in a world that rewards confidence, conviction,
- [Emphasizing Brilliance at Work Creates a Toxic, Discouraging Atmosphere for Women](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/emphasizing-brilliance-at-work-creates-a-toxic-discouraging-atmosphere-for-women/) - Workplaces that emphasize brilliance are perceived to have a masculine work culture that undermines gender diversity, according to a new investigation I conducted with colleagues Andrei Cimpian, Melis Muradoglu, and George Newman. We wanted to understand why women are underrepresented in fields that prize raw intellectual talent—what some people call “brilliance.” This includes many academic disciplines, such as philosophy, mathematics, and economics, and industries
- [The Invention of Incarceration](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/the-invention-of-incarceration/) - As a young girl growing up in Northern California, Ashley Rubin dutifully said her prayers each night before going to sleep. She routinely included what she now sees as a strange request: that all bad people go to prison. “Here’s this 8-year-old child who is not really old enough to understand the significance of any
- [How Corporations Should Respond to Putin’s Invasion of Ukraine](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/how-corporations-should-respond-to-putins-invasion-of-ukraine/) - Since the end of World War II, thousands of Western-based companies have benefited from the advent of the globalized economy. They have profited from selling their products to consumers in China, India, and other far-flung markets while reducing costs by shifting manufacturing of everything from clothing to digital devices to low-wage economies. Western-based mining and
- [Banning Russia from World Events Will Help to Alienate Putin](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/banning-russia-from-world-events-will-help-to-alienate-putin/) - A world fair is currently being held in Dubai, with delegations from 192 countries celebrating and promoting their nation’s place in the global community. Among the attractions at Expo 2020 is Russia’s intricately designed pavilion, where visitors are invited to consider two pertinent questions: How do we find our place in an interconnected world, and how can
- ["Don't Look Up" Is More Than a Metaphor for Climate Inaction](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/dont-look-up-is-more-than-a-metaphor-for-climate-inaction/) - In the new Netflix sensation Don’t Look Up, two astronomers, played by Jennifer Lawrence and Leonardo DiCaprio, discover a massive comet heading towards Earth, and desperately try to warn the United States president, played by Meryl Streep. Their hope is the government will take action to avert catastrophe while there is time. Their efforts are
- [Does Tesla Deserve to Be Treated as an ESG Champion?](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/does-tesla-deserve-to-be-treated-as-an-esg-champion/) - In January, Tesla, a company with a market capitalization of more than $1 trillion, announced “breakthrough” 2021 profits of $5.5 billion. But there is trouble in the company’s supply chain. The batteries in electric cars like the ones Tesla manufactures require cobalt, a mineral found in abundance in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). While electric
- [Should Government Do More to Curb Social Media Harm?](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/should-government-do-more-to-curb-social-media-harm/) - In this debate hosted by the Soho Forum, a monthly debate series sponsored by Reason magazine, Jonathan Haidt argues with Robby Soave over whether platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram are harming Americans in ways that government regulation could help correct. They spoke before a capacity crowd at the Sheen Center in downtown Manhattan on
- [To Become a Purpose-Driven Leader, Cultivate These Skills Now](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/to-become-a-purpose-driven-leader-cultivate-these-skills-now/) - In recent decades, the business world has thankfully served up a cadre of leaders who’ve set an extraordinary example of what it means to guide an organization on the path to serving a greater good. To contributing to the lives of multiple stakeholders. To changing the world. Think of leaders such as Hubert Joly (former CEO
- [Compliance Officers as “Ministers for the Future”](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/compliance-officers-as-ministers-for-the-future/) - In The Ministry for the Future, science-fiction writer Kim Stanley Robinson draws a truly harrowing picture of the cataclysmic harm that climate change could inflict on our planet in the not-so-distant future. His tale is also about how a newly conceived United Nations ministry might try to save the day. The ministry is tasked with advocating “for
- [Putin’s Invasion of Ukraine Offers a Moment for the U.S. to Rebuild Bipartisanship](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/putins-invasion-of-ukraine-offers-a-moment-for-the-u-s-to-rebuild-bipartisanship/) - Thirty-five years ago, when Ronald Reagan stood at the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin and urged Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev to “tear down this wall,” Americans across the political spectrum stood behind their president. Reagan articulated a long-standing bipartisan commitment to human rights and democracy: “We believe that freedom and security go together,” he said, “that the
- [How to Short-Circuit Short-Term Thinking](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/how-to-short-circuit-short-term-thinking/) - The world is facing immense challenges: The Covid-19 pandemic has killed millions; climate change is ramping up floods and fires; and the line between accurate and false information is becoming increasingly blurred in the age of social media. People tend to think of these crises as distinct, each with its own challenges. But they all
- [Yesterday I Was Levi’s Brand President. I Quit So I Could Be Free.](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/yesterday-i-was-levis-brand-president-i-quit-so-i-could-be-free/) - When I traveled to Moscow in 1986, I brought 10 pairs of Levi’s 501s in my bag. I was a 17-year-old gymnast, the reigning national champion, and I was going to the Soviet Union to compete in the Goodwill Games, a rogue Olympics-level competition orchestrated by CNN founder Ted Turner while the Soviet Union and the United States were boycotting each other.
- [The Important Job of Making What You Know Clear and Accessible](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/the-important-job-of-making-what-you-know-clear-and-accessible/) - Perhaps the signature trait of our species isn’t the smarts any one person might possess, but the knowledge we can collectively accumulate. The annoying or maddening thing, of course, is our tendency to forget. We can know great, useful things—like that on occasion rocks large and small, full of fabulous metals, can fall from the
- [How Shopify’s Support Team Puts Trust at Its Core](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/how-shopifys-support-team-puts-trust-at-the-core-of-its-operation/) - As many organizations stick to remote work or hybrid models, questions about what type of organizational culture can best support their business in this new work reality remain top of mind. Simulations in which players must decide whether to add their money to a common pool without knowing if others will do the same show that the
- [How to Lead in a Hybridized Workplace](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/how-to-lead-in-a-hybridized-workplace/) - Leaders everywhere are scrambling to figure out how to navigate the fast-changing rules of a hybrid workplace. Too many are grasping at straws to figure out how to communicate, coach, give direction and feedback, deepen connections, and remain credible across technological, geographical, and organizational boundaries. By now, many have figured out that what used to work—appearing
- [The Problem with Risk Assessments](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/the-problem-with-risk-assessments/) - Five years ago, two safety inspectors boarded a ship docked for repairs in Shanghai. It had been shuttling between ports in Taiwan, Korea, Vietnam, Singapore, and Malaysia. The inspectors wanted to check on the anti-heeling tanks in the engine space. The chief officer asked the deck cadet, a young Filipino seafarer named John Soria, who
- [Fear and Frustration Are Taking Over the World](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/fear-and-frustration-are-taking-over-the-world/) - In this conversation hosted by the Judge Business School at Cambridge University, historian Yuval Noah Harari speaks with Jonathan Haidt about our most pressing challenges in an accelerating, tech-driven world. They discuss social media, mental health, and the polarization of politics. Yuval Noah Harari is a historian, philosopher, and the bestselling author of Sapiens: A Brief
- [The Status Game Doesn't Have to Be Zero-Sum](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/the-status-game-doesnt-have-to-be-zero-sum/) - Do you ever get a niggling feeling that other people are doing better than you? Don’t worry, we all do. And rest assured, social comparison isn’t a frivolous activity: “To our brains,” Will Storr writes in his new book The Status Game: On Social Position and How We Use It, “status is a resource as real
- [Coke Needs to Confront China’s Human Rights Abuses Ahead of the Beijing Olympics](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/coke-needs-to-confront-chinas-human-rights-abuses-ahead-of-the-beijing-olympics/) - Next month, China will host the Winter Olympics in Beijing, the most ill-advised venue for the games since Adolf Hitler brought the 1936 Olympics to Berlin. Even as China has become one of the world’s largest economies, President Xi Jinping’s government has accelerated its crackdown on dissent and free speech in Hong Kong and its mass
- [Our End of 2021 Letter](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/our-end-of-2021-letter/) - Another year of Covid has disrupted and transformed personal lives, work lives, and companies. The practitioners and researchers we speak with are grappling with the so-called “great resignation”; hybrid and remote work; employee activism; new leadership imperatives; accelerating attention to environmental, social and governance issues; and unrelenting polarization and political risk. These are all core topics
- [The Reason We're Becoming More Extreme](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/the-reason-were-becoming-more-extreme/) - In this episode of Reality Check on CNN, host John Avlon speaks with Jon Haidt about the psychology of authoritarianism in politics. They discuss why both the political left and right are becoming more extreme, making society a 24/7 culture war. Jonathan Haidt is a social psychologist at New York University’s Stern School of Business. Haidt’s
- [Against the "Value Alignment" of Future Artificial Intelligence](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/against-the-value-alignment-of-future-artificial-intelligence/) - It's good that our children rebel. We wouldn't want each generation to overcontrol the values of the next. For similar reasons, if we someday create superintelligent AI, we ought to give it also the capacity to rebel. Futurists concerned about AI safety—such as Nick Bostrom, Stuart Russell, and Toby Ord—reasonably worry that superintelligent AI systems might someday seriously
- [The Promise and Perils of Life Lived Online](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/the-promise-and-perils-of-life-lived-online/) - I am sitting in a darkened room, listening to upbeat music of the type often used at tech conferences to make attendees feel they are part of Something Big, waiting in eager anticipation for a keynote speaker to appear. Bang on time, virtual communication expert Jeremy Bailenson arrives on the digital stage. He is here
- [Are You a More Holistic or Analytic Thinker? Take This Quiz to Find Out](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/are-you-a-more-holistic-or-analytic-thinker-take-this-quiz-to-find-out/) - Left-brain or right-brain? Creative or critical? Analytic or holistic? We love to divide the world into simple dichotomies. You’ve probably heard that left-brain dominant people are supposed to be more logical, while right-brain people are more creative. But there’s actually no scientific evidence to support that idea. What we do know, however, is that some of us
- [Remote Work](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/remote-work/) - Remote work, also often referred to as virtual work, telecommuting, or work-from-home, has expanded rapidly during COVID-19, assisted by advancing technology. As we witness this monumental change, our understanding of ethical culture, leadership, and policy shifts as well. While much remains unknown, we now have considerable research on working remotely from both a slow and
- [Cheating & Honesty](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/cheating-honesty/) - What is cheating? The simplest and most immediate answer is that cheating is breaking the rules. For example: not reporting income on one’s taxes, buying clothing with the intention of wearing it once and returning it, stealing from one’s employer, or copying others for an exam. But the simplest answer doesn’t paint the full picture.
- [Business Leaders Should Take a Stand Against China's Human Rights Abuses](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/business-leaders-should-take-a-stand-against-chinas-human-rights-abuses/) - On November 2, Peng Shuai, a Chinese tennis star and former Olympian, posted a statement online accusing a former senior Chinese government official of sexually assaulting her. Chinese censors quickly removed the post and Peng disappeared from the public eye for weeks.She has since resurfaced in videos and images, but the Beijing government has restricted Peng’s ability to speak
- [The Psychological Cost of Companies Sounding Ethical for Money](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/the-psychological-cost-of-companies-sounding-ethical-for-money/) - She started becoming curious about this phenomenon halfway through her PhD program. She was struck by how often she was coming across large corporations making messages about being green, sustainable, and diverse. “We see this a lot with the case of George Floyd lately,” she said. All of these things sparked her interest in this
- [Rachel Ruttan on Business' Role in Eroding Sacred Values](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/rachel-ruttan-on-business-role-in-eroding-sacred-values/) - In this conversation with Ethical Systems, Brian Gallagher speaks with Rachel Ruttan about her recent paper, "Instrumental Use Erodes Sacred Values." Across seven studies, she and her colleague probed the effects of exposing people to examples of companies and other organizations touting "sacred" values—like patriotism, diversity, or promoting racial justice—for self-interested purposes, like profit. We
- [Adam Grant on the Business Culture of Lies, Narcissists, and Ego in HBO's "Succession"](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/adam-grant-on-the-business-culture-of-lies-narcissists-and-ego-in-hbos-succession/) - In this episode of the Succession podcast, host Kara Swisher speaks with Adam Grant about what happens when a culture of lies, narcissists, and ego is fueled by a demanding and demeaning boss. Adam Grant is an organizational psychologist who studies work motivation, job design, and prosocial and proactive behaviors. His research examines the forces that
- [A Major Step in Global Space Policy](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/a-major-step-in-global-space-policy/) - On Nov. 15, 2021, Russia destroyed one of its own old satellites using a missile launched from the surface of the Earth, creating a massive debris cloud that threatens many space assets, including astronauts onboard the International Space Station. This happened only two weeks after the United Nations General Assembly First Committee formally recognized the vital role that
- [Question the "Lab Leak" Theory. But Don’t Call It a Conspiracy](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/question-the-lab-leak-theory-but-dont-call-it-a-conspiracy/) - A warning: This article will not tell you whether SARS-CoV-2 escaped from a lab and set off the COVID-19 pandemic, which has now killed more than 5 million people. I’m not even going to tell you if I think it did. If that was your hope, you may want to move onto something else. But
- [The Cultural Factors That Are Helping Companies Retain Talent](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/the-cultural-factors-that-are-helping-companies-retain-talent/) - According to the US Department of Labor, September posted a record-high level of voluntary job resignations: 4.4 million. Since April, that brings the total to more than 20 million people who’ve quit. Most employers are anxious about the mass exodus happening from today’s workplaces. Microsoft’s recent research suggests that 41 percent of workers across the world are thinking
- [Global Business Leaders Need to Push Ethiopia Toward Peace](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/global-business-leaders-need-to-push-ethiopia-toward-peace/) - Ethiopia is a country in crisis. In the last year, the government of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has been locked in a violent confrontation with the Tigray People’s Liberation Army (TPLF) , an armed conflict that has resulted in wholesale violations of human rights by both sides. The government has just declared a state of emergency as TPLF forces march toward the
- [Peter Thiel, Irresistible Pariah](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/peter-thiel-irresistible-pariah/) - Reprinted with permission from Luke Burgis’ Substack, Anti-Mimetic. If you want to be known as a legendary start-up founder, you need a good origin story. That you sprung forth from the head of Steve Jobs, maybe—or, if that’s too spectacular in 2021, maybe that you were an awkward orphan that got into, and then dropped out
- [Corruption](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/corruption-2/) - ​The leading non-governmental organization in the anti-corruption field, Transparency International, defines corruption as “the abuse of entrusted power for private gain.” The academic literature on corruption uses similar definitions—for example, Ashforth and Anand define corruption as “the misuse of authority for personal, subunit and/or organizational gain.” This encompasses many commercial practices, and methods of corruption
- [How to Convince CEOs to Support Climate Action at the Expense of Profits](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/how-to-convince-ceos-to-support-climate-action-at-the-expense-of-profits/) - There is now widespread consensus that limiting the global temperature increase to 1.5℃ requires fundamental changes in sectors like energy, food, transport, construction, and finance towards more environmentally friendly production and consumption. This could include, for example, shifting towards a 100 percent renewable energy system, or replacing fossil fuel-powered vehicles with electric ones. Government action is seen as crucial
- [Why Banning Financing for Fossil Fuel Projects in Africa Isn’t a Climate Solution](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/why-banning-financing-for-fossil-fuel-projects-in-africa-isnt-a-climate-solution/) - Today’s global energy inequities are staggering. Video gamers in California consume more electricity than entire nations. The average Tanzanian used only one-sixth the electricity consumed by a typical American refrigerator in 2014. Globally, the top 10 percent of countries consume 20 times more energy than the bottom 10 percent. And 1.1 billion sub-Saharan Africans share the same amount of power generation capacity as Germany’s
- [How the Fair Labor Association Promotes a Living Wage for Workers](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/how-the-fair-labor-association-promotes-a-living-wage-for-workers/) - In today’s globalized economy, large companies increasingly outsource production to factories they neither own nor operate. Outsourcing can dramatically reduce the costs of production, while also benefiting low-wage workers, many of whom migrate from farms to cities in search of a predictable income and better quality of life. Over the last 40 years, this model
- [The Need for Socially Distanced Citizens](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/the-need-for-socially-distanced-citizens/) - Google the phrase “what democracy looks like.” You’ll get thousands of images of people gathered in public, expressing a political message. These pictures capture a core feature of democracy. Democratic citizens are not mere subjects of government; they are equal participants. Although voting is a central act of citizenship, democracy doesn’t end at the ballot box.
- [Enlightenment and the Righteous Mind](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/enlightenment-and-the-righteous-mind/) - They discuss: How cognitive biases lead to a more pessimistic view of the world [07:00]The problems with the idea of utopia and its beneficial uses when properly inserted into a society's belief (religious) structure [10:30]Examining the role group religions play in bringing people together [18:00]The role Christianity had, according to Peterson, in turning people's attention
- [A Philosopher's Toast to Getting Drunk](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/a-philosophers-toast-to-getting-drunk/) - As workers across the corporate world have begun scuttering back into their offices, many of us are sneaking away with our comrades for a drink. Given the substantial hazards alcohol presents, what should our stance on drinking with our colleagues be? In his new book Drunk: How We Sipped, Danced, and Stumbled Our Way to Civilization,
- [Combatting Bullshit in the Workplace](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/combatting-bullshit-in-the-workplace/) - Listen to "#31 - Combatting Bullshit in the Workplace" on Spreaker. In this episode of the Breaking the Fever podcast, we speak with Ian McCarthy about the many faces of bullshit—how it’s different from lies, the harmless and harmful forms it can take, and what organizations can do to measure and mitigate its effects. We
- [Corporate America Has a Caste Problem](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/corporate-america-has-a-caste-problem/) - Silicon Valley's diversity problems are not hidden, with white males occupying prominent positions. However, there is a hidden aspect of diversity that corporate America is beginning to feel: caste. On June 30, 2020, for the first time in the history of the United States, American multinational company, Cisco Systems Inc., was sued on its soil
- [Now Is the Time to Prepare for the Economic Shocks of Battling Climate Change](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/now-is-the-time-to-prepare-for-the-economic-shocks-of-battling-climate-change/) - The costs keep piling up: California’s 2018 fire season caused close to $150 billion in damages, and this year’s record-setting wildfires could prove just as dear. Rebuilding after Germany’s summer floods will probably cost more than 6 billion euros ($7.12 billion), the country’s finance minister says. And estimates place the damage from Hurricane Ida, which ripped from New Orleans
- [A More Prosocial World in Theory and Practice](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/a-more-prosocial-world-in-theory-and-practice/) - Listen to "#30 - A More Prosocial World in Theory and Practice" on Spreaker. In this episode of the Breaking the Fever podcast, we speak with David Sloan Wilson about cooperation—how it evolved in social beings, how culture and norms can support and disrupt it, and how to sustain it across different levels (community, industry,
- [How Networks of Complicity Can Enable Crimes to Go on for Decades](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/how-networks-of-complicity-can-enable-crimes-to-go-on-for-decades/) - The R&B singer R. Kelly was found guilty of racketeering and sex trafficking charges on Sept 27, 2021, having been exposed as the ringleader of a decades-long scheme to recruit girls, boys and women to have sex with. During the six-week long trial, jurors heard harrowing testimony from a succession of survivors of Kelly’s abuse. Witnesses also
- [The Double-Edged Nature of Cooperation](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/the-double-edged-nature-of-cooperation/) - The pandemic has been a stark reminder of just how much we rely on one another. Like plagues of the past, the novel coronavirus has exploited our social nature. But our sociality is also our Get Out of Jail Free card. Billions of people complying with strict lockdowns and the race to roll-out COVID-19 vaccines in
- [How to Address the Legal Status of Afghan Refugees](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/how-to-address-the-legal-status-of-afghan-refugees/) - In the last two weeks of August, the U.S. government coordinated an unprecedented and massive evacuation from Afghanistan of more than 124,000 people, mostly Afghan refugees. This daunting logistical feat relied on the tireless efforts of thousands of U.S. military and civilian personnel. U.S. leaders are rightfully proud of the heroic actions of these Americans,
- [Elizabeth Holmes Is a Scapegoat—Even If She's Guilty](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/elizabeth-holmes-is-a-scapegoat-even-if-shes-guilty/) - Reprinted with permission from Luke Burgis' Substack, Anti-Mimetic. The criminal trial of Elizabeth Holmes, the founder of the blood-testing startup Theranos, began last week. As the trial drew near, I had a foreboding feeling that games would be played with the ideas of victim and victimizer — games that would leave many people, possibly even including the
- [The Two Sides of Envy at Work](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/the-two-sides-of-envy-at-work/) - Back when she was in college, Alaina G. Levine used to envy fellow students who seemed to have their entire lives mapped out. A physics and astronomy student at the University of Arizona, her own direction felt unclear—while they, on the other hand, appeared to know precisely what they wanted to do and how to
- [How Political Polarization Affects Our Personal and Professional Lives](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/how-political-polarization-affects-our-personal-and-professional-lives/) - Listen to "#29 - How Political Polarization Affects Our Personal and Professional Lives" on Spreaker. In this episode of the Breaking the Fever podcast, we speak with Alison Goldsworthy, Laura Osborne, and Alexandra Chesterfield—the authors of a new book, Poles Apart—about the manifestations of political polarization in our personal and professional lives, and how we
- [Can Geopolitical Decision-Making Benefit from a Little Bias?](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/can-geopolitical-decision-making-benefit-from-a-little-bias/) - A well-established finding from modern psychology is that mentally healthy people are generally overconfident (with men being particularly cocky). What this body of research suggests is that we individually tend to overestimate our abilities, as well as our control over life events, and we also underestimate our vulnerability to risk. We tend to think more
- [Ethics Pays](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/ethics-pays/) - Is good ethics good for business? Crime and sleazy behavior sometimes pay off handsomely. People would not do such things if they didn’t think they were more profitable than the alternatives. But let us make two distinctions right up front. First, let us contrast individual employees with companies. Of course, it can benefit individual employees
- [Ask a Good Question Every Day](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/ask-a-good-question-every-day/) - The late Nobel Laureate in physics Isidor I. Rabi once said, ”My mother made me a scientist without ever intending it. Every other Jewish mother in Brooklyn would ask her child after school: ‘So? Did you learn anything today?’ But not my mother. She always asked me a different question. ‘Izzy,’ she would say, ‘did you
- [The Challenge of Working Remotely That's Gone Most Unappreciated](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/the-challenge-of-working-remotely-thats-gone-most-unappreciated/) - The option to work remotely is wonderful and worth fighting for. It’s a good thing that millions of people, including employers and employees, have been getting a taste for what it’s like to consistently work from home. Or if not from home, at least away from a dedicated office. Of course, the situation’s raised a
- [Remote Work and the Strategic Advantage of Culture](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/remote-work-and-the-strategic-advantage-of-culture/) - In this virtual event, hosted by the New York Fed in July, Alison Taylor joined other panelists to discuss, among other things, how norms are transmitted in various work environments, and the potential impacts of hybrid workplaces on collaboration, inclusion, and other facets of workplace culture. The event was part of the New York Fed's
- [The U.K. Government's Sweeping Amnesty Proposal Is Seriously Flawed](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/the-u-k-governments-sweeping-amnesty-proposal-is-seriously-flawed/) - Last month, the British government announced a sweeping and ill-considered amnesty proposal designed to slam the door on any form of legal or public accountability for the political violence that plagued Northern Ireland for three decades. Out of a population of 1.5 million people, more than 3,500, mostly civilians, were killed and more than 40,000 injured during
- [Companies Should Measure Their Levels of Workplace Bullshit](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/companies-should-measure-their-levels-of-workplace-bullshit/) - Like cheating in school, bullshitting is a way for people to advance their careers. If you’re good at spouting appealing and convincing bullshit, this can take you places. One of the reasons so much of it flows in workplaces today is because organizations do not make their employees feel safe and free to say things
- [Getting Interrupted by Your Coworkers Is Good, Actually](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/getting-interrupted-by-your-coworkers-is-good-actually/) - No doubt it’s happened to you, in your dynamic work environment. You’re in the middle of some task at work, focused. Perhaps you’ve even put your phone in a drawer, or at least somewhere out of sight, to reduce distraction. And in comes someone to interrupt your flow of undivided attention. A coworker unexpectedly dropping
- [How to Have Better Conversations About Ethics in Business](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/how-to-have-better-conversations-about-ethics-in-business/) - It is often difficult, many people would agree, to talk about ethics in business. But why? It’s not because people don’t know what ethics is. Most of us understand that ethics is simply the systematic thought about what is good or bad, how to live a good life, and how we should live together. These
- [Where I See Myself in Deloitte's New Gen-Z Survey—and Where I Don't](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/where-i-see-myself-in-deloittes-new-gen-z-survey-and-where-i-dont/) - I am an Internet baby, a member of Generation Z. The fact that trends on TikTok and arguments on Twitter can spark and shape the news that media institutions publish seems totally normal to me. When so much of your world runs on the speed and transparency of the Internet, where the reputations of corporations
- [Diversity Is Not Enough: Why Collective Intelligence Requires Both Diversity and Disagreement](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/diversity-is-not-enough-why-collective-intelligence-requires-both-diversity-and-disagreement/) - Teams are the backbone of critical institutions. Companies are run by top management teams, science is produced by research teams, and justice is rendered by teams of jurors. Our use of teams signals a commitment to the promise of diversity: More voices lead to more intelligent decisions than fewer voices do. Moreover, meta-analyses reveal the precise type of
- [How a Soviet Miner Helped Create Today’s Intense Corporate Workplace Culture](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/how-a-soviet-miner-helped-create-todays-intense-corporate-workplace-culture/) - The series shows how working life descends into unending personal, private, and public struggles. In 2020, the drama series Industry, created by two people with direct experience of corporate workplaces, gave us a glimpse into modern Stakhanovism. It is a sensitive and detailed examination of the destinies of five graduates joining a fictional, but utterly
- [From Academia to Wall Street: Discussing DEI at Business Schools](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/from-academia-to-wall-street-discussing-dei-at-business-schools/) - In this Heterodox Academy panel, Debi Ghate, vice president of strategy and programs at Philanthropy Roundtable, moderates a conversation with Alison Taylor, Ravi S. Kudesia, and John Hasnas. Challenging conversations around diversity, equity, and inclusion are happening on every college and university campus this year. These conversations are also starting to occur in boardrooms, on
- [Why Your Company Should Focus on Being a Good Place to Be From](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/why-your-company-should-focus-on-being-a-good-place-to-be-from/) - We’re in the middle of a Great Resignation. This past April, 2.7 percent of Americans quit their jobs, the highest rate on record. And according to a study by Microsoft, over 40 percent of the global workforce would consider leaving their jobs this year. Several factors are driving this exodus. Generational expectations about what makes a good
- [ESG and the Risk of Moral Licensing](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/esg-and-the-risk-of-moral-licensing/) - We are entering an era of unprecedented Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) imperatives, which will hopefully be beneficial to millions of people in many ways. But those involved in ESG efforts (and others who “do good”) must also be aware of the dangers of “moral licensing.” Moral licensing, according to a 2019 Frontiers in Psychology paper,
- [Why You Should Spotlight Exemplary Ethical Behavior at Work](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/how-spotlighting-exemplary-workplace-behavior-can-strengthen-ethical-culture/) - Organizations, to their detriment, often overlook opportunities to spotlight exemplary behavior—ethical behavior in particular. Increasingly remote workforces, with limited non-essential communication, likely worsen the situation. And the situation as it stands isn’t that great. Most of the time, the focus of employee recognition is not on ethics but on metrics related to the bottom line,
- [How to Understand Political Polarization in the Workplace](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/how-to-understand-political-polarization-in-the-workplace/) - In this conversation from the NeuroLeadership Institute, host David Rock speaks with Jon Haidt and Alison Taylor about the social and technological origins of our politically polarized era, and how it now affects the dynamics of workplace culture in the United States and elsewhere. They discuss: The ways our divisions and biases affect diversity, equity, and inclusion effortsThe typical
- [Robert Bilott, Author of "Exposure," Reflects on His Fight Against Corporate Arrogance](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/robert-bilott-author-of-exposure-reflects-on-his-fight-against-corporate-arrogance/) - In October 1998, a Parkersburg, West Virginia, cattle farmer named Earl Tennant noticed that his livestock was dying from a strange illness. Half of his cows and their calves had mysteriously died, and the rest had been born deformed and dead. Strangely, even buzzards wouldn’t eat the carcasses. Using his own camcorder, he carefully documented
- [How Biden Can Take His National Action Plan for Business Seriously](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/how-biden-can-take-his-national-action-plan-for-business-seriously/) - Last month, as President Biden’s European trip took center stage, his administration made a welcome but little-noticed commitment that the U.S. government will update what’s known as the National Action Plan (NAP) on responsible business conduct. Corporations, Secretary of State Antony Blinken observed, “have the capacity to help shape society and the environment, raising local wages,
- [Arguments for and Against Capitalism in the Black Intellectual Tradition](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/arguments-for-and-against-capitalism-in-the-black-intellectual-tradition/) - There is a popular view arguing that racial repression and other American institutions are so enmeshed with each other that it is impossible to separate them. Our politics, our economy—everything—is complicit in perpetuating the subjugation of African Americans. In the popular media, this view was best expressed in Ibram Kendi’s bestseller How to Be an Antiracist,
- [Negotiation](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/negotiation/) - When people negotiate, they exchange information and solve problems interdependently. The process is rife with opportunities to use different strategies to achieve greater success, including various ethical and unethical behaviors. There isn’t just one way to achieve performance and culture goals, and the best way to pursue them can depend on a variety of factors.
- [Disputes Over DEI Depend on How You Define Fairness](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/disputes-over-dei-depend-on-how-you-define-fairness/) - Decades after the 1960s civil rights movement, racial inequality persists. In an effort to reduce it, an explosion of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives in business, government, and higher education now lights up the skies of American culture. The proliferation of such initiatives, however, belies profound disagreement between DEI advocates and critics. One of the main
- [A 30-Year Experiment in Ethics and Compliance](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/a-30-year-experiment-in-ethics-and-compliance/) - In his 2008 book Experiments in Ethics, the philosopher Anthony Appiah made a strong and important case that behavioral science ideas and information should be used to address ethical challenges. But for me the most compelling ethics-related experiment of modern times comes from the realm of political—rather than behavioral—science: the experiment that began in 1991, with
- [Courage Is a Competency](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/courage-is-a-competency/) - Courage is, in other words, a skill, a competency—it can be learned. You don’t have to think of yourself as “courageous” to act courageously—but you do have to be open to trying. “The departed Colonel Eric Kale has had a great line,” says Detert. “He said, ‘Most people think courage is what happens in those
- [Big American Companies Have Only Begun Tackling the Racial Wealth Gap](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/big-american-companies-have-only-begun-tackling-the-racial-wealth-gap/) - Last month, our country marked the one-year anniversary of George Floyd’s brutal murder. It has been a year of intense debate, massive public demonstrations, and considerable introspection about racial injustice and inequality, focused principally on the need to reform policing and the criminal justice system more broadly. Former President Obama captured both the continued frustrations
- [An MIT Researcher Watched a Hospital Experiment with Shared Leadership](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/an-mit-researcher-watched-a-hospital-experiment-with-shared-leadership/) - The social psychologist Debra Mashek, a self-styled “collaboration maven,” eloquently distilled, on a recent episode of Breaking the Fever, what that much-used c-word truly means. Worthwhile to do, she said, because the term, as a label, often gets thrown around haphazardly, doesn’t it? People get together, having some vague ambition to work with one another
- [Why "Business Ethics" Has Little to Do with Business Ethics](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/why-business-ethics-has-little-to-do-with-business-ethics/) - In this episode of the Decision Corner podcast, host Brooke Struck speaks with Jon Haidt and Alison Taylor about the role of ethics and values in business, including the challenges associated with Gen-Z, and the workplace culture changes that have been fuelled by the evolution of social media and increasing polarization in countries like the
- [Speak-Up and Call-Out Culture](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/speak-up-and-call-out-culture/) - Companies thrive when potentially useful information is freely available and employees feel that they are valued, consequential members of the organization. Speak-up culture is crucial on both counts: it means that management can receive important information from anyone who has it, and it means that employees’ autonomy is recognized and respected. However, the efficacy of
- [Good Risk Culture Starts with an Open Conversation](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/good-risk-culture-starts-with-an-open-conversation/) - One of the riskiest decisions in my life, I still tend to think, was going to Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism. It wasn’t going to be cheap. I’d have to work off tens of thousands of dollars of student loan debt. And, with the journalism industry being what it was—business models for media outlets
- [The Entrepreneur Who Wants Us to Rethink What’s Worth Wanting](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/the-entrepreneur-who-wants-us-to-rethink-whats-worth-wanting/) - A transcendent leader points to something behind themselves. They are aware of their own limitations. They are like the Level 5 leaders in Jim Collins framework in Good to Great. But transcendent leaders go far beyond that. There’s an objective dimension of work (literally what the work is); there’s a subjective dimension of work (what
- [Dan Ariely and the Science of Human Capital](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/dan-ariely-and-the-science-of-human-capital/) - In this episode of the Capital Allocators podcast, host Ted Seides speaks with Ethical Systems collaborator Dan Ariely about his ongoing work quantifying human capital—how employees' motivation and feelings about their companies, among other things, affect financial performance. Dan Ariely is a leading behavioral economist, author, entrepreneur and the James B. Duke Professor of Psychology
- [Any True ESG Focus on Executive Pay Needs a Link to Employee Engagement](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/any-true-esg-focus-on-executive-pay-needs-a-link-to-employee-engagement/) - More than half of the 100 Financial Times Stock Exchange CEOs have had their salaries frozen this year. The news comes from a PwC analysis of the first 50 FTSE 100 companies to publish their 2021 annual remuneration reports. It is early in the annual general meeting (AGM) season, and the spotlight is firmly on
- [Survey: Business Leaders See Ethics as a Competitive Advantage](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/survey-business-leaders-see-ethics-as-a-competitive-advantage/) - ESG is turning out to be an abbreviation full of potential. Not only has nature’s climate emergency thrown environmental, social and governance issues under a global spotlight, but a pandemic and public health crisis has made the need for business to pay attention to its people and social issues impossible to ignore. Any focus on
- [The Science of Collaborating Effectively: A Conversation with Debra Mashek](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/the-science-of-collaborating-effectively-a-conversation-with-debra-mashek/) - Listen to "#28 - The Science of Collaborating Effectively: A Conversation with Dr Debra Mashek" on Spreaker. In this episode of the Breaking the Fever podcast, we speak with Debra Mashek about how true collaboration emerges within and between groups, why it breaks down, and what companies can do to foster it. We discuss: -
- [3 Takeaways from One CEO's Remarkable Culture-Change Experience](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/3-takeaways-from-one-ceos-remarkable-culture-change-experience/) - In 2015, Ed Townley became the CEO of Cabot Creamery, the acclaimed but plateauing Vermont dairy producer and cheesemaker. A former accountant who started his career working at IBM, Townley had no background in farming or cheesemaking. But before his turn as CEO, he had spent the previous decade in various roles at Cabot—the largest
- [Include Moral Hazards in Your Company's Risk Assessment](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/include-moral-hazards-in-your-companys-risk-assessment/) - Notwithstanding its name, the concept of moral hazard originally had little to do with morality. Rather, it referred to the phenomenon that providing insurance tended to promote risky behavior by insured parties. Subsequently, moral hazard has been applied to a wide range of circumstances where incentives encourage unduly risky conduct by shifting the impact of
- [What Frogs in Hot Water Can Teach Us About Thinking Again](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/what-frogs-in-hot-water-can-teach-us-about-thinking-again/) - In this Ted talk, Ethical Systems collaborator Adam Grant discusses biases that prevent us from changing course, like doubling down on a commitment to show others, or perhaps ourselves, that we made the right decision. Adam Grant is an organizational psychologist at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. Why are humans so slow
- [How Biden Can Boost Human Rights in Egypt](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/how-biden-can-boost-human-rights-in-egypt/) - In its first 100 days, the Biden administration renewed its focus on human rights. After years of internal debate, the United States declared Turkish attacks in Armenia a century ago a genocide. Senior officials also strongly condemned the military coup in Myanmar and denounced Russian President Putin’s persecution of imprisoned opposition leader Alexey Navalny. The Biden administration released an intelligence report linking
- [How Investors Can Lead the Shift Toward Stakeholder Capitalism](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/how-investors-can-lead-the-shift-toward-stakeholder-capitalism/) - It’s a nightmare right now trying to measure how a company performs on environmental, social, and governance issues. As you may know, doing so involves relying on a dizzying set of intersecting quantitative frameworks, all of which struggle to balance investor demands for comparability and consistency with the reality that these “ESG” issues are highly
- [Why a Basecamp Founder’s Blog Post Blew the Company Up](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/why-a-basecamp-founders-blog-post-blew-the-company-up/) - In 2018, Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson, the founders of Basecamp, published a book on workplace culture. On the cover, a big red X crosses out a list of ostensibly undesirable traits of job life, things like “80-hour work weeks,” “endless meetings,” “no time to think” and, lastly, “chat’s blowing up.” Scrawled underneath this
- [What Social Media Is Doing to Us](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/what-social-media-is-doing-to-us/) - In this video, produced by the Strand Book Store in New York City, Jon Haidt speaks with Chris Bail, author of Breaking the Social Media Prism: How to Make Our Platforms Less Polarizing, about how social media distorts our identities, empowers status-seeking extremists, and renders moderates all but invisible. Chris Bail, a Professor of Sociology, Public Policy,
- [Change the Paradigm, Change the System: A Conversation with Denise Hearn](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/change-the-paradigm-change-the-system-a-conversation-with-denise-hearn/) - Listen to "#27 - Change the Paradigm, Change the System: A Conversation with Denise Hearn" on Spreaker. In this episode of the Breaking the Fever podcast, we speak with Denise Hearn about the most significant opportunities and concerns with capitalism, the need for ESG and corporate governance to evolve, and the ideas behind her new
- [Why Corporate America Should Oppose the National Effort to Suppress Voting](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/why-corporate-america-should-oppose-the-national-effort-to-suppress-voting/) - As Republican politicians in states across the country move to restrict voting rights, corporate leaders are faced with an uncomfortable choice. They must decide whether to publicly challenge these cynical measures, which are predicated on the patently false assertion that the 2020 election was riddled with fraud, or remain on the sidelines in an attempt to
- [A Behavioral Ethics and Compliance Primer](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/a-behavioral-ethics-and-compliance-primer/) - In 1991, when the Federal Sentencing Guidelines for Organizations went into effect, Compliance and Ethics (“C&E”) programs became a part of the business landscape in the United States. There was, at the time, a fairly widespread view among business leaders, and even some enforcement officials, that C&E programs were largely unnecessary: Good people, it was
- [Uber Becomes an Unlikely Icon in the Rise of ESG in Corporate Governance](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/uber-becomes-an-unlikely-icon-in-the-rise-of-esg-in-corporate-governance/) - Wrestling with the concept of better corporate governance in a world where the appeal of a gig economy has become easily acceptable was always going to be a challenge. But who would have thought that Uber, the new-look cheaper taxi service which describes itself as “a global platform with the technology” to help people move
- [Why Promotion Is a Moral Hazard](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/why-even-promotion-is-a-moral-hazard/) - Jessica Kennedy gets frustrated when people—often academics—try to paint industry and finance as evil. Business rightfully attracts moral critique, of course, but that doesn't mean there aren't those in industry who are awake and alert to its ethical shortcomings. Kennedy points out that, while working in investment banking, she was as focused on ethics then
- [How British Bank Employees Feel About Workplace Culture](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/how-british-bank-employees-feel-about-workplace-culture/) - The Banking Standards Board, an independently led body that promotes high standards of behavior and competence across the United Kingdom’s banking industry, has released results of its fifth annual cultural assessment. It reports on a variety of constructs, including both traditionally ethically oriented ones (honesty, openness, respect and accountability) as well as those directly affecting
- [How Viewpoint Diversity Makes You Smarter and Stronger](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/how-viewpoint-diversity-makes-you-smarter-and-stronger/) - In this video, produced by the SNF Paideia Program at the University of Pennsylvania, Jon Haidt speaks with discussion moderator Jonathan Zimmerman, of Penn's Graduate School of Education, about the positive impact of viewpoint diversity on our personal life and in our institutions. Paideia is an ancient Greek word meant to capture the moral, intellectual,
- [The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Should Combat Voter Suppression](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/the-u-s-chamber-of-commerce-should-combat-voter-suppression/) - The U.S. Chamber of Commerce calls itself the “world’s largest business organization.” Founded in 1912 at the behest of President William Howard Taft, the Chamber has spent a century promoting the perspective of American business on issues like taxes, regulation, and trade policy. It has doled out more than $1.6 billion to lobby the federal government since 1998, more
- [New Evidence That British Workplaces Are Losing Viewpoint Diversity](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/new-evidence-that-british-workplaces-are-losing-viewpoint-diversity/) - In the United Kingdom, most people don’t feel comfortable bringing their whole selves to work. For two-thirds of the population, talking politics sincerely, on the job, is uncomfortable. People who hold certain, commonplace views, stay silent believing that expressing those views will carry penalty not reward. These are among the findings of a study developed
- [The Psychology of Shifting to Stakeholder Capitalism](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/the-psychology-of-shifting-to-stakeholder-capitalism/) - As a result of COVID-19’s tumultuous impact on the economy, businesses fell over themselves to demonstrate a higher “purpose” and show that they care about the welfare of their employees and the environment. Influential organizations including the World Economic Forum, the Business Roundtable, and BlackRock have decisively called time on our exclusive focus on shareholder
- [The Real Test for McKinsey After Rejecting CEO Kevin Sneader](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/the-real-test-for-mckinsey-after-rejecting-ceo-kevin-sneader/) - Last month, McKinsey’s 650 global partners turned down CEO Kevin Sneader’s bid for a second three-year term at the helm. The rejection marked the first time in 40 years the storied consulting firm has opted not to offer its leader a second term. The vote came as McKinsey struggles to reconcile its lucrative business model with a
- [Corporate Culture](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/corporate-culture/) - The ethical culture in an organization can be thought of as a slice of the overall organizational culture. So, if the organizational culture represents “how we do things around here,” the ethical culture represents “how we do things around here in relation to ethics and ethical behavior in the organization.” The ethical culture represents the
- [It's Time the U.S. Linked Egypt's Military Aid to Real Reform on Human Rights](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/if-the-u-s-wants-to-promote-human-rights-in-egypt-it-should-link-military-aid-to-real-reform/) - Ten years ago, Hosni Mubarak was forced to relinquish power in Egypt after protests brought millions to the streets of Cairo and Tahrir Square. This popular uprising was the epicenter of what many called the Arab Spring. Like its predecessor, the 1968 “Prague Spring,” the promise of swift liberalization of a repressive system eventually went unfulfilled. A decade
- [What Leaders Signal to Workers When They Compensate Victims](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/what-leaders-signal-to-workers-when-they-compensate-victims/) - Of all the levers at the disposal of a manager, an invaluable one for promoting cooperation is punishment. Teams that effectively cooperate have incentives in place, like punishments for free-riders—people who attempt to benefit from the work of others without bearing any of the costs. Yet our new research, which involved 24 studies drawing on
- [Do Compliance Professionals Have a Maginot Line Problem?](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/do-compliance-professionals-have-a-maginot-line-problem/) - One of the most powerful episodes in risk-assessment history is the story of the Maginot Line, which the French military had deployed after WWI to prevail in any future trench warfare against the Germans. The latter, however, had other plans and so were able to outflank the former in WWII, with catastrophic consequences. Is there
- [Regulating Finance to Avert Climate Disaster](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/regulating-finance-to-avert-climate-disaster/) - Listen to "#26 - Regulating Finance to Avert Climate Disaster" on Spreaker. In this episode of the Breaking the Fever podcast, the third (and final) in our miniseries on climate finance, we speak with Colleen Orr and Graham Steele about how regulators in the United States can wield financial tools and soft power to set
- [Let's Make 2021 a Year for Self-Honesty](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/lets-make-2021-a-year-for-self-honesty/) - 2020’s tumultuous story exhausted, terrified, and infuriated us—and broke our hearts. It also summoned us to live lives of greater truth, justice, and purpose. Now, as 2021 has unfolded, an insurrection at the capital, a pandemic that seems to be mutating and intensifying before it wanes, it may be hard to stay motivated to stick
- [Why Do We Always Think We're Right? A Conversation with Jon Haidt](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/why-do-we-always-think-were-right-a-conversation-with-jon-haidt/) - In this episode of The Good Fight podcast, host Yascha Mounk speaks with Ethical Systems Founding Director Jonathan Haidt about the psychological differences between the political left and right, the human tendency to discriminate in favor of the in-group, and how to build a less tribal culture and country. Jonathan Haidt is the Thomas Cooley
- [Insurance Companies Can Help Phase Out the Fossil-Fuel Industry](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/insurance-companies-can-help-phase-out-the-fossil-fuel-industry/) - Listen to "#25 - Insurance Companies Can Help Phase Out the Fossil-Fuel Industry" on Spreaker. In this episode of the Breaking the Fever podcast, the second in our miniseries on climate finance, we speak with Peter Bosshard and Elana Sulakshana about the insurance sector’s role in maintaining status-quo climate policies, and what insurers can do
- [Our List of Resources for Designing Compliance Programs with Behavioral Science](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/our-list-of-resources-for-designing-compliance-programs-with-behavioral-science/) - Last December, a friend of Ethical Systems—a Chief Compliance Officer at a major multinational consumer products company, whose expertise is second to none—sent us an email. He was curious to know how concepts from behavioral science and social psychology might help him build more effective programs. He asked us for books, articles, and videos that
- [The Moral Identity of an Organization Hinges on Leadership and Affects Everyone](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/the-moral-identity-of-an-organization-hinges-on-leadership-and-affects-everyone/) - One of the more interesting media shake-ups recently was Glenn Greenwald’s departure from The Intercept. Somehow, he lost control over the soul of a company he co-founded. To his eye, it lost its moral identity. Chief among its values, Greenwald has written, was “editorial freedom, the protection of a journalist’s right to speak in an
- [New Evidence Shows How Gender Diversity Improves Banking Culture](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/new-evidence-shows-how-gender-diversity-improves-banking-culture/) - In the past decade, a larger-than-ever number of scandals and fraud episodes led to the world's largest banks being hit with an unprecedented number of misconduct fines. The incidents giving rise to such costs represent a financial and reputational threat to each financial institution, as the costs can be very high, and can ultimately threaten
- [Watch Us Discuss Our New Era of Organizational Culture](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/watch-us-discuss-our-new-era-of-organizational-culture/) - Three forces—the rise of affective polarization, the social fragmenting of an engagement-focused media ecosystem, and the growing importance of politics to the self—help to explain the recent assault on the United State Capitol. At least, that's how Ethical Systems' founding director, Jon Haidt, an expert in the political dimensions of social psychology, described the situation.
- [American Unity Starts with the Truth](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/american-unity-starts-with-the-truth/) - President Biden made a passionate appeal for unity in his inaugural address Wednesday, saying, “My whole soul is in this: bringing America together, uniting our people, uniting our nation. And I ask every American to join me in this cause.” Those words reflect Biden’s character and temperament. He seeks common ground, not confrontation. This is a welcome
- [Culture Explains Our Weak Response to the Coronavirus](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/how-culture-explains-our-weak-response-to-the-coronavirus/) - The sneakiness of the novel coronavirus has wreaked havoc worldwide.
- [The Obscure Medieval Roots of the Modern Psyche](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/the-obscure-medieval-roots-of-the-modern-psyche/) - Imagine you are in the city, riding in a car with a close friend, and he hits a pedestrian going 35 miles per hour. The speed limit is 20 miles per hour, but there are no witnesses. Your friend’s lawyer says that, if you testify under oath that he wasn’t speeding, it may save him
- [The Power of Banks to Shape Climate Change Solutions](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/the-power-of-banks-to-shape-climate-change-solutions/) - In this episode of the Breaking the Fever podcast, the first in our miniseries on climate finance, we speak with Ivan Frishberg, James Vaccaro, and Marilyn Waite about the banking sector and what it would take to scale its ambition and impact on helping to stem climate change.
- [How Company Culture Can Survive Remote Work and Be Ethical](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/how-company-culture-can-survive-remote-work-and-be-ethical/) - Due to advancing technology, COVID-19, and demands from workers, the prevalence of virtual work advanced dramatically in 2020. Companies with the capability to go remote, like Facebook, are doing so until at least mid-2021 while acknowledging this may be part of the new normal, with up to half of employees working from home by 2030.
- [The Ethical Systems End-of-2020 Letter](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/the-ethical-systems-end-of-2020-letter/) - 2020 was a disruptive, transformative year in every respect, including organizational culture. The pandemic has dramatically shifted the ways that most of us work. Our days, seemingly shortened by the freedom from commuting, now include juggling personal obligations and catching up on workloads as we can, when we can. Will things ever go back to
- [The Value of Psychological Flexibility During a Pandemic](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/the-value-of-psychological-flexibility-during-a-pandemic/) - The COVID-19 pandemic, and our response to it, has foisted considerable uncertainty into the personal and professional lives of humans across the planet. Lockdowns, travel restrictions, physical distancing, and the shift to remote work has the potential to seriously stress and compromise how well both individuals and organizations function. Left unchecked, the economic and personal
- [Why Some Americans Don’t Believe the Election Results](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/why-some-americans-dont-believe-the-election-results/) - The electoral votes have confirmed Joe Biden won the 2020 United States presidential election. The presidential electors gave Biden 306 electoral votes to President Donald Trump’s 232 votes. Biden also recorded a solid lead of over 7 million in the popular vote. Nonetheless, results from a new NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist survey found that approximately three-quarters of Republicans did not trust the
- [The Dirty Secret of Over-Performing ESG Funds, and More, in a Q&A with Alison Taylor](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/the-dirty-secret-of-over-performing-esg-funds-and-more-in-a-qa-with-alison-taylor/) - Praveen Gupta, formerly the Managing Director & CEO at Raheja QBE General Insurance Company Ltd, recently interviewed Alison Taylor on his blog. We're glad to be sharing the conversation, which hits a wide range of topics, with you here. The pandemic, precarious climatic developments, racial polarization, and presidential elections together made 2020 a heady mix.
- [How Business Can Boost Human Rights in 2021](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/how-business-can-boost-human-rights-in-2021/) - Few will regret the passing of 2020, a year headlined by a global health crisis, profound economic distress, and high-profile examples of racial inequality. From my vantage point, working on human rights in a business school, the past year has underscored the need for global business leaders and government officials to take a more deliberate,
- [How to Assess Corporate Culture: A Conversation with Jeff Kaplan](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/how-to-assess-corporate-culture-a-conversation-with-jeff-kaplan/) - In this episode of the Compliance Perspectives podcast, host Adam Turteltaub speaks with Ethical Systems Steering Committee member Jeff Kaplan about how corporate culture can influence the effectiveness of a compliance program. They discuss many factors compliance teams should pay attention to when assessing culture, including: Tone at the middleHow easy it is to speak up in
- [Looking Back, Looking Forward: A Year in Pandemic](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/looking-back-looking-forward-a-year-in-pandemic/) - Listen to "#23 - Looking Back, Looking Forward: A Year in Pandemic" on Spreaker. In this episode of the Breaking the Fever podcast, we speak with Charles Hecker and Michele Wucker about political polarization, rising inequalities, climate, and debt. They revisit their risk assessments from early 2020 and share their perspectives for the year ahead.
- [The Case for Adding Darwin to Behavioral Economics](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/the-case-for-adding-darwin-to-behavioral-economics/) - Following my first sabbatical—a two-year stint as a federal bureaucrat in Washington, DC—I resumed my teaching duties in Cornell’s department of economics in the fall of 1980. Shortly thereafter, I met Richard Thaler, who had started teaching economics in the university’s business school while I'd been away. Over the next several years, he and I
- [Contextual Influences](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/contextual-influences/) - Nicholas Epley gives a short lecture on some contextual influence ideas he has been working on View more videos with expert discussions and lectures dealing with contextual influences, as well as presentations of the Milgram Experiment and the Stanford Prison Experiment on our Contextual Influence playlist at the Ethical Systems YouTube channel. This page is overseen by Nicholas
- [Evolutionary Thinking Can Help Companies Foster More Ethical Culture](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/evolutionary-thinking-can-help-companies-foster-more-ethical-culture/) - Charles Darwin ended The Origin of Species, his argument for evolution by natural selection, on a note of celebrated eloquence. “There is grandeur to this view of life,” he wrote, “with its several powers, having been originally breathed into a few forms or into one; and that, whilst this planet has gone cycling on according
- [Glassdoor Data Is Revealing the Link Between Culture and Good Business](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/glassdoor-data-is-revealing-the-link-between-culture-and-good-business/) - Former U.S. Vice President Joe Biden elicited some playful teasing when, early in his presidential campaign, he rather quirkily took to quoting Immanuel Kant, the renowned German philosopher. In various venues, he’d paraphrase what Kant, in one formulation, called his “categorical imperative”—to treat people as ends in themselves, never as a means. On the talk
- [The Case for a Time-Affluent Workplace Culture](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/the-case-for-a-time-affluent-workplace-culture/) - Not long ago, NPR spoke with the descendants of the eminent economist John Maynard Keynes. In 1930, Keynes speculated about the future in an essay titled, “Economic Possibilities for Our Grandchildren,” famously suggesting that, by 2030, Americans would enjoy a 15-hour workweek. It is perhaps one of the most depressingly wrongheaded predictions, concerning societal progress,
- [Overcoming Our Ethical Blindspots: A Conversation with Ann Tenbrunsel](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/overcoming-our-ethical-blindspots-a-conversation-with-ann-tenbrunsel/) - In this episode of the Leading Transformational Change podcast, host Tobias Sturesson speaks with Ethical Systems collaborator Ann Tenbrunsel about the pitfalls in corporate culture that make it easier to behave less ethically. They discuss: Ethical fading and the decision-making processDispelling the myth of being a "good organization"Trusting too much in corporate values or codes
- [The Future of Business Ethics: A Conversation with Linda Trevino](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/the-future-of-business-ethics-a-conversation-with-linda-trevino/) - In this episode of the Business Integrity School podcast, host Cindy Moehring speaks with Ethical Systems collaborator Linda Trevino about the future of business ethics. Linda Trevino is Distinguished Professor of Organizational Behavior and Ethics, and Director of the Shoemaker Program in Business Ethics in the Smeal College of Business where she has been on
- [Bring on the Circular Economy: A Conversation with Jessica Long](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/bring-on-the-circular-economy-a-conversation-with-jessica-long/) - Listen to "#22 - Bring on the Circular Economy: A Conversation with Jessica Long" on Spreaker. In this episode of the Breaking the Fever podcast, we speak with Jessica Long about the global imperative to eliminate waste in the economy, and the progress people have made on this front—in companies, industries, cities, and nations. We
- [Do Honesty Pledges Work?](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/do-honesty-pledges-work/) - Honesty pledges often sound like a good idea, but whether they are in any given situation depends on various factors. Just ask Jim Comey. In a recent paper, Eyal Pe’er, at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and Yuval Feldman, at Bar-Ilan University, take up the topic of honesty pledges. In their study, Pe’er and Feldman explored how pledges
- [How This CEO Grew His Luxury Brand During a Pandemic](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/how-this-ceo-grew-his-luxury-brand-during-a-pandemic/) - Beleaguered leaders are grasping for ways to keep their organizations focused and motivated. The workforce, feeling whiplashed like accordions—some called back to work, some staying at home—has reached an all-time level of pandemic-fatigue. With promises of a vaccine still in the distance, anxiety levels are surging along with case numbers. Fewer industries have been hit
- [How to Fight Online Disinformation in the Wake of a Bitter Election](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/how-to-fight-online-disinformation-in-the-wake-of-a-bitter-election/) - Since last week’s election was called in favor of President-elect Joe Biden, social media venues have been flooded with allegations that massive vote fraud altered the outcome. President Donald Trump clings to this view, which is objectively false, and polls taken in the last few days suggest that 70 percent of Republicans now also hold this view.
- [On Climate, Finance, and Policy in the US: A Conversation with Bob Litterman](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/on-climate-finance-and-policy-in-the-us-a-conversation-with-bob-litterman/) - Listen to "#21 - On Climate, Finance, and Policy in the US: A Conversation with Bob Litterman" on Spreaker. In this episode of the Breaking the Fever podcast, we speak with Bob Litterman. We discuss Bob's trajectory from risk-pricing guru to climate advocate, the growing consensus for climate action among US financial leaders, and how
- [Leadership](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/leadership/) - Adam Grant on one way leaders can foster ethical conduct: Articles –​ Academic Babalola, M., Walumbwa, F. O., Guo, L., Misati, E., & Christensen, A. (2017). Being Ignored OR Pushed Out? A Relational Perspective To Understanding Workplace Ostracism. In Academy of Management Proceedings (Vol. 2017, No. 1, p. 11428). Briarcliff Manor, NY 10510: Academy of
- [Wall Street and the Behavioral Science of Making Culture Ethical](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/wall-street-and-the-behavioral-science-of-making-culture-ethical/) - Before he became “The Wolf of Wall Street,” Jordan Belfort, when he arrived in New York in the 1980s, was more like a starry-eyed sheep. That’s how Leonardo DiCaprio plays him in The Wolf of Wall Street, the film adapted from Belfort’s 2007 memoir of his years as a stockbroker. In an early scene from
- [Making Corporate Values Human: A Conversation with Marsha Ershaghi Hames](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/making-corporate-values-human-a-conversation-with-marsha-ershaghi-hames/) - Listen to "#20 - Making Corporate Values Human: A Conversation with Marsha Ershaghi Hames" on Spreaker. In this episode of the Breaking the Fever podcast, we speak with Marsha Ershaghi Hames about how COVID-19 has shaped, and continues to shape, the way corporate leaders respond to challenges not only to their business models but also
- [A Buddhist Philosopher’s Antidote to Modern Nihilism](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/a-buddhist-philosophers-antidote-to-modern-nihilism/) - In mid-September 2020 as I write, massive wildfires are burning throughout Washington, Oregon, and California, and climate-change scientists are arguing that this is proof, hands down, for climate change. Climate-change skeptics, meanwhile, still doubt whether it’s human-caused or, if it is, to what extent. Six months prior, George Floyd’s tragic death galvanized the Black Lives
- [Do Traditional Compliance Efforts Weaken Workers’ Moral Motivation?](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/do-traditional-compliance-efforts-weaken-workers-moral-motivation/) - How can organizations actualize their employees’ ethical potential? It’s a question Carsten Tams has been tossing around recently. In his time helping companies with organizational design and cultural change, among other things, he’s come to believe that, in the right environment, people are quite capable, even eager, to conform with and uphold ethical norms. Behavioral
- [Do Compliance Officers Have an Inherent Conflict of Interest?](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/do-compliance-officers-have-an-inherent-conflict-of-interest/) - Should compliance be subordinated to legal, rather than separated from it? Yes, argues Sean J. Griffith, of the Fordham University School of Law, in a recent paper, titled "Agency, Authority, and Compliance." This is an interesting and unusual perspective and one that I am not unsympathetic to. The abstract states: Compliance officers owe their professional existence
- [4 Pillars of Business Integrity from the World Economic Forum](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/4-pillars-of-business-integrity-from-the-world-economic-forum/) - This time last year, I traveled to Dubai to participate in the Global Future Council on Transparency and Anti-Corruption. The World Economic Forum’s Global Future Councils are an interdisciplinary multi-stakeholder network, grouped into specific themes for fixed terms, to tackle our most pressing global challenges. I was there along with a few dozen colleagues from
- [Why Modern Meritocracy Is Broken](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/why-modern-meritocracy-is-broken/) - If the 2016 election felt like a polarizing set of choices for American voters, the upcoming election makes that one look almost benign. Never has America been more divided as we struggle through a pandemic, trying to put people back to work whose jobs were impacted by it and to maintain civil peace as people
- [The African Perspective: A Conversation with Uzodinma Iweala](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/the-african-perspective-a-conversation-with-uzodinma-iweala/) - Listen to "Episode 19 - Dr. Uzodinma Iweala" on Spreaker. In this episode of the Breaking the Fever podcast, we speak with Uzodinma Iweala about how race, culture, and class have shaped the COVID-19 crisis and life, in Africa as well as in the United States. Uzodinma Iweala is the CEO of The Africa Center, a
- [How Tesla Should Combat Child Labor in the Democratic Republic of the Congo](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/how-tesla-should-combat-child-labor-in-the-democratic-republic-of-the-congo/) - Elon Musk recently announced that Tesla plans to manufacture 20 million electric-powered vehicles by 2030. His bold growth target dovetails with California Governor Gavin Newsom’s announcement that he will propose that his state require all new cars and trucks to be non-gasoline powered by 2035. The impetus is clear: Global warming is threatening our planet, and a
- [Why Do People Become Whistleblowers?](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/why-do-people-become-whistleblowers/) - Listening to one of our latest episodes on Breaking the Fever—our podcast in partnership with Preventable Surprises—I was struck by the acuity of one remark in particular. It was about the mind of a whistleblower, the motivations and sense of identity at play. In retrospect, it wasn’t so surprising to hear. Our interviewee, the entrepreneur
- [The NBA and Why Deep Listening, Authentic Introspection, and Transformative Empowerment Matter](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/the-n-b-a-and-why-deep-listening-authentic-introspection-and-transformative-empowerment-matter/) - When the N.B.A. and its players’ union recently agreed on a simple, yet effective set of actions to advance social justice and racial equality in America, they showed that, in the face of deeply painful systemic challenges, evolved leadership can make a difference. Political and business leaders should take notice. New episodes of violence and
- [Are You My New Boss?](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/are-you-my-new-boss/) - A client recently came to me with a suspicion. Even after a workshop that ironed out most of the kinks in the organization she had just taken over as executive director, one of her employees, she thought, was still not-so-subtly resisting the transition. Most people can probably relate to that. Getting and becoming a new
- [Is There a Problem with Meaningful Work?](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/is-there-a-problem-with-meaningful-work/) - The eminent philosopher Bertrand Russell, who died exactly 50 years ago at the impressive age of 97, once penned a polemic lauding laziness. Beginning on a humorous note—he wrote of having hopes that, after reading his essay, the leaders of the YMCA would “start a campaign to induce good young men to do nothing”—Russell went
- [Is a Weak Compliance Program Worse Than No Program?](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/is-a-weak-compliance-program-worse-than-no-program/) - Many years ago I was asked by a prospective client if I could design a “C minus” (i.e., just barely passing) compliance program for them. I responded that, for various reasons, by aiming for a C minus they were likely to end up with an “F.” I did not get the gig. But would there
- [The Seahawks' Psychologist Explains How Leaders Can Unlock Team Potential](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/the-seahawks-psychologist-explains-how-leaders-can-unlock-team-potential/) - With football season officially underway, even without full stadiums, sports fans are cheering in relief that at least COVID-19, for all the havoc it’s wreaked, didn’t take this away. As we make the transition from summer into whatever this sprint to the end of 2020 will look like, there’s still time to consider raising your
- [The Real Difference Between Autocratic and Empowering Leaders](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/the-real-difference-between-autocratic-and-empowering-leaders/) - When President Trump made an impromptu appearance at the United Nations at the same time Greta Thunberg was visiting the assembly of international dignitaries, it was almost as if they were meant to meet in person. But they did not. After sailing across the Atlantic, the young activist had come to deliver a scathing rebuke
- [Teaching Ethics](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/teaching-ethics/) - Mary Gentile speaks about her idea of Giving Voice to Values: Joshua Margolis, in a series of The Business Roundtable Institute for Corporate Ethics videos, shares his expertise on teaching business ethics: Christensen et al (2007): good review of how top MBA programs are teaching ethics, comparing ethics with corporate social responsibility and sustainability Trevino & Nelson (2011). An accessible
- [The Gray Rhino Trump Ignored and Still Tries to Hide](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/the-gray-rhino-trump-ignored-and-still-tries-to-hide/) - Perhaps nothing more perfectly encapsulates Michele Wucker’s idea of a “gray rhino”—an obvious threat, a crisis we see coming—than the COVID-19 pandemic. And perhaps no one more perfectly represents the onlooker—who doesn’t get out of the charging rhino’s way—than Donald Trump. After introducing the concept, the inverse of Nassim Taleb’s “black swan,” in 2013, Wucker
- [Are Jerks More Likely to Have Workplace Power?](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/are-jerks-more-likely-to-have-workplace-power/) - I admit it. In the last several years or so, I have bandied about the statistic that a fifth of CEOs are psychopaths. It seems to be conventional wisdom, or at least a predominant presumption, that high-power positions tend to select for awful people. If you start typing, “Most CEOs…” into Google, revealing “suggested” searches
- [Bob Frank’s Legacy as a Teacher, Behavioral Economist, Economic Naturalist, and Author](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/bob-franks-legacy-as-a-teacher-behavioral-economist-economic-naturalist-and-author/) - In 1966, when Robert H. Frank arrived in Nepal to teach high-school math and science as a Peace Corps volunteer, he was surprised at how quickly he felt comfortable in his modest new home, even though conditions of life were dramatically different from what he was used to. “What was astonishing to me was that within
- [Personality & Personnel](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/personality-personnel/) - Psychologists have identified a series of characteristics that predict patterns of unethical behavior by employees. At the same time, some people may behave honestly and with great integrity in their dealings with friends and family, but be duplicitous and self-serving at work. What can be done to shift their actions in a more ethical direction?
- [The Popular, Bad Arguments Against Stakeholder Capitalism](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/the-popular-bad-arguments-against-stakeholder-capitalism/) - The gentlemen do protest too much, we think—with apologies to William Shakespeare for abusing his fine words in Hamlet, Prince of Denmark. Lucian Bebchuk and Roberto Tallarita, both at Harvard, have joined fellow princes in academia (not a princess in sight) and, it seems, the Financial Times in a veritable onslaught on stakeholder capitalism over
- [Conflicts of Interest in a Post-Trump Era](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/conflicts-of-interest-in-a-post-trump-era/) - In a classic Watergate-era Doonesbury, Mark asks a rhetorical question. Is it fair to judge the ethicality of the White House based solely on the various cases and allegations that had surfaced during that scandal? No it isn’t, he replied: those are only the ones we know about. One of the latest Trump conflicts of
- [The Philosopher-for-Hire Who Says Meaningful Work Is an Illusion](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/the-philosopher-for-hire-who-says-meaningful-work-is-an-illusion/) - Over the last decade, Andrew Taggart has made a name for himself. Outlets like Quartz and Big Think have described him as a gadfly-for-hire, a practical philosopher who offers his conversational and philosophical acumen to the likes of Silicon Valley venture capitalists and entrepreneurs, among others. He told The Guardian that he has executives question whether the existence
- [Business Roundtable Wants Fair Employee Payment, But What About Agency?](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/business-roundtable-wants-fair-employee-payment-but-what-about-agency/) - Well into his 30s, my father ran a pool-plumbing business that just got us by: Sometimes clients wouldn’t pay, and when they did, it wouldn’t be uncommon for checks to bounce. His workers would demand higher wages while he would often have to fix poor work on-site, which would cut into his budget and time.
- [Here Is What Replaces Shareholder Primacy](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/here-is-what-replaces-shareholder-primacy/) - One day, about a decade ago, an evolutionary biologist from Binghamton, New York, made a decision: He’d use his knowledge of humanity’s social nature to try to understand and improve its social life, especially in his hometown.
- [Surveillance Tech Robotizes Employees, Eroding Trust and Well-Being](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/surveillance-tech-robotizes-employees-eroding-trust-and-well-being/) - In some Chinese elementary schools, students wear attention-monitoring headbands that tell teachers, by lighting up in different colors, how focused students are. A classroom robot also assesses their health and participation. Parents keep tabs on this real-time surveillance data, noting their child’s attention. If it dips too low, they’ll often punish their children at home.
- [An Organizational Scholar Explains How to Learn from COVID-19](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/an-organizational-scholar-explains-how-to-learn-from-covid-19/) - As of today, the United States has the highest number of COVID-19 cases and deaths in the world. With this level of human life destroyed, our society looks for not only solutions but lessons for the future. However, learning from a pandemic can be incredibly hard. Organizations rarely encounter them.1 How do we assign the
- [6 Ways to Rationally Deal with Your Rotten Boss](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/6-ways-to-rationally-deal-with-your-rotten-boss/) - “He literally pitched my idea to the client as if it was his...right in front of me! I’d helped him build the presentation for weeks prior to delivering it to the client. He’s so worried about keeping his own job that he’ll stop at nothing to save his own a**, even if that means running
- [Sometimes It’s Best to Fight Bias with Bias](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/sometimes-its-best-to-fight-bias-with-bias/) - When Christina Fang was a graduate student at the University of Pennsylvania, in the Wharton School of Business, she took a course on behavioral decision making and it blew her away. It fascinated her that people and firms can deviate systematically from rational and optimal behavior in many contexts, ranging from everyday decisions to high-stakes
- [Conspiracy Thinking in the Workplace Isn’t Harmless Gossip](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/conspiracy-thinking-in-the-workplace-isnt-harmless-gossip/) - There was a moment, in our recent Breaking the Fever podcast episode, when I felt compelled to pause the recording. I wanted to linger on what our guest, Robert Brotherton, an expert on the psychology of conspiracy thinking and author of Suspicious Minds: Why We Believe in Conspiracy Theories, had said. Today, in America, he
- [The Case Against Entrepreneurship As We Know It](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/the-case-against-entrepreneurship-as-we-know-it/) - Entrepreneurship is typically regarded as an individualistic activity that takes place in a free-market economy, usually in the context of for-profit businesses. This is an evolutionary worldview, although it is not always stated as such. Innovations are the cultural analogs of genetic mutations. Economic competition is analogous to ecological competition in the biological world. And
- [How CEOs Should Think About Rebuilding America](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/how-ceos-should-think-about-rebuilding-america/) - The only thing more complicated than building a world class economy from the ground up is rebuilding one after disaster strikes. Companies face immense challenges in restoring operations following a global economic shutdown that shredded business plans and forced once-prosperous enterprises to close their doors overnight. What are CEOs to do? In ordinary circumstances, the
- [Straight Talk About the Business Ethics of Workplace Surveillance](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/straight-talk-about-the-business-ethics-of-workplace-surveillance/) - On the potentially toxic combination of management culture and modern surveillance.
- [Motivated Reasoning](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/motivated-reasoning/) - There are some ethical concepts that are so important that it would be valuable to get them into widespread circulation in any organization that is trying to improve its ethics. But at Ethical Systems, we realize that not everyone has the time to explore our research pages. In response, we have partnered with the Notre Dame Center for
- [Nudging for Ethics](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/nudging-for-ethics/) - There are some ethical concepts that are so important that it would be valuable to get them into widespread circulation in any organization that is trying to improve its ethics. But at Ethical Systems, we realize that not everyone has the time to explore our research pages. In response, we have partnered with the Notre Dame Center for
- [How to Avoid Fueling Affective Polarization](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/how-to-avoid-fueling-affective-polarization/) - Another contentious election year is upon us, and the political machines fueling mutual contempt across the aisle are heating up. On top of our political divide, the past weeks have shown us the ugliness of just how racially divided we remain as a nation. The heartbreaking events in Minneapolis last month revealed again how today’s contemptuous
- [Ethics Pays](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/ethics-pays-2/) - There are some ethical concepts that are so important that it would be valuable to get them into widespread circulation in any organization that is trying to improve its ethics. But at Ethical Systems, we realize that not everyone has the time to explore our research pages. In response, we have partnered with the Notre Dame Center for
- [Bounded Ethicality](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/bounded-ethicality/) - There are some ethical concepts that are so important that it would be valuable to get them into widespread circulation in any organization that is trying to improve its ethics. But at Ethical Systems, we realize that not everyone has the time to explore our research pages. In response, we have partnered with the Notre Dame Center for
- [Speak Up Culture](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/speak-up-culture/) - There are some ethical concepts that are so important that it would be valuable to get them into widespread circulation in any organization that is trying to improve its ethics. But at Ethical Systems, we realize that not everyone has the time to explore our research pages. In response, we have partnered with the Notre Dame Center for
- [Ethical Fading](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/ethical-fading/) - There are some ethical concepts that are so important that it would be valuable to get them into widespread circulation in any organization that is trying to improve its ethics. But at Ethical Systems, we realize that not everyone has the time to explore our research pages. In response, we have partnered with the Notre Dame Center for
- [Goals Gone Wild](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/goals-gone-wild/) - There are some ethical concepts that are so important that it would be valuable to get them into widespread circulation in any organization that is trying to improve its ethics. But at Ethical Systems, we realize that not everyone has the time to explore our research pages. In response, we have partnered with the Notre Dame Center for
- [5 Ethical Challenges During COVID-19 That Businesses Need to Meet](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/5-ethical-challenges-during-covid-19-that-businesses-need-to-meet/) - The ethical challenges to businesses at this time may be familiar, but they take on new meaning and priority now.
- [The Case for Diversifying the Prototypical Leader](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/the-case-for-diversifying-the-prototypical-leader/) - Fostering a diversity of views and styles of leadership could give organizations, among other things, an ethical advantage.
- [Breaking the Fever Webinar Series](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/covid-19-breaking-the-fever/) - Preventable Surprises and Ethical Systems are pleased to invite you to Breaking the Fever, an online mini-series. We are convening thoughtful and creative experts to stimulate ideas on what we can do as individuals and institutions to tame the pandemic today and to make our societies and economies more resilient tomorrow. We will shortly be launching a podcast version
- [It’s Time to Question Everything About Best-Practice Compliance](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/its-time-to-question-everything-about-best-practice-compliance/) - A strong company culture of integrity isn’t just a nice thing to have.
- [A Theranos Whistleblower’s Mission to Make Tech Ethical](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/a-theranos-whistleblowers-mission-to-make-tech-ethical/) - Several times in conversation people have asked me whether I mean Thanos, the Marvel villain, when I bring up Theranos. “No,” I say, “I mean Theranos, the tech company once valued at $9 billion before it imploded due to scandal—haven’t you seen the ads for the HBO documentary? They’re everywhere.” I add that Theranos of
- [Why It’s Important to Know Who the Victims of Corruption Are](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/why-its-important-to-know-who-the-victims-of-corruption-are/) - One of the more complex and instructive business scandals of the 1980s concerned fraud in the sale of specialty pipe.
- [Accounting](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/accounting/) - Robert Bloomfield answers why management reporting is so essential to business strategy Watch more from Robert Bloomfield, as well as other expert discussions, stories of ethical failures from Worldcom to Madoff, and more on our Accounting playlist on YouTube. Miscellaneous Links & References Andrew Ceresney, Financial Reporting and Accounting Fraud, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, September 19, 2013. Speech at American Law
- [Can We Have Post-Traumatic Growth After COVID-19?](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/can-we-have-post-traumatic-growth-after-covid-19/) - Jonathan Haidt explains how organizations can not just cope with, but positively evolve through, this crisis.
- [How to Grapple with Personal Uncertainty During COVID-19](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/how-to-grapple-with-personal-uncertainty-during-covid-19/) - The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored how important it can be to confront uncertainty optimally.
- [How Leaders Help People Find Real Hope in the Face of a Pandemic](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/how-leaders-help-people-find-real-hope-in-the-face-of-a-pandemic/) - Like many leaders, my clients are scrambling to adapt to this new “virtual reality” of uncertainty brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. And now physical distancing will continue through the end of April. In the face of not knowing how best to communicate with their people—what to say, how to say it, when to say it—they
- [Women Can No Longer Pay for Household Help, and That’s a Problem](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/women-can-no-longer-pay-for-household-help-and-thats-a-problem/) - Who cooks? Who cleans? Who cares for children? Who takes care of sick family members?
- [The Problem with Hiring Algorithms](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/the-problem-with-hiring-algorithms-2/) - In 2004, when a “webcam” was relatively unheard-of tech, Mark Newman knew that it would be the future of hiring. One of the first things the 20-year old did, after getting his degree in international business, was to co-found HireVue, a company offering a digital interviewing platform. Business trickled in. While Newman lived at his
- [It’s Time for a New Agenda for Business Integrity](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/its-time-for-a-new-agenda-for-business-integrity/) - Last November, I went to Dubai as a member of the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council on Transparency and Anti-Corruption.
- [Behavioral Economist Robert Frank on COVID-19 and the Mother of All Cognitive Illusions](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/behavioral-economist-robert-frank-on-covid-19-and-the-mother-of-all-cognitive-illusions/) - If you are wondering about the long-term impact of the pandemic, this is a must-watch.
- [Ethics by Design: How to Manage Organizations in an Era of Anxiety, Polarization, and Disruption](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/ethics-by-design-how-to-manage-organizations-in-an-era-of-anxiety-polarization-and-disruption/) - Our second biennial Ethics by Design conference brought together researchers and practitioners to discuss present-day challenges for running ethical organizations. Through a combination of keynote presentations, panels, and research roundups, our participants discussed individual behavior, group norms, and legal/regulatory systems and how these relate to designing ethical systems in organizations. We explored, among other topics, whether the
- [Ethics by Design Conference 2019](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/ethics-by-design-conference-2019/)
- [The C.R.A.P. Framework for Addressing Workplace Bullshit](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/the-c-r-a-p-framework-for-addressing-workplace-bullshit/) - Call me naive but I was shocked as an undergraduate to see, in a serious book about George Orwell, an unserious profanity preceding the table of contents. Within the first few pages I read that the author, Christopher Hitchens, dedicated his book “To Robert Conquest — premature anti-fascist, premature anti-Stalinist, poet and mentor, and founder
- [Will Working at Home Make Us More Ethical?](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/will-working-at-home-make-us-more-ethical/) - Research I reported on several years ago suggests working from home could make a positive ethical difference.
- [The Difference Ethical Leadership Can Make in a Pandemic](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/the-difference-ethical-leadership-can-make-in-a-pandemic/) - The human costs of the COVID-19 pandemic are hard to grasp and accept.
- [The Case for an Entrepreneurial State](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/the-case-for-an-entrepreneurial-state/) - Damon Silvers has had the working class’ back since his youthful days at Harvard College.
- [Now Is the Perfect Time to Ask Your Employees About Their Moral Distress](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/now-is-the-perfect-time-to-ask-your-employees-about-their-moral-distress/) - Woefully unprepared countries, governments, and healthcare systems during this pandemic are struggling with a profound tension.
- [Internal Reporting](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/internal-reporting/) - Internal Reporting refers to any time that a member of an organization (or a former member) tells someone else about an illegal or immoral practice, if the telling is done in the hope that someone will do something to change the practice. In the great majority of cases, employees tell someone within the organization and don’t
- [Caterina Bulgarella Dispels the False Meme that Culture Is Intangible](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/featured-ethics-expert-and-culture-architect-caterina-bulgarella/) - Featured Interview: Caterina Bulgarella PhD, Culture Architect and Ethics Expert What are your current areas of work and research? Both my work and research focus on organizational culture. Over time, this work has become one and the same with building ethics in organizations, consistent with the evolution companies have been going through over the past 10-15 years. Ethical behavior underlines a powerful cocktail of ingredients (e.g., self-regulation, moral awareness, ability to ‘self-organize’ in the face of missing information, etc.). These human qualities and behaviors are also what organizations need to master the unprecedented level of complexity and change they face today.
- [Anti-Corruption and Human Rights Efforts Will Converge in 2020](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/anti-corruption-and-human-rights-efforts-will-converge-in-2020/) - In considering external operating risk, it has long been clear that corruption and negative human rights impacts correlate keenly. Underpaid doctors who require bribes before they will admit your child to a hospital immediately undermine your right to health. When an earthquake collapses buildings and causes fatalities, further investigation usually reveals that bribes were paid
- [Leaked Boeing Emails Show Slippery Slope of a Bad Compliance Culture](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/leaked-boeing-emails-show-slippery-slope-of-a-bad-compliance-culture/) - Today’s hyper-transparent environment has given the public stunning opportunities to review internal communications from executives at leading companies and to pass real-time judgments on the strengths and vulnerabilities of their cultures. In some cases, as with Away, Google, and Facebook, employees are leaking Slack conversations, email exchanges, and recordings of staff meetings. In others, as
- [The Psychology of Ford’s Fiesta and Focus Cover-Up](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/the-psychology-of-fords-fiesta-and-focus-cover-up/) - It started with a trail of car owners bringing their Fords to repair shops. Eventually, it escalated to an out-of-control hemorrhaging of warranty costs and legal bills. Now Ford faces a federal criminal fraud probe into its conduct. Did the company know that the DPS6 dual-clutch “PowerShift” transmission it installed in its Focus and Fiesta cars
- [Meet Alison Taylor, Ethical Systems’ New Executive Director](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/meet-alison-taylor-ethical-systems-new-executive-director/) - Over the years I’ve found it common, interviewing people, to hear that their line of work wasn’t what they envisioned for themselves. A game theorist I spoke to not too long ago, for example, had originally planned to study spacetime but now he models cooperation. Recently, I was curious about the sort of response I’d
- [When Surveillance Is Self-Defeating](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/when-surveillance-is-self-defeating/) - In February, Barclays Bank in the United Kingdom announced that it would end a staff-monitoring scheme after the Trades Union Congress accused the bank of using “dystopian Big Brother employment practices.” However, numerous American other companies have already adopted similar approaches, apparently without facing the same backlash. Last year, The Wall Street Journal detailed similar
- [What Management Model Best Stems the Spread of COVID-19?](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/what-management-model-best-stems-the-spread-of-covid-19/) - After reaching pandemic proportions, the novel coronavirus is a perfect example of a high conduct-risk challenge. The rate at which COVID-19 will continue to spread will largely depend on how people manage the risk of contagion and whether they take a number of precautionary measures. Not only can adherence to certain sanitary steps, travel advisories,
- [Listen to Adam Grant Talk Leadership Science with Preet Bharara](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/listen-to-adam-grant-talk-leadership-science-with-preet-bharara/) - It is safe to say that I am a podcast junkie. Whenever I find myself “ears-free”—while taking a shower, walking the dog, riding the subway—I listen to an episode. Usually it is intellectual fare—scientists or other sorts of scholars discussing their new books with, for instance, comedian Joe Rogan (on whose show our founder, Jon
- [Ethics By Design: How to Use Nudges, Norms and Laws to Improve Business Ethics](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/ethics-by-design-how-to-use-nudges-norms-and-laws-to-improve-business-ethics/) - Videos, Presentations, Media and Photos from Our Conference Introduction to Ethical Systems How can ethical systems design make companies more profitable, productive and positive? Jonathan Haidt opens Ethics By Design discussing the mission of Ethical Systems and the central advantages of ethical systems design for businesses today. Speaker Jonathan Haidt, Thomas Cooley Professor of Ethical
- [Salon: Can Evolutionary Thinking Help Companies Foster More Ethical Cultures?](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/salon-can-evolutionary-thinking-help-companies-foster-more-ethical-cultures/) - David Sloan Wilson, co-author of Prosocial: Using Evolutionary Science to Build Productive, Equitable, and Collaborative Groups had a conversation with special guests: Erika Cheung, Founder of Ethics in Entrepreneurship Toby Shannan, Shopify's Chief Support Officer David Sloan Wilson is SUNY Distinguished Professor of Biology and Anthropology at Binghamton University. He applies evolutionary theory to all aspects of humanity.
- [The Lawyer Who Wants to Transform Legal Ethics with Behavioral Science](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/the-lawyer-who-wants-to-transform-legal-ethics-with-behavioral-science/) - Tigran Eldred started his career as an appellate lawyer, working on behalf of criminal defendants who had been convicted of serious offenses. This often meant he needed to investigate whether his clients had received adequate representation by their trial attorneys. Too often, though, when he would question a trial lawyer about why certain decisions were—or
- [Give and Take](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/give-and-take/) - Give and Take: A Revolutionary Approach to Success by Adam Grant Penguin Group (2013) (public library) Summarized by Joshua Elle Overview Adam Grant combines personal accounts and contemporary research, both made readily accessible, to build a case for thinking of people as takers, matchers, and givers. He shows how givers tend to rise to the
- [Company Snapshot: At Costco, Culture is King](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/company-snapshot-at-costco-culture-is-king/) - The first of three Company Snapshots, these research-based pieces by guest author Jessica Guo look at aspects of successful companies that can be examined for strategy and information of benefit to both active businesses and the academics that study them. Additional Company Snapshots will be published on Mondays for the next two weeks. Company Snapshots: At Costco, Culture is King “Culture is not the most important thing in the world. It's the only thing.” According to Jim Sinegal, founder of retail giant Costco, the company’s culture drives its business strategy. Costco’s success turns on its ability to recognize and respect what Sinegal calls “what we stand for in the customer's eyes, and what we mean to all of the stakeholders in our business.” Those core tenets include putting the customer first, rewarding its employees, and valuing its suppliers.
- [The Ethics & Compliance Initiative Partners with Ethical Systems](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/the-ethics-compliance-initiative-partners-with-ethical-systems/) - ARLINGTON, VA, February 7th, 2018 – The Ethics & Compliance Initiative (ECI), the nation’s oldest ethics research and best practice community, today announces a partnership with Ethical Systems, a research collaboration comprised of the nation’s leading scholars specializing in the study of ethical culture and behavior in organizations. As two respected thought leaders who share a common interest in advancing the highest standards of ethical behavior in organizations, this partnership will provide a platform for both parties to conduct joint research, to develop new metrics, and to expand their reach with new insights that will shape best practice in organizational ethics. “This partnership has great promise to significantly enhance our understanding of the importance of ethics and culture in organizations,” said Patricia Harned, ECI’s CEO. “ECI is delighted to be able to work closely with the most highly regarded scholars in our industry, and we look forward to the collaboration that we know will benefit organizational leaders and students in higher education.
- [Company Snapshot: “Don’t Buy Our Products” – Ethics at Patagonia](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/company-snapshot-dont-buy-our-products-ethics-at-patagonia/) - The second of three Company Snapshots, these research-based pieces by guest author Jessica Guo look at aspects of successful companies that can be examined for strategy and information of benefit to both active businesses and the academics that study them. See our first company snapshot examining culture and values at Costco. Company Snapshots: “Don’t Buy Our Products” – Ethics at Patagonia When asked what he thought made a good company, Yvon Chouinard replied with one word: responsibility. Despite being the founder of a retail consumer brand company Patagonia, Chouinard is also a conservationist who advocates for anti-consumerism. He believes that Patagonia has “made a contract with our customers to make clothing as responsibly as possible.” To that end, Chouinard actively encourages his consumers to “think twice before you buy a product from us. Do you really need it or are you just bored and want to buy something?”
- [Company Snapshot: Conscious Capitalism- Core to The Container Store’s Success](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/company-snapshot-conscious-capitalism-core-to-the-container-stores-success/) - The third of three Company Snapshots, these research-based pieces by guest author Jessica Guo look at aspects of successful companies that can be examined for strategy and information of benefit to both active businesses and the academics that study them. See our first company snapshot examining culture and values at Costco and our second company snapshot looking at how values around sustainability and responsibility drive culture and integrity at Patagonia. Company Snapshot: Conscious Capitalism- Core to The Container Store’s Success According to a 2012 study by the global management consulting firm Hay Group, retail stores typically see turnover of 67% in part-time employees. Yet the Container Store, a leading storage and organizational products retailer, boasts an annual store employee turnover rate of only 10%. The Container Store’s employee satisfaction translates directly into bottom-line success: the company has grown from a founding $35,000 investment in 1978—about $131,000 in today’s currency—to earn over $800 million in net sales in FY 2017. “A good capitalist will see the value of what we’re doing,” co-founder Kip Tindell says. “We would not be as profitable if we did less for our employees and vendors.”
- [Five Takeaways from the Luanda Leaks](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/five-takeaways-from-the-luanda-leaks/) - In 2013, National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden leaked a large volume of highly classified information to investigative journalists, inspiring a new generation of whistleblowers. Since then, we’ve all been given access to the Panama and Paradise Papers. Last week brought the latest revelatory data dump: The Luanda Leaks have provided damaging new insight into
- [Salon Recap: Want an Effective Business? Foster an Ethical Culture](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/salon-recap-want-an-effective-business-foster-an-ethical-culture/) - Update: The video of our discussion with David Sloan Wilson, Erika Cheung, and Toby Shannon is now available for viewing! Watch it here or below. On a trip to Ottawa, a few years ago, I got to tour the offices of the e-commerce company Shopify, courtesy of a friend of mine I was visiting who
- [Compliance & Ethics Programs](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/compliance-ethics-programs/) - INTRODUCTION Compliance and ethics (“C&E”) programs are organizational policies put in place to promote law abiding and ethical conduct. To be effective, they must be supported by procedures, communications efforts, and cultural attributes. While the principal drivers for such programs are laws and regulations which offer leniency to companies with good C&E programs, there
- [Conflicts of Interest](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/conflicts-of-interest/) - INTRODUCTION Image: Giotto di Bondone, "Kiss of Judas," via Wikimedia Commons Bribery, kickbacks, and other clear-cut forms of corruption are serious problems for genuine bad apples; however, much of the problem with conflicts of interest is not intentional corruption but unintentional bias. Bias is widespread and is a problem even for well-meaning professionals (Cain &
- [Head to Head: A conversation on behavioral science and ethics](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/head-to-head-a-conversation-on-behavioral-science-and-ethics/) - Introducing Head to Head: A conversation on behavioral science and ethics, a new eBook created for anyone interested in improving the effectiveness of compliance and ethics (C&E) programs in organizations.
- [Designing a Good Life, University of Chicago's Booth School of Business, 2015](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/designing-a-good-life-university-of-chicagos-booth-school-of-business-2015/) - Download syllabus for Designing a Good Life, taught at University of Chicago Booth's School of Business in 2015 by Nick Epley. Download
- [End of Year Letter, 2019](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/end-of-year-letter-2019/) - Last year brought big changes, for the business community and for Ethical Systems. First, the business community: For those of us who care about ethics and corporate culture, 2019 was a landmark year. This is because the Business Roundtable officially repudiated its 1997 embrace of shareholder primacy—the doctrine that companies must always put the interests
- [Behavioral Legal Ethics, University of Tennessee, 2017](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/behavioral-legal-ethics-university-of-tennessee-2017/) - Download syllabus for Behavioral Legal Ethics, taught at University of Tennessee in 2017 by Paula Schaefer. Download
- [Leading With Values, University of Michigan-Ross School of Business, 2013](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/leading-with-values-university-of-michigan-ross-school-of-business-2013/) - Download syllabus for Leading With Values, taught at University of Michigan-Ross School of Business in 2013 by Dave Mayer. Download
- [Values Based Leadership, Northwestern University-Kellogg School of Management, 2015](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/values-based-leadership-northwestern-university-kellogg-school-of-management-2015/) - Download syllabus for Values Based Leadership, taught at Northwestern University-Kellogg School of Management in 2015 by Adam Waytz. Download
- [Ethical Leadership in the Global Economy, Boston University, 2016](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/ethical-leadership-in-the-global-economy-boston-university-2016/) - Download syllabus for Ethical Leadership in the Global Economy, taught at Boston University in 2016 by Laura Pincus Hartman. Download
- [Professional Responsibility, NYU Stern, 2017](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/professional-responsibility-nyu-stern-2017/) - Download syllabus for Professional Responsibility, taught at NYU-Stern in 2017 by Jonathan Haidt. Download
- [Trust](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/trust/) - Ethics and trust are inextricably linked. We are interested in ethics in large part because we are concerned, even obsessed, with the question of who we can trust is a world where there is risk and uncertainty. In our relationships, we humans are much more concerned about assessing trustworthiness of others than we are in
- [Law](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/law/) - INTRODUCTION Image: William Hogarth, "The Bench," via Wikipedia. Most of our research pages focus on the behavior of individuals, and the ways that individuals interact within companies. But the companies themselves are embedded in a network of laws and institutions that create the “ecosystem” within which firms compete and cooperate. On this page we describe
- [Corporate Governance](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/corporate-governance/) - INTRODUCTION Image: Eric Dan, boardroom at Roppongi Hills, via Flickr. Understanding ethical behavior in the context of corporate governance requires two levels of analysis: the internal concerns of corporate agency and the emergent effects on social welfare. Corporate agency is based on the premise that employees, managers, and directors (i.e., agents) should behave in the
- [Fixing a Hole](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/fixing-a-hole/) - Fixing a Hole Prof. Robert Bloomfield, Cornell University This case is based on a real-life situation; names have been changed to protect identities. Digging a Hole Nancy Quine, Senior Vice President of Geriatric Products at Global Consumer Goods (GCG) came to work in early December to hear some bad news. Jesse Chalmers, a new sales
- [Barings Bank](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/barings-bank/) - EthicalSystems.org Case Study: Barings Bank A collaborative effort by Jennifer Fang and Joshua Elle “As my noble friend Lord Hollick argued, trading is all about the control of a collection of rogues—of strongly motivated, financially entrepreneurial dealers.” –Viscount Chandos, 1995 Overview: Sir Francis Baring (left), with brother John Baring and son-in-law Charles Wall, in
- [The Lucifer Effect](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/the-lucifer-effect/) - The Lucifer Effect: Understanding How Good People Turn Evil by Philip Zimbardo Random House Publishing Group, 1st Ed. Reprint (2008) (public library) Summarized by Joshua Elle Overview In a compelling story of his own life's journey, Phil Zimbardo juxtaposes his famous Stanford Prison Experiment (SPE) and the equally famous Milgram experiment on obedience to authority
- [Managing Business Ethics](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/managing-business-ethics/) - Managing Business Ethics: Straight Talk About How To Do It Right by Linda K. Treviño and Katherine A. Nelson John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 5th ed. (2011) (public library) Summarized by David Newman Overview Treviño and Nelson present a fresh look at management as an exercise in shaping human behavior. Replete with psychological research on moral
- [Nudge](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/nudge/) - Nudge: Improving Decisions About Health, Wealth, and Happiness Richard H. Thaler, Cass R. Sunstein Penguin Books, Revised & Expanded edition (2009) (public library) Summarized by Erick Rabin Introduction Choice Architecture involves organizing any context in which people make decisions. Urinals, stairwells, alarm clocks, school cafeterias, retirement accounts—all of these can be made more efficient and
- [Misbehaving: The Making of Behavioral Economics](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/misbehaving-the-making-of-behavioral-economics/) - What do economics, psychology, and experimental science have in common? As Richard Thaler implies in Misbehaving: The making of behavioral economics, most economists would say little to none — but this couldn’t be further from the truth. Misbehaving is, first and foremost, a story of how modern economics, finance, and theoretical analysis have become increasingly specialized and narrow without substantial practical value. Utilizing empirical studies and anecdotes, funny stories, and even some jokes, Thaler persuades the reader that behavioral studies — or psychology-motivated disciplines which focus on humans, not mythical rational agents — are here to stay. Thaler’s findings have numerous and far-reaching implications for designing and implementing ethical systems within organizations. Read our book review and learn more.
- [Cultivating Conscience](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/cultivating-conscience/) - Cultivating Conscience: How Good Laws Make Good People by Lynn Stout (public library) Summarized by David Newman Overview Conscience, or unselfish prosocial behavior, is a real and powerful force. A growing body of empirical evidence shows how conscience both shapes our lives and is shaped by our society. Yet for decades, scholarly experts (especially lawyers
- [Cheating in College: Why Students Do It and What Educators Can Do About It](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/cheating-in-college-why-students-do-it-and-what-educators-can-do-about-it/) - Cheating in College: Why Students Do It and What Educators Can Do About It by: Donald L. McCabe, Kenneth D. Butterfield, and Linda K. Treviño John Hopkins University Press (2012) Public Library Summarized by Jared Wolf From one-room elementary schoolhouses to several hundred-person college lecture halls, students have sought loopholes and shortcuts as long as there have been
- [Book Summary: The Rule of Nobody](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/book-summary-the-rule-of-nobody/) - In The Rule of Nobody, Philip Howard describes how bureaucracy is stifling U.S. institutions as well as the spirit of autonomy and free will among Americans. We live within a system whereby layers upon layers of often incomprehensible and inconsistent regulations, mandatory disclosures and requirements create a society that is “governed by dead laws” — meaning that since many of today’s laws are so outdated, they have been rendered irrelevant because layers of new (and sometimes inconsistent) laws have been enacted after them, or they have become otherwise destructive to the social good because they hamper progress. The Rule of Nobody [homepage | public library] By: Philip K. Howard Summarized by Azish Filabi The book is packed with examples of inept laws replacing common sense human judgment. In many cases, government agencies are comprised of well-meaning individuals who can’t apply their common sense and best judgment to resolve the problems they are hired to manage. His recommendations for restoring human control of democracy and bringing about good government involves a series of reforms (summarized below) towards principles-based regulation, including appointing independent commissions to review and propose amendments to existing laws, to mandatory sunset provisions of all laws with budgetary impact, thus compelling Congress to consider the present needs of constituents when allocating expenditures.
- [Book Review: Margaret Heffernan's "Beyond Measure"](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/book-review-margaret-heffernans-beyond-measure/) - Margaret Heffernan's new book "Beyond Measure: The big impact of small changes," is an original manifesto for business leaders. Creating strong organizational cultures does not require multi-million dollar programs; instead, small actions by each employee- from Custodian to CEO- matter more and have the biggest impact.
- [Switch: How to Change Things When Change Is Hard](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/switch-how-to-change-things-when-change-is-hard/) - Switch: How to Change Things When Change Is Hard by Chip Heath and Dan Heath Crown Business, 1st Ed. (2010) (public library) Summarized by Jennifer Fang Overview Change is difficult, or so most people believe. Switch identifies the crucial factors in effecting lasting changes for both individuals and organizations. Dan and Chip Heath draw on
- [Mindwise: How We Understand What Others Think, Believe, Feel, and Want](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/mindwise-how-we-understand-what-others-think-believe-feel-and-want/) - Mindwise: How We Understand What Others Think, Believe, Feel, and Want by Nicholas Epley Knopf, Borzoi Books (2014) Summarized by Bryan Turner Mindwise: How We Understand What Others Think, Believe, Feel, and Want is a book about our “sixth sense”, or mindreading, but there’s nothing supernatural about it. Epley is an experimental social psychologist, and
- [The Power of Noticing: What the Best Leaders See](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/the-power-of-noticing-what-the-best-leaders-see/) - The Power of Noticing: What the Best Leaders See By Max H. Bazerman Simon and Schuster (2014) Summarized by Bryan Turner What if you had the ability to make better decisions and all you had to do was to make slight adjustments in how you analyze issues? Well, this ability (noticing) exists, and The
- [Week That Was in Ethical Systems, 3/31/14-4/6/14](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/week-that-was-in-ethical-systems-3-31-14-4-6-14/) - The Morning Risk Report: Investment Experts Can’t Spot Liars, And Worse, Think They Can, in The Wall Street Journal A recent study on lies in the financial industry found that although investment professionals "are just a little better than 50-50 in their ability to detect lies, they think they get it right over two-thirds of
- [Week That Was in Ethical Systems, 4/7/14-4/13/14](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/week-that-was-in-ethical-systems-4-7-14-4-13-14/) - The Morning Risk Report: What is Corruption? in The Wall Street Journal In his ruling in a major Supreme Court decision issued two weeks ago, Chief Justice John Roberts wrote that the only form of corruption under the law is outright bribery: money in exchange for an official act. Commentators have expressed concern that this is too
- [Raising a Moral Company](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/raising-a-moral-company/) - Ethical Systems contributor Adam Grant wrote in the New York Times last week about how to raise a moral child. Drawing insights from several psychological studies, he came away with three primary suggestions: Praise good character, not behavior. Children who donated marbles who were praised as being "very nice and helpful [people]" showed more generosity in
- [(Dis)honesty - The Truth About Lies](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/dishonesty-the-truth-about-lies/) - Yesterday, EthicalSystems.org collaborator Dan Ariely, came to New York to participate in the 11th annual Games for Change Festival. In addition to speaking at the festival, he brought along the Truth Box. The Truth Box is a booth containing a single stool, a screen and keyboard, sound muffling curtains, and a camera, all for people
- [#EthSys Insights 2: Marc Hodak](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/ethsys-insights-2-marc-hodak/) - #EthSys Insights is a video series where we have experts answer questions about ethical systems design. For our second installment, we turn to Corporate Governance contributor Marc Hodak, adjunct professor at NYU-Stern. Marc answered the following questions for us and we recorded his responses (the longest video is 169 seconds): What are the central issues of
- [Week That Was in Ethical Systems, 4/14/14-4/27/14](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/week-that-was-in-ethical-systems-4-14-14-4-27-14/) - Today we have a roundup of articles from the past two weeks: Making Use of Non-Financial Disclosures, in The Wall Street Journal A recent survey found that 9 out of 10 investment professionals said non-financial disclosures (e.g., performance data related to the environment, governance, social responsibility, anti-corruption, and bribery) played a "pivotal role" in their decision-making
- [Behavioral ethics and compliance: what the board of directors should ask](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/behavioral-ethics-and-compliance-what-the-board-of-directors-should-ask/) - [This essay was originally posted on the Conflict of Interest Blog.] In “Behavioral Ethics: Can It Help Lawyers (and Others) Be Their Best Selves?” – a preliminary draft of a paper which has been accepted for publication by the Notre Dame Journal of Law, Ethics & Public Policy – Robert A. Prentice of the University of
- [#EthSys Insights 3: Amy Wrzesniewski](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/ethsys-insights-3-amy-wrzesniewski/) - #EthSys Insights is a video series where we have experts answer questions about ethical systems design. For our third installment, we were fortunate to have a visit from Amy Wrzesniewski, Associate Professor of Organization Behavior, Yale School of Management. Amy answered the following questions for us and we recorded her responses (the video is 120 seconds long):
- [#EthSys Insights 4: Robert Frank](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/ethsys-insights-4-robert-frank/) - #EthSys Insights is a video series where we have experts answer questions about ethical systems design. For our fourth installment, we had the pleasure of asking our Cheating & Honesty contributor, Robert Frank, to clear up contemporary misconceptions about the Darwinian view on cheating and honesty in business (the video is 148 seconds long). The video is embedded
- [Week That Was in Ethical Systems, 4/28/14-5/4/14](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/week-that-was-in-ethical-systems-4-28-14-5-4-14/) - Is Ethics Winning in Business? Chart Points to That Trend, in The Wall Street Journal The Dow Jones Risk & Compliance annual anti-corruption survey indicates a decrease in the number of companies reporting they lost business to an unethical competitor (down to 33% from 45% last year). Along with this year's National Business Ethics Survey, this
- [Teaching Business Ethics Through Fiction](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/teaching-business-ethics-through-fiction/) - Harvard Business School professor Joseph Badaracco teaches a course titled "The Moral Leader," in which he has defined leadership as "a struggle by a flawed human being to make some important human values real and effective in the world as it is." To teach thoughtful moral decision-making to future generations of managers and CEOs, Badaracco employs
- [Five Key Features of a Good Ethics and Compliance Program](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/five-key-features-of-a-good-ethics-and-compliance-program/) - There's a lot of momentum in the corporate world for creating real and effective ethics and compliance programs (spurred on by the incentives in laws such as the Federal Sentencing Guidelines). There's a lot of wisdom on how to create effective programs at the Deloitte Risk and Compliance Journal, where Keith Darcy and George Hanley just
- [Week That Was in Ethical Systems, 5/5/14-5/11/14](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/week-that-was-in-ethical-systems-5-5-14-5-11-14/) - Ethical behavior is just smart business, in The Boston Globe When we talk about ethics, we sometimes focus on the moral implications of a particular role in business. One role that is often overlooked is that of the customer. This article outlines how "the ethical customer always engages in business with a provider in an honest and
- [Report: Compliance Program Effectiveness Index](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/report-compliance-program-effectiveness-index/) - Culture and ethics advisory firm LRN has released its annual report on compliance program effectiveness, correlating a measure it calls PEI with observed outcomes over the last three years. As you can see from Figure 1, about two-thirds of companies surveyed reported positive changes in overall compliance-related outcomes over a three-year period. However, there is
- [#EthSys Insights 5: Barry Schwartz](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/ethsys-insights-5-barry-schwartz/) - #EthSys Insights is a video series where we have experts answer questions about ethical systems design. For our fifth installment, we had the honor of talking with Barry Schwartz, Professor of Social Theory and Social Action, Swarthmore College. Barry answered the following questions for us and we recorded his responses (the longest video is 96 seconds
- [Week That Was in Ethical Systems, 5/12/14-5/25/14](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/week-that-was-in-ethical-systems-5-12-14-5-25-14/) - More Evidence That Compliance & Ethics Education Clash, in Compliance Week Ethical Systems contributors Max Bazerman and Francesca Gino have published a new paper on the differences between "values-oriented" and "structure-oriented" programs to deliver ethical messages and improve behavior. Their conclusion? Ethics and compliance programs are not working as well as we'd like. The paper contains
- [#EthSys Insights 6: Jeffrey Kaplan](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/ethsys-insights-6-jeffrey-kaplan/) - #EthSys Insights is a video series where we have experts answer questions about ethical systems design. For our sixth installment, we had the honor of talking with our Compliance & Ethics Programs contributor Jeffrey Kaplan, a partner in Kaplan & Walker LLP. Jeffrey answered the following questions for us and we recorded his responses (the longest
- [Three Stories about the Ethics of Capitalism](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/three-stories-about-the-ethics-of-capitalism/) - [Cross posted from RighteousMind.com. Ethical Systems design is a way to make the 3rd story about capitalism come true] Since moving to the NYU-Stern School of Business in 2011, I’ve been interested in the many ways that moral psychology influences economic thinking. I was surrounded by professors and MBA students who see business as a
- [New proof that good ethics is good business](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/new-proof-that-good-ethics-is-good-business/) - [This essay was originally posted to The Conflict of Interest Blog] In a simpler economic time, the tangible rewards to oneself from doing good for others were fairly self-evident. A memorable articulation of this (from a chronicler of Eskimo life who is quoted in Robert Wright’s book Nonzero: the Logic of Human Destiny [public library]):
- [The Slippery Slope to Habitual Unethical Behavior and How to Prevent It](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/the-slippery-slope-to-habitual-unethical-behavior-and-how-to-prevent-it/) - Ethical Systems collaborator Francesca Gino has a piece in the Harvard Business Review on how unethical behavior becomes habit. It turns out that people are much more likely to engage in unethical behavior when it occurs bit by bit, slowly over time, rather than in one large, decisive unethical decision. However, as Gino writes, "Our
- [Ethics Exchange: Ethics, Compliance, and Human Nature](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/ethics-exchange-ethics-compliance-and-human-nature/) - [This conversation was originally posted at ECOA Connects.] Jeff Kaplan: Steve, nearly a century ago, John Maurice Clark – a professor at one of your alma maters, the University of Chicago – wrote: “The economist may attempt to ignore psychology, but it is sheer impossibility for him to ignore human nature … If the economist
- [Week That Was in Ethical Systems, 2/17-2/23](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/week-that-was-in-ethical-systems-2-17-2-23/) - The Morning Risk Report: Importance of Internal Ears, in The Wall Street Journal "A report Target Corp. failed to heed warnings from some of its employees about payment systems two months before they were hacked shows the importance of listening to employees, customers or anyone who raises a legitimate warning flag–and the dangers of what
- [#EthSys Insights 1: Adam Grant](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/ethsys-insights-1-adam-grant/) - #EthSys Insights is a video series where we have experts answer questions about ethical systems design. For our first installment, we turn to contributor Adam Grant, Professor of Management at Wharton. We had the opportunity to ask Adam the following questions and record his responses (the longest video is only 81 seconds): What immediate steps might
- [Smart Businesses Noticing Return on Investment in Ethics](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/smart-businesses-noticing-return-on-investment-in-ethics/) - Ethical Systems had another mention in the press earlier this week, courtesy of contributor David Mayer, who was interviewed for an article regarding the latest report from the Ethics Resource Center on the decline of workplace misconduct. The ERC's National Business Ethics Survey is still making headlines, in part because some observers of business trends
- [Week That Was in Ethical Systems, 2/24-3/2](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/week-that-was-in-ethical-systems-2-24-3-2/) - The Morning Risk Report: Mammas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be CCOs, in The Wall Street Journal Chief Compliance Officers are in high demand but short supply, and they often leave their positions within a year or two of taking them. One expert opines that “CCOs only last a short while because they either
- [A Beginner's Guide to Irrational Behavior](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/a-beginners-guide-to-irrational-behavior/) - [This essay was originally posted on contributor Dan Ariely's personal blog.] You make decisions all the time. What should you eat for breakfast? Which route should you take to work? How much are you willing to pay for local, pasture-raised beef over factory farmed, corn-fed meat? Should you go for a run, jog, walk, or
- [CEOs' Ethical Standards and the Limits of Compliance](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/ceos-ethical-standards-and-the-limits-of-compliance/) - [This essay was originally posted on The Conflict of Interest Blog.] I’m not one who sees ethics and compliance as operating in wholly distinct spheres, and have long felt that they closely complement each other. (For more on the general relationship between the two see this piece from the SCCE’s C&E journal.) But, of course, they
- [Exemplary Ethical Recoveries](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/exemplary-ethical-recoveries/) - [This essay was originally posted on The Conflict of Interest Blog.] F. Scott Fitzgerald famously said, “There are no second acts in American lives,” but in the C&E world the second act may count for more than the first – for better or worse. Instances of the latter – tragic second acts – include various
- [Week That Was in Ethical Systems, 3/3-3/9](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/week-that-was-in-ethical-systems-3-3-3-9/) - The Morning Risk Report: DOJ Kleptocracy Initiative Roars With Record Haul, in The Wall Street Journal "The U.S. Justice Department announced on Wednesday a record-breaking asset forfeiture action, moving to seize more than $550 million of allegedly corrupt proceeds from the late Nigerian dictator Sani Abacha and his associates. Calling Mr. Abacha “one of the most notorious kleptocrats
- [A system for teaching ethical systems](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/a-system-for-teaching-ethical-systems/) - A system for teaching ethical systems Jeffrey M. Kaplan When I used to teach a section of a Professional Responsibility business school class I wanted to get the students thinking more from a preventive organizational approach to ethics than what was contemplated by the course materials that the school provided. To that end, on the first
- [Meet "Homo Duplex" - a new ethics super-hero?](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/meet-homo-duplex-a-new-ethics-super-hero/) - [This essay was originally posted on The Conflict of Interest Blog.] In “Behavioral Ethics for Homo Economicus, Homo Heuristicus and Homo Duplex” – which is published in the March 2004 issue of Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes – Jesse Kluver, Rebecca Frazier and Jonathan Haidt describe three views of human nature and consider the implications
- [Business Novels and Good Character(s)](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/business-novels-and-good-characters/) - THIS IS A GUEST POST, BY CHRISTOPHER MICHAELSON, Associate Professor of ethics and business law at Opus college of Business, University of St. Thomas What books have shaped your personal and professional values? At a World Economic Forum session in Davos a few years ago, a panel of leaders identified four “classics of business literature”:
- [Week That Was in Ethical Systems, 3/16/14-3/23/14](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/week-that-was-in-ethical-systems-3-16-14-3-23-14/) - The Most Ethical Companies In The World, in Business Insider The Ethisphere Institute has released its eighth annual list of the World's Most Ethical Companies. A total of 144 companies were selected, representing 41 industries in 22 countries. Ethisphere's scoring methodology incorporates (1) ethics and compliance programs; (2) reputation, leadership, and innovation; (3) governance; (4)
- [Week That Was in Ethical Systems, 3/24/14-3/30/14](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/week-that-was-in-ethical-systems-3-24-14-3-30-14/) - Conflicts of Interest Disclosures, Waivers, Recusals … and Fig Leaves, in The Conflict of Interest Blog Ethical Systems contributor Jeff Kaplan writes about two stories involving conflict of interest disclosures, waivers, and recusals. The key takeaway is that these measures are not sufficient to avoid ethical conflicts if they are treated solely as convenient formalities. Substantial
- [Distance, Dehumanization, and Ethical Disengagement](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/distance-dehumanization-and-ethical-disengagement/) - Being mindful of the variety of ways we humans misunderstand each other is instrumental in promoting ethical systems. Salon.com recently featured an article titled The Psychology of Hate: How We Deny Human Beings Their Humanity from Ethical Systems contributor Nicholas Epley. The article is an excerpt from Professor Epley’s new book Mindwise: How We Understand
- [Risk Assessment - By the Book](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/risk-assessment-by-the-book/) - [This essay was originally posted on Corporate Compliance Insights.] Nothing is more important to developing and maintaining an effective C&E program than risk assessment, and effective risk assessment is, as a general matter, perhaps the most daunting task a C&E officer is likely to face. The challenges are both conceptual (a surprising lack of consensus
- [Dishonesty Debate with Dan Ariely, Paul Bloom, and Peter Singer](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/dishonesty-debate-with-dan-ariely-paul-bloom-and-peter-singer/) - Last night’s Cross-Coursera Dishonesty Debate brought together moral philosopher Peter Singer of Princeton, behavioral psychologist Paul Bloom of Yale, and our EthicalSystems.org behavioral economist Dan Ariely of Duke, to engaged in a debate on dishonesty, morality, and ethics. It was a thoroughly informative and accessible synthesis of their respective fields. Peter Singer kicked off the
- [Fair Leadership is Good Business](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/fair-leadership-is-good-business/) - The Guardian reported earlier this week on a new study showing a strong connection between whether employees perceive their leaders as fair and those leaders' ability to effect positive change in their organizations. Fairness impacts all dimensions of what the researchers define as transformational leadership: namely, "idealized influence" (setting ethical standards for other to
- [Compliance Trends Show Room for Improvement](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/compliance-trends-show-room-for-improvement/) - WSJ's Risk and Compliance Journal reported today on In Focus: Compliance Trends Survey 2013, a collaboration by Deloitte and Compliance Week. They found, among other things, that companies focus on different kinds of compliance issues depending on their size, operational structure, and risk profile. But one of the more surprising findings was what organizations were not doing:
- [High-Status, Successful Employees More Likely to Use Deception](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/high-status-successful-employees-more-likely-to-use-deception/) - A working paper at Harvard Business School reports that successful, higher-status employees are more likely to react to unfavorable comparisons with peers by engaging in deception designed to make the comparisons less unfavorable. The authors tested their hypothesis primarily with academics, finding that those further up in the hierarchy were more likely to use deceptive
- [Finance Tackling Ethical Conduct, But Issues Remain](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/finance-tackling-ethical-conduct-but-issues-remain/) - Image: The Economist Insights An Economist Intelligence Unit report sponsored by CFA Institute "examines the role of integrity and knowledge in restoring culture in the financial services industry and in building a more resilient industry." Titled A crisis of culture, the report finds broadly that most financial firms have taken steps to strengthen ethical conduct,
- [Ameliorating Conflicts of Interest and Corruption in Auditing](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/ameliorating-conflicts-of-interest-and-corruption-in-auditing/) - Image: Chester Higgins, via Wikimedia Commons. Negative externalities such as pollution can be controlled, but only if all stakeholders are working together instead of at cross purposes. Auditors are usually hired and paid by the firms they audit. If you think there is something fishy about that, you are not alone. Many financial scandals, including
- [What an ethical culture is and isn't](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/what-an-ethical-culture-is-and-isnt/) - There was an interesting exchange at ECOA Connects blog last week, about what are the key components of an ethical culture. (ECOA is the Ethics and Compliance Officer Association.) The authors were two men with a great deal of experience working with companies on their ethics policies and problems. Steve Priest offered this simple common-sense
- [The Promise of Ethical Systems for C&E Professionals](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/the-promise-of-ethical-systems-for-ce-professionals/) - Jeffrey Kaplan (resident expert in law and compliance) has a new post on Conflict of Interest Blog about the potential for Ethical Systems to improve corporate compliance: "my hope is that through the Eth Sys platform social science researchers and C&E professionals can exchange ideas and information on promoting ethical behavior in business organizations to an
- [How the government created the legal ecosystem for the financial crisis](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/how-the-government-created-the-legal-ecosystem-for-the-financial-crisis/) - Many Americans are angry that hardly any executives have gone to jail for fraud or other actions that caused the global financial crisis. In an essay in the New York Review of Books, judge Jed Rakoff gives his analysis of why federal prosecutors have not pressed charges. In part, it’s because the Federal Government itself
- [Week That Was in Ethical Systems, 1/13-1/19](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/week-that-was-in-ethical-systems-1-13-1-19/) - For the Love of Money, in The New York Times A former hedge fund trader shares his personal experience of how the "wealth addiction" that afflicts much of Wall Street creates "a toxic culture that encourages the grandiosity of people who are desperately trying to feel powerful." An ethically designed organization should make employees feel rewarded
- [Week That Was in Ethical Systems, 1/20-1/26](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/week-that-was-in-ethical-systems-1-20-1-26/) - The Value of Corporate Culture, in The Harvard Law School Forum on Corporate Governance and Financial Regulation The authors discuss their recent NBER working paper, in which they find that "high levels of perceived integrity are positively correlated with good outcomes, in terms of higher productivity, profitability, better industrial relations, and higher level of attractiveness
- [Week That Was in Ethical Systems, 1/27-2/2](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/week-that-was-in-ethical-systems-1-27-2-2/) - Press Release: ECOA to Offer Unique Global Law Distance-Learning Course Tailored for E&C Practitioners The Ethics & Compliance Officer Association will offer a first-of-its-kind online professional development course serving the ethics and compliance field: ECOA Global Law. Ethical Systems contributor Jeff Kaplan led the development of the seven-week program, which will begin on April 8. The course
- [Research on the Giving Voice to Values curriculum](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/research-on-the-giving-voice-to-values-curriculum/) - I have been corresponding with Mary Gentile, the creator of the widely used Giving Voice to Values curriculum. I asked her: “Is there any research showing behavioral effects of the curriculum? I know that this is extremely difficult to show, beyond the classroom.” Here is her very thoughtful response, which she graciously agreed to let
- [Good News: Workplace Misconduct is Declining Steadily](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/good-news-workplace-misconduct-is-declining-steadily/) - On February 4 the Ethics Resource Center released the latest National Business Ethics Survey (NBES). Sampling over 6,400 workers across the country, the report found that 41% of those surveyed said they have observed misconduct on the job, down from 55% in 2007. Pressure to compromise standards also fell to 9% from 13% in 2011.
- [Week That Was in Ethical Systems, 2/3-2/9](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/week-that-was-in-ethical-systems-2-3-2-9/) - Survey: Workplace Misconduct at Historic Low, from the Ethics Resource Center In case you missed our previous blog post, the 2013 National Business Ethics Survey came out last week, with fairly encouraging results. Sampling over 6,400 workers across the country, the report found that 41% of those surveyed said they have observed misconduct on the job,
- [Are you keeping track of your compliance costs?](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/are-you-keeping-track-of-your-compliance-costs/) - [This essay was originally posted at The Conflict of Interest Blog.] A recent post reviewed some new and important research showing a positive correlation between companies having a culture of integrity and being profitable. Since then, the Ethics Resource Center issued its 2013 National Business Ethics Survey, which showed a decline in workplace misconduct which the
- [Week That Was in Ethical Systems, 2/10-2/16](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/week-that-was-in-ethical-systems-2-10-2-16/) - The Morning Risk Report: One Way to Win Board Ballots–Ban Opponents, in The Wall Street Journal Activist investors and shareholder advisors are opposing new bylaws that prevent dissident director candidates from standing for election. These bylaws would protect incumbents by disqualifying director candidates who receive compensation or expense reimbursement for their candidacy, even if they are
- [Too close to the line: a convergence of culture, law and behavioral ethics](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/too-close-to-the-line-a-convergence-of-culture-law-and-behavioral-ethics/) - [This essay was originally posted at The Conflict of Interest Blog.] Image via Wikimedia Commons. To “walk the line” means something very different to those who prosecute business crime cases than it did to Johnny Cash. For instance, in a speech given last year, Steven L. Cohen, Associate Director for Enforcement at the Securities and Exchange
- [Engaged Academics at Ethical Systems](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/engaged-academics-at-ethical-systems/) - Image via Wikimedia Commons. Academic research necessarily focuses on the outer rings. Our goal is to condense much of that into the middle. "Some of the smartest thinkers on problems at home and around the world are university professors, but most of them just don’t matter in today’s great debates." So began Nicholas Kristof's column
- [Regulation is especially needed in the finance industry](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/regulation-is-especially-needed-in-the-finance-industry/) - Two interesting recent articles, from left and right, argue that the finance industry is especially in need of restraint imposed by government regulation. From the left, Paul Krugman, "Why We Regulate." Gilded age banks, with little regulation, had bank panics every 6 years, on average. Bank regulation in the 1930s gave us a half century
- [Ethics Classes Don’t Need to Make Students More Ethical To Be Worthwhile](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/ethics-classes-dont-need-to-make-students-more-ethical-to-be-worthwhile/) - Business Ethics is often criticized on the grounds that its inclusion in the business education curriculum has not improved the ethical performance of business. This critique is grounded in two false assumptions: (1) individual and institutional ethical behavior can be measured and compared over time; and (2) ethical behavior can be taught in the classroom.
- [The Ethics of Pay for Performance](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/the-ethics-of-pay-for-performance/) - The Trouble with Wall Street, by Michael Lewis. The New Republic, February 4, 2013. Earlier this year, Michael Lewis addressed how firms on Wall Street in general, and Goldman Sachs in particular, have fostered a culture that systematically incentivizes unethical behavior. Analyzing the tell-all of Greg Smith, the former Goldman employee who famously publicized his decision to
- [Week That Was in Ethical Systems, 9/16-9/22](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/week-that-was-in-ethical-systems-9-16-9-22/) - Cheating and Culture: “Students Accused of Cheating Return Awkwardly to a Changed Harvard” in the New York Times Ethical breaches send ripples through all organizations. A year after dozens of students were caught cheating, students and faculty at Harvard are asking how to prevent future incidents, and grappling with how to move on. For more
- [Blind Spots Review by Jeff Kaplan](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/blind-spots-review-by-jeff-kaplan/) - Although we plan to add a full-length book summary in the near future, lawyer and ethical systems researcher Jeff Kaplan has already written a review of Blind Spots (homepage, amazon, B&N, public library), by Max Bazerman and Ann Tenbrunsel. As Kaplan points out, Blind Spots has huge implications for corporate compliance and ethics programs, especially with regard to the phenomenon of
- [Cultural Alignment and Compliance](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/cultural-alignment-and-compliance/) - Mary Schapiro, former SEC Chairman from January 2009 until December 2012, remembers "a time when enforcement fines were the cost of doing business." But in August 2013, WSJ financial editor Francesco Guerrera wrote of a change in the regulatory climate: penalties for wrongdoing are getting harsher. However, steep settlements for financial institutions are not enough. As long
- [Week That Was in Ethical Systems, 9/23-9/29](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/week-that-was-in-ethical-systems-9-23-9-29/) - This week we turn our focus to stories about corruption. To learn more about research in this area and related fields, see our pages on Corruption and Cheating. Corruption Risk Index Reveals Long-Term Lack of Will to Tackle Corruption in BRICs, from Maplecroft Global Risk Analytics The lack of progress on corruption is having a detrimental
- [Risk Management and Ethical Systems Design](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/risk-management-and-ethical-systems-design/) - Recently the Wall Street Journal featured a conversation with Henry Ristuccia, a partner at Deloitte and global leader for Governance, Risk and Compliance Services, speaking on the subject of reputational risk management. The key takeaway: reputation is considered the highest impact risk area to business strategy. The challenge is that many organizations still take a rear-view mirror
- [Week That Was in Ethical Systems, 9/30-10/6](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/week-that-was-in-ethical-systems-9-30-10-6/) - SEC Gives Whistleblower More Than $14 Million In Record Award​, in The Wall Street Journal The SEC said it awarded more than $14 million to a whistleblower who gave the agency information that led to an enforcement action “that recovered substantial investor funds.” This award was the third-ever handed by out by the agency and
- [Trust Within and Between Groups with Different Missions](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/trust-within-and-between-groups-with-different-missions/) - A manuscript currently in press from the University of Zurich reports that subjects who strongly identify themselves with a non-profit mission are more trustworthy in a minimal group setting (i.e., when grouped by artistic preference for Paul Klee or Wassily Kandinsky) but also harshly discriminate against out-groups when subjects are grouped by the missions they identify
- [Cheating May Cause Boost in Happiness](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/cheating-may-cause-boost-in-happiness/) - Citing a 2013 study by several ethics researchers, including EthSys contributor Francesca Gino, The New York Times reports that people experience an elevated mood after cheating, as long as they do not believe anyone was harmed by it. Even if there was no monetary incentive to cheat, or if someone else cheated on the subjects' behalf, "they felt just
- [Prosecutors, massive fines and moral hazard](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/prosecutors-massive-fines-and-moral-hazard/) - [This essay was originally posted on the Conflict of Interest Blog.] Many years ago, I lived next door to a young police officer and his family who, while presumably paid a modest salary, drove a pretty expensive car. He was able to do this, I learned, because his department seized autos (and other property) of various
- [The Habits of a[n Ethical] Systems Thinker](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/the-habits-of-an-ethical-systems-thinker/) - Image of Daniel Goleman via Wikimedia Commons Renowned scholars Daniel Goleman and Peter Senge have teamed up to write a book titled, The Triple Focus: A New Approach to Education [public library]. Their book is primarily targeted toward the education of school children, but they also intend for it to have a much broader applicability “across all curricula and
- [Come Work with Us](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/come-work-with-us/) - We’re looking to add an experienced communications person to our team. Job description below. Do you believe that business can be a much greater force for good in the world? Do you want to help us make it so? We’re a non-profit collaboration of researchers at America’s top business schools who are drawing on the
- [To improve ethics, changing people matters less, and changing situations matters more, than you probably think](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/to-improve-ethics-changing-people-matters-less-and-changing-situations-matters-more-than-you-probably-think/) - Jonathan Haidt and I recently had the good fortune to have lunch with David Einhorn (the founder of Greenlight Capital) and his team at the Einhorn Family Charitable Trust (EFCT). EFCT works on promoting empathy to help people get along better. It’s a great mission and has substantial overlap with Jon’s Civil Politics project. To
- [#EthSys Insights 7: Michael Posner](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/ethsys-insights-7-michael-posner/) - #EthSys Insights is a video series where we have experts answer questions about ethical systems design. For our seventh installment, we had the honor of talking with our Human Rights contributor Michael Posner, a professor at the NYU Stern Center for Business and Human Rights. Michael answered the following questions for us and we recorded his responses (the
- [Effective C&E Programs: The Justice Department Speaks](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/effective-ce-programs-the-justice-department-speaks/) - [This essay was originally posted on the Conflict of Interest Blog] Last week, together with David Wilkins of SNC-Lavalin, I chaired the Practising Law Institute’s Advanced Compliance & Ethics Workshop. Marshall Miller, the number 2 in the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, gave the keynote address, which was subsequently posted on the Department’s web site. Among
- [A powerful ethical intervention is just one pet story away](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/a-powerful-ethical-intervention-is-just-one-pet-story-away/) - The natural conditions of the business world are breeding grounds for what psychologists call moral disengagement. The psychology of moral disengagement allows us to do bad stuff and still feel okay about ourselves. We morally disengage when we behave as a collective rather than as individuals, view others as numbers more than people, and distance
- [Why all of us could face UNC’s problem](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/why-all-of-us-could-face-uncs-problem/) - [This article was originally posted on Max Bazerman's Linkedin page] The recent revelations that at least 3,100 students at the University of North Carolina, many of them athletes, took fake “paper classes” over the course of 18 years stands out as the greatest documented case of fraud in college athletics. Unfortunately, however, this type of unethical behavior is
- [Featured Collaborator of the Month: Nicholas Epley](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/featured-collaborator-of-the-month-nicholas-epley/) - Featured Collaborator of the Month: Professor Nicholas Epley, author of Mindwise: How We Understand What Others Think, Believe, Feel, and Want is the featured collaborator of the month for November. This section includes: An interview with Professor Epley about his work and ethical systems design A video of a talk he’s given One of his academic
- [Collaborators in the news for October](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/collaborators-in-the-news-for-october/) - COLLABORATORS IN THE NEWS David Mayer was featured in The trouble with diversity initiatives in the Wall Street Journal and Why workplace diversity efforts struggle in Fortune, both of which site one of his forthcoming papers. He was also quoted in the Atlantic’s piece on Does testosterone make people greedy? Max Bazerman is featured in
- [Ethical Systems is hiring](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/ethical-systems-is-hiring/) - We're hiring an intern and a communications consultant. Details below. Is it you or someone you know? Communications Consultant Do you believe that business can be a much greater force for good in the world? Do you want to help us make it so? We’re a non-profit collaboration of researchers at America’s top business schools who
- [The Operating System (OS) of Ethical Business](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/the-operating-system-os-of-ethical-business/) - Bryan Johnson recently made a $100 million gift to launch the OS Fund. The OS Fund invests in bold, high-return ideas that “promise to reinvent the operating systems of life.” Why is this relevant to ethical systems design? Because we’re trying to rewrite the OS of business to make it the primary driver of flourishing
- [Profits should be a result of excellence--not the main goal](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/profits-should-be-a-result-of-excellence-not-the-main-goal/) - I recently received an email from Bill Budinger, the founder of Rodel Inc. Bill expressed a core idea of about great leadership: that if you put people and mission before profits, then the profits will flow. Bill went on to explain how putting profits first makes it very difficult to run an ethical company. Bill's formulation was so
- [Risk assessment: law, economics, morality science…and liquor](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/risk-assessment-law-economics-morality-scienceand-liquor/) - [This essay was originally posted on the Conflict of Interest Blog] Many years ago a client who was in the compliance department of a pharma company told me his strategy for conducting risk assessments. He would schedule the interviews of sales people – a key, but typically difficult, constituency for nearly any risk assessment – to begin
- [City-Level Business Ethics](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/city-level-business-ethics/) - [Editor’s note: We at EthicalSystems.org have been so pleased to learn about the activities of the Omaha Business Ethics Alliance that we invited its executive director, Beverly Kracher, to write a guest blog post introducing the Alliance. Cities are indeed an important and usually overlooked level in the nested systems that one should look at
- [Is Wall Street a bad ethical neighborhood?](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/is-wall-street-a-bad-ethical-neighborhood/) - [This essay was originally posted on the Conflict of Interest Blog] For many years I taught ethics in the executive MBA program of a New York area business school. Because of the school’s location, the “day job” for many of the students was in the financial services field, and on average they seemed less ethics-focused than
- [Conflicts of interest, corruption and fraud: what are the connections?](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/conflicts-of-interest-corruption-and-fraud-what-are-the-connections/) - [This essay was originally posted on the Conflict of Interest Blog] Whether one is drafting a code of conduct or other C&E policy documents, developing training, designing audit protocols, conducting a risk or program assessment or creating C&E metrics, it may be useful to bear in mind the relationships between COIs, corruption and fraud – particularly given
- [How do people change their minds about issues?](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/how-do-people-change-their-minds-about-issues/) - How do people change their minds about issues? A respected colleague asked over lunch and it prompted me to write some thoughts down. Belief change and behavior change (page on that coming soon) can both be instrumental in ethical systems design so it seemed appropriate to share our Cliffs Notes on belief change here. First,
- [2014 Highlights from Our Collaborators](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/2014-highlights-from-our-collaborators/) - 2014 was a busy year. Here are some of the highlights from our collaborators. Dan Ariely’s work on cheating and honesty is being turned into a documentary called (Dis)Honesty: The Truth about Lies Max Bazerman has a new book called The Power of Noticing: What the Best Leaders See Steven L. Blader has a paper
- [Our first year](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/our-first-year/) - EthicalSystems.org is almost one year old, and like all one-year-olds, it has grown a lot in its first year. When we launched the site in January, we had 18 collaborators, 14 research pages, and no real budget. But we were bound together by the belief that the massive body of research on ethics in organizations
- [Making ethics easy: New essay in Ethisphere with Jeff Kaplan](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/making-ethics-easy-new-essay-in-ethisphere-with-jeff-kaplan/) - Collaborator Jeff Kaplan and I just published a 3 page guide in Ethisphere Magazine outlining how companies can begin using EthicalSystems.org to create a workplace with higher levels of trust among colleagues and leadership. Ethisphere has kindly allowed us to post a PDF of the article. You’ll see very little mention of training in our article. Training is important,
- [Teaching Behavioral Ethics across Disciplines](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/teaching-behavioral-ethics-across-disciplines/) - Tigran W. Eldred, Associate Professor of Law, New England Law | Boston Almost a decade ago, shortly before I started law teaching, I worked as an appellate lawyer representing clients who had been convicted of serious crimes. In one case, I recall having a very uncomfortable conversation with the lawyer who, I was convinced (and
- [Ethics Starts At The Top](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/ethics-starts-at-the-top/) - Which matters more for creating an ethical organization: tone at the top, or tone in the middle? The answer is that it depends on when, exactly, you are talking about. A recent study (Gächter, Renner, 2014) corroborates these findings by analyzing to what extent role modeling influences one’s own pro-social behavior. It turns out that a
- [Making capitalism more ethical: Dynamism with decency](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/making-capitalism-more-ethical-dynamism-with-decency/) - When I tell people I teach business ethics, they often ask: “isn’t that an oxymoron?” Their response is not unwarranted. Much of my course is about the clever ways businesses have found to exploit their workers, sidestep regulations, and foist external costs onto others. Businesspeople are brilliant at finding opportunities and some of those opportunities
- ["Mind, Society and Behavior" and Ethical Systems Design](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/mind-society-and-behavior-and-ethical-systems-design/) - David Brooks recently published an insightful piece (In Praise of Small Miracles) about “Mind, Society and Behavior,” a recent report issued by The World Bank on how behavioral economics can be applied to global development and global health. Brooks draws out the central lesson of the report: “cheap changes can produce big effects.” He gives
- [A Disruption Method for Bribes: Governments and Systems Interventions](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/a-disruption-method-for-bribes-governments-and-systems-interventions/) - Like dancing the tango, a bribe requires two people for it to be successful. Current governmental policies reward whistle blowers and punish the party who offered the bribe- in other words, reactive punishments are commonplace. But what if governments instituted proactive policies that obviated unethical behavior and made bribes more trouble than they are worth?
- [(Un)Ethical Behavior in Organizations](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/unethical-behavior-in-organizations/) - Wouldn’t it be helpful if there was a review of some of the most influential, recent work on ethical behavior in organizations? Well Ethical Systems collaborator Linda Trevino and colleagues have provided just that with their excellent review piece on “(Un)Ethical Behavior in Organizations.” Trevino’s paper also has the added benefit of applying an ethical-systems
- [It’s time for policy makers to enter the 21st century](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/its-time-for-policy-makers-to-enter-the-21st-century/) - Can you imagine a world where marketers promoted products without knowledge of psychology and persuasion? Well, the equivalent is happening in policy making and international development- in fact it is the standard. Programs are created with people guessing about behavior change and implementation; policies are designed based on mistaken views of human behavior and incentives;
- [2014- Fighting Corruption: An Assessment](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/2014-fighting-corruption-an-assessment-2/) - As 2015 begins, despite vigorous enforcement activity, corruption appears to be holding its own against efforts to contain and deter it. In its 2013 year-end FCPA Update, the law firm Gibson Dunn reported: “It has been another year of plenty for enforcement of the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (“FCPA”) and international anti-corruption statutes worldwide.
- [Featured Collaborator of the Month: Daylian Cain](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/featured-collaborator-of-the-month-daylian-cain/) - I study judgment and decision making, or, as I like to say, “why good people do bad things, and why smart people do dumb things.” Much of my work is on conflicts of interest and how they are problems not only for the intentionally corrupt but also for well-meaning professionals who fall prey to unintentional bias.
- [Featured Collaborator of the Month: Linda Treviño](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/featured-collaborator-of-the-month-linda-trevino/) - My research demonstrates why it is important for organizations to create structures and systems that support doing the right thing (because in the ethics realm, most normal people are susceptible to external influences). My work also demonstrates the importance of a variety of these structures and systems, both formal and informal ones. For example, performance management systems are crucial, and leaders at all levels have an extraordinary influence (both good and bad) on followers through their behaviors, the messages they send (subtle and not so subtle), and the cultures they create.
- [Rediscovering the Human Purposes of Business, by Mark Goyder](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/rediscovering-the-human-purposes-of-business-by-mark-goyder/) - Below is the text of a speech given by Mark Goyder, Founder and Director of Tomorrow’s Company, at the Caux Initiatives for Business Conference, Panchgani India, on 12 November 2013. Goyder sent me (Jon Haidt) the text of this speech when we were first introduced. I loved it. I thought Goyder expressed a vision of business that automatically inspires
- [The Ethics ‘‘Fix’’: When Formal Systems Make a Difference](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/the-ethics-fix-when-formal-systems-make-a-difference/) - What makes a company's ethics program effective at deterring fraudulent conduct? In a 2014 paper, Ethical Systems collaborator Ann Tenbrunsel demonstrated the interdependence of formal and informal systems in fostering ethical behavior in organizations. In a study of 974 employees of for-profit organizations, Tenbrunsel and her colleagues found that formal ethical systems (e.g., explicit ethics training
- [Featured Collaborator of the Month: Marc Hodak](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/featured-collaborator-of-the-month-marc-hodak/) - Interview with Marc Hodak, adjunct professor at The NYU Stern School of Business, visiting lecturer at the University of St. Gallen and founder of Hodak Value Advisors What are your main areas of research? I look at corporate governance in the context of how agency mechanisms (e.g., the formal and informal relationship between employees, directors, and owners) contribute to value creation, both at the firm level and for overall economic welfare. My particular areas of research include performance measurement, executive compensation and organizational behavior, where I have a couple of decades of practical experience in working with corporations and institutional investors. I have recently broadened my research to look at governance innovations through history, and attempts to create new models of interaction between owners and other stakeholders.
- [Deming Research Seminar Review](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/deming-research-seminar-review/) - The 21st Annual International Deming Research Seminar was recently held at Georgetown University. Business leaders, consultants, teachers, students and many others came together to share stories of the continued research and application of Dr. W. Edwards Deming's ideas in organizations around the world. Ethical Systems may be considered another one of those stories, for it is in much of the insights featured on our website that the works and teachings of Deming resound.
- [R-E-S-P-E-C-T: How can banks win it back](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/r-e-s-p-e-c-t-how-can-banks-win-it-back/) - At a recent banking summit in China, the focus was on how international banks can regain the moral high ground. In response, Norman Chan, chief executive of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, wrote a piece in the South China Morning Post that argues this will be difficult unless banks move from a shareholder model to a stakeholder focus. At Ethical Systems, we couldn’t agree more. When companies- especially banks- prioritize short-term profits over the health of their long-term relationships and reputation, they invite ethical problems, long term costs, and the animosity of the general public. Yet, while the call to action is simple, the steps needed to get there are anything but.
- [Featured Collaborator of the Month: Dan Ariely](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/featured-collaborator-of-the-month-dan-ariely/) - Interview with Dan Ariely, the James B. Duke Professor of Psychology & Behavioral Economics at Duke University and columnist for The Wall Street Journal I study human irrationality in general. I am interested in thinking about how people make mistakes, what kind of mistakes people do, why people make mistakes and how to fix them. These days I am working in several main areas: some research on the psychology of money- to think about why we overspend and under save and what we can do about it. I am also working a little bit on health, i.e. why don't we take care of ourselves, why we overeat and don't take our medicine on time, why we procrastinate, and of course, dishonesty, or why people get themselves into trouble.
- [Ethics Pays in Business, as in Politics](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/ethics-pays-in-business-as-in-politics/) - People often say they want a strong leader more than an ethical leader. David Brooks has a lovely essay in The New York Times demonstrating why this thinking is wrong for political leaders. But the quotes from the article below shows that the argument works just as well for business leaders as it does for politicians.
- [Ethics and Compliance Trends: Interview with Ellen Hunt of AARP](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/ethics-and-compliance-trends-interview-with-ellen-hunt-of-aarp/) - Part of the mission of Ethical Systems is to enhance the work of practitioners and experts in the ethics and compliance field, as they are on the front lines of helping businesses transform their cultures and their employees act more ethically. ​In a recent interview with Ellen Hunt, Ethics & Compliance Program Director at AARP, she outlined current trends in the Ethics & Compliance (E&C) field as well as the most important steps businesses can take to encourage ethical behavior among organizations of all types and sizes. AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization, with a membership of nearly 38 million.
- [Ethics and Wall Street: Reactions and Reform](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/ethics-and-wall-street-reactions-and-reform/) - In the wake of the financial crisis of 2008, many thought ethics reform would come quickly to Wall Street. New laws did come, in the USA and UK. But is the culture changing for the better? A new report (The Street, The Bull and The Crisis: A Survey of the US & UK Financial Services Industry) suggests that there has been little change in the last three years, and there may be some worrying trends among younger employees. You can find a quick summary of the report in this article by NPR. To go beyond the summary, we asked our expert suite of collaborators for their reactions. The bottom line is that better ethical behavior will come when legal reforms lead to, or are supplemented by, changes in the culture and norms of the financial industry. As Tenbrunsel explains, "Just more regulation without addressing the individual, organizational and industry-level factors probably isn't going to have a very significant impact." Addressing all of those factors simultaneously is our goal at Ethical Systems.
- [FIFA: Corruption, Bribery and No Surprises](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/fifa-corruption-bribery-and-no-surprises/) - Global sport has come to resemble big business in its reach, influence and profit margins- as well as its operating environment in which corruption can, and does, thrive. If there is a lesson to be learned, it is that it would have been a surprise if the organization were not corrupt. The game that FIFA has played for so many years is not the one you see on the field.
- [Book Review: Richard Thaler's "Misbehaving: The making of behavioral economics"](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/book-review-richard-thalers-misbehaving-the-making-of-behavioral-economics/) - What do economics, psychology, and experimental science have in common? As Richard Thaler implies in Misbehaving: The making of behavioral economics, most economists would say little to none — but this couldn’t be further from the truth. Misbehaving is, first and foremost, a story of how modern economics, finance, and theoretical analysis have become increasingly specialized and narrow without substantial practical value. Utilizing empirical studies and anecdotes, funny stories, and even some jokes, Thaler persuades the reader that behavioral studies — or psychology-motivated disciplines which focus on humans, not mythical rational agents — are here to stay.
- [Poisoning the Well: The impact of incivility in the workplace](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/poisoning-the-well-the-impact-of-incivility-in-the-workplace/) - Culture matters more than any other factor in determining the level of ethical conduct within an organization. Knowing this, leaders need to be ever vigilant to how toxic day to day interactions can poison the working environment. Christina Porath, associate professor at Georgetown University and co-author of “The Cost of Bad Behavior” recently published an op-ed and online quiz (“No Time to Be Nice at Work,” Sunday, June 21, 2015) in The New York Times illuminating the dramatic degree in which courtesy and consideration in the workplace actually impact individuals.
- [Meet Azish Filabi, our new CEO](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/meet-azish-filabi-our-new-ceo/) - To Our Community, We are proud to introduce Azish Filabi, our new CEO. After a comprehensive search over several months, we identified several potential candidates to take over the helm of our organization. However, one stood out above all others and we are thrilled that she has come on board.
- [Featured Collaborator of July/August: David Mayer](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/featured-collaborator-of-july-august-david-mayer/) - Interview with David Mayer, associate professor in the Management and Organizations Area at the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan What are your main areas of research? I am an organizational scholar who focuses primarily on one fundamental question: When and why do individuals in organizations engage in unethical and prosocial behavior? More specifically, I am interested how the social environment in organizations (e.g., leadership, peers, organizational climate, organizational practices) impacts unethical and prosocial behavior. I am also fascinated with the question of whether employees and leaders think that business and work are part of the moral domain of social life and I have worked on several papers that demonstrate that at times “business” and “ethics” are inseparable and at times they are, as the truism suggests, an oxymoron. In contrast to the bulk of work taking a social science lens on ethics, I typically take a positive lens by not focusing solely on identifying pitfalls and biases that lead to unethical behavior, but by understanding how the context at work can improve prosocial behavior, how employees and leaders in organizations can influence others to do good, and when leaders and employees are most likely to act in ways that suggest they consider work to be a moral domain.
- [Why CEO Activism Could Change the World of Public Companies](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/why-ceo-activism-could-change-the-world-of-public-companies/) - Guest post by Ann B. Graham In the past few months, a string of CEOs from large American public companies have spoken boldly on some of the most divisive societal concerns of our time: LGTB rights, gun control and racism and police brutality. The business press has dubbed them “Activist CEOs.”
- [Framing the Language of Business](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/framing-the-language-of-business/) - Framing is not just how you present a painting. Framing helps to communicate the type of art, it complements subject matter, and it influences how the viewer perceives the image. Framing also matters when it comes to business, and the language we use can deeply affect both the rules we follow and those we are willing to break. While business has its own lexicon, a new piece in Ethisphere by Scott Killingsworth, Senior Counsel with Bryan Cave LLP in Atlanta, illustrates that when we couch the business of business in terms of war and gamification, we prime the pump for pernicious results.
- [A Dream Remit For the New DOJ Compliance Counsel](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/a-dream-remit-for-the-new-doj-compliance-counsel/) - Designing ethical systems is about having the right policies and programs in place- as well as the right people. Recently, the Department of Justice took a needed step forward by retaining a new full-time expert in compliance programs for their prosecution team. ES collaborator Jeffrey Kaplan, of Kaplan & Walker, LLP explains in a new Conflicts of Interest blog entry, cross posted below, how the new hire will allow the government to advance not only their understanding of how to strengthen and evaluate organizational compliance programs, but how the DOJ can leverage this position to put forth an agenda that highlights positive actions in the field.
- [Jerry Kohlberg: Banking on a Moral Identity](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/jerry-kohlberg-banking-on-a-moral-identity/) - Jerry Kohlberg amassed one of Wall Street’s largest fortunes after co-founding Kohlberg, Kravis and Roberts (KKR) in 1976, but it was his consistent emphasis on ethics as a force for good, along with his warnings of the potential evils outsized wealth can tender, that we will remember most.
- [Featured Collaborator for September: Nick Epley](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/featured-collaborator-for-september-nick-epley/) - Interview with Nick Epley, author of "Mindwise: How We Understand What Others Think, Believe, Feel, and Want" and professor of behavioral science at the University of Chicago's Booth School of Business I study mind reading. Not the nonsensical, spooky or supernatural versions of it, but rather the very natural and intuitive version of it that we do whenever we make an inference about another person’s mind. We do this arguably every social interaction we have when we wonder what someone else is thinking, believing, feeling, or wanting. This is hard to do accurately because another person’s mind is inherently invisible. You can’t see another person’s thought, hold a want, or poke a feeling. As a result, our inferences about the minds of others are far less than perfect, and we are consistently less accurate than we think we are. I’m most interested in understanding these gaps between our inferences about each other and reality. The mistakes we make are a common source of unnecessary conflict in everyday life.
- [My First Week: Azish Filabi and Ethical Systems](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/my-first-week-azish-filabi-and-ethical-systems/) - I begin this week in my role as CEO of Ethical Systems. Joining this fantastic team and meeting colleagues in NYU Stern's Business and Society Program strengthens my belief that ethics and business can operate hand-in-hand to create lasting value in society.
- [Bribery and Behaviors from the Front-Lines: An Interview with Richard Bistrong, Part 1](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/bribery-and-behaviors-from-the-front-lines-an-interview-with-richard-bistrong-part-1/) - Part one of our interview with Richard Bistrong, CEO of Front-Line Anti-Bribery LLC What was your experience like after your release from prison? After my release, as I took a deep dive into the compliance community, I saw a very rich field of well-resourced and well-experienced practitioners from the legal, audit and investigatory communities. Accordingly, I saw a robust compliance discourse and debate among well-experienced professionals. But I noticed something missing from the discussion: a front line perspective of what it is like to work in the field of international business- particularly in low integrity regions- and to confront corruption while at the same time being tasked with business growth.
- [Testing, Testing: Drawing Conclusions From Test Environments](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/testing-testing-drawing-conclusions-from-test-environments/) - One challenge identified in academic literature on behavioral ethics and business is finding practical applications for the lessons learned from test environments. All of us at Ethical Systems, including our collaborators and partners, are working on how to best leverage these findings. This challenge is succinctly presented by Donald C. Langevoort of Georgetown University in a recent article about behavioral ethics and behavioral compliance. As he points out, the lessons from behavioral ethics are intuitive and while the outcomes aren't necessarily predictable, they are often unsurprising. It makes sense, for example, that 'just in time' communications improve ethical decision-making because the reminder of the moral fallout of one's choices become prominent. In another example, Langevoort describes the concept of ethical blind spots- as popularized by two ES collaborators, Max Bazerman and Ann Tenbrunsel- distorting good judgment and sensible decision making.
- [Corruption, Trends and Predictions: An Interview with Richard Bistrong, Part 2](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/corruption-trends-and-predictions-an-interview-with-richard-bistrong-part-2/) - Part two of our interview with Richard Bistrong, CEO of Front-Line Anti-Bribery LLC [read part 1] How has corruption changed since you were prosecuted? Could someone get away with the same behavior now? The FBI has tripled its investigatory resources, and the real teeth of international law enforcement cooperation, which I experienced as a covert cooperator in the US and UK, has significantly increased, becoming more sophisticated over the last 5 years, as we have seen in a number of global investigations. My own getting caught should be a cautionary tale for others.
- [Did You Get the Memo? Confronting Corporate Wrongdoing](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/did-you-get-the-memo-confronting-corporate-wrongdoing/) - After the financial crisis of 2008 and the current, ongoing instances of large fines levied against banks and other financial companies, many people continually bemoan why penalties have not also included jail time and prosecution of executives who have behaved unethically. The message has finally reached the highest levels of government and change is on the horizon. In a speech at NYU Law last week, hosted by the school's Program on Corporate Compliance and Enforcement, Deputy Attorney General Sally Quillian Yates presented the memo covering a new Department of Justice initiative designed to fight corporate fraud and other misconduct by going after individuals who perpetrated the wrongdoing. In addition to punitive actions against an organization (what many see as a macro-level punishment that does little to deter misconduct on the micro, or personal, level), the DOJ will now turn its considerable resources to affecting change at the source, i.e. those that engage in personal malfeasance under the guise of doing their job.
- [An Executive Order Promoting Behavioral Science](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/an-executive-order-promoting-behavioral-science/) - As we have long said, behavioral sciences are the key to unlocking better decision making, from study halls to the halls of power. This week, the White House echoed our view via an Executive Order outlining that behavioral insights be used to better serve the American people. What began as a nudge, is now a full-on push. Ethical Systems praises this initiative as a major step towards not only making behavioral science more widespread but also in advancing the incorporation of ethical system design in business. When businesses adopt these systems, research shows their employees are happier, more productive and, as a result, the business is more profitable.
- [​Opportunism as a Managerial Trait](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/​opportunism-as-a-managerial-trait/) - We ordinarily think of people as honest or dishonest, a broad-brush description which implicitly assumes that honesty is a personal characteristic that generalizes across decision domains. If so, a student who cheats on an exam is also more likely to shoplift or lie to a friend or partner. Does knowing that a corporate manager is opportunistic in one decision domain tell us much about whether the manager will misbehave in some other domain? In other words, are some managers just `bad apples’? Recently, in the paper “Opportunism as a Managerial Trait: Predicting Insider Trading Profits and Misconduct” Usman Ali, Portoflio Manager at MIG Capital, and I study these questions by examining whether corporate managers who profit by insider trading in their firms’ stocks engage in other forms of misbehavior as well.
- [Featured Collaborator for October: Dolly Chugh](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/featured-collaborator-for-october-dolly-chugh/) - Interview with Dr. Dolly Chugh, Associate Professor in the Department of Management and Organizations, NYU Stern School of Business. [Find Dolly on Twitter] What are your main areas of research? How can people better be attuned to their bounded ethicality? I have always been fascinated by the three dimensional reality of human behavior. That is, none of us are perfectly ethical all of the time, and it's that reality that I am most interested in. In what ways are we less ethical and less egalitarian than we intend to be? Under what conditions? Why? Those questions lie at the heart of my work on bounded ethicality, which refers to the systematic and ordinary psychological constraints on our ethical behavior.
- [Bad Apples, Bad Barrels or Bad Barrel Makers?](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/bad-apples-bad-barrels-or-bad-barrel-makers/) - The prominence of compliance in organizations continues to rise. Recently, the US Department of Justice (DOJ) named Ms. Hui Chen as its Compliance Counsel- a much anticipated new role which many have applauded as a step forward for addressing the criticism that the DOJ doesn’t appropriately credit companies who implement effective compliance programs. Ms. Chen comes well prepared from a background in both corporate compliance and prosecution, which she will likely lean heavily upon when tackling the difficult task of helping prosecutors recognize whether an incident is symptomatic of an unethical corporate culture or the result of a rogue employee. This is the distinction that has challenged social psychologists for decades: is it the individual or the system that is to blame?
- [Professionalism and Ethics: A missed connection?](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/professionalism-and-ethics-a-missed-connection/) - What does professionalism mean to you? Often, people who identify as a professional think of themselves not only as knowledgeable in their discipline, but also rational, objective and serving a higher purpose (e.g., the client’s needs). These are laudable goals, but new research shows that these characteristics could actually lead to people making self-interested, and ultimately unethical or damaging, decisions. In a paper on Professionalism and Moral Behavior, Maryam Kouchaki of the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, tests the hypothesis that an emphasis on one's professional identity has a greater likelihood of an individual engaging in unethical behavior. This is an important inquiry in light of ethical failures in companies where lawyers and accountants often act as “gatekeepers” on ethics and compliance issues vis a vis corporate practices. Based on evidence from her lab studies and employee surveys, Kouchaki concludes that priming professionalism may actually lead to increased misbehavior.
- [Biases and Decision Making](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/biases-and-decision-making/) - From the things we say to the actions we take each day, our world- and that of business- is comprised of thousands of decisions, both big and small. How we come to make those decisions is the result of intuition and analysis and, in most cases, influenced by biases that we may or may not be aware of. We know about blind spots in decision making, mostly because of the work of ES collaborators Max Bazerman and Ann Tenbrunsel. A recent graph published in Business Insider: Australia, and included below, depicts additional biases that all would be wise to learn and attempt to obviate when analyzing ideas and programs.
- [Ethics and the City: Regional programs for success](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/ethics-and-the-city-regional-programs-for-success/) - Ethical systems design is rooted in a systems-approach. We at Ethical Systems generally look at these at 3 levels: 1) personal ethics; 2) organizational ethics; and 3) the national culture and legal/regulatory environment. It is the interplay between these levels that creates a self-sustaining ethical culture. Within the context of the third level, there is an emerging trend, where ethics and culture are being used to promote regional economic development. Ethics is taking center stage in two cities- Boston and Omaha- and galvanizing people to come together to engage in discussion and identify solutions.
- [Featured Collaborator for November: David Hirshleifer](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/featured-collaborator-for-november-david-hirshleifer/) - Interview with David Hirshleifer, Professor of Finance and Merage Chair in Business Growth, University of California-Irvine What are your main areas of research? I do research in behavioral finance, economics, accounting, and social science more generally. My main focus in recent years has been on how social interactions affect behavior, and on the cultural transmission of beliefs and behavior.
- [Buddha Makes the Business Case for Business Ethics](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/buddha-makes-the-business-case-for-business-ethics/) - Part 1 of 2 on my talk at the 2015 Aspen Ideas Festival. In just the last few years, there has been a lot of new research showing when and why ethics pays. I recently pulled this evidence together for a talk I gave at the Aspen Ideas Festival. I set up the argument by quoting Buddha’s version of the business case: Set your heart on doing good. Do it over and over again, and you will be filled with joy. A fool is happy until his mischief turns against him. And a good man may suffer until his goodness flowers.
- [Ethical Systems Design is the Red Pill for Reducing Inequality](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/ethical-systems-design-is-the-red-pill-for-reducing-inequality/) - Part 2 of Jonathan Haidt's post on his recent talk at the Aspen Ideas Festival. Read Part 1 here. A friend of Mark Twain once said, “Everybody talks about the weather, but nobody does anything about it.” Rising inequality is similar. Many on the left urge policies that would redistribute wealth more effectively, such as raising the top marginal tax rates. Some on the right have begun talking about inequality, and they propose policies that would encourage entrepreneurialism among the poor and working class, such as clearing away licensing restrictions on hairdressers and other small businesses. Yet given the politically charged nature of this debate, neither side is going to get a chance to try its policies unless it gets control of the Oval Office and both houses of Congress. Aren’t there any new ideas out there? Isn’t there anything that both sides might support? How about…better business ethics, achieved with little or no new regulation? How about Ethical Systems Design?
- [Reforming Culture and Behavior in the Financial Services Industry Conference](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/reforming-culture-and-behavior-in-the-financial-services-industry-conference/) - The Reforming Culture and Behavior in the Financial Services Industry Conference last week at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York* demonstrated that today’s financial industry understands the need for culture and behavior change in order to run a more ethical company. After spending many years focused on implementing compliance programs, there is now an complementary understanding of the role of ethics and its important function in shaping culture and reputation. The financial industry, however, must confront the bigger challenge of finding ways to actually change behavior.
- [Featured Collaborator for December: Ann Tenbrunsel](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/featured-collaborator-for-december-ann-tenbrunsel/) - Interview with Ann Tenbrunsel, the David E. Gallo Professor of Business Ethics at the Mendoza School of Business at the University of Notre Dame, and co-author of Blindspots What are your main areas of research? My work has focused on why individuals behave in ways that deviate from their values and are not aware that they are doing so. Within that domain, I have focused on how the situation leads to "ethical fading" in which people do not realize they are in fact presented with an ethical decision. If you don't realize you are faced with an ethical dilemma, then your ethical values and principles wont be part of the decision process. I have examined individual level factors-- temptation, forecasting errors, construal level, moral self-image and power-- as well as organizational level factors-- business framing, sanctions,perceived retaliation, organizational cultures of justice and respect, formal and informal communications-- that may influence unethical behavior.
- [Point-of-Risk Compliance](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/point-of-risk-compliance/) - This piece is cross posted from ES collaborator Jeffrey Kaplan's "Conflicts of Interest" blog with permission. Marketers have long known that “point-of-sale” display of products can be a powerful advertising tool. But can its logic be put to work for promoting compliance and ethics? I was recently asked by a client to fill out a vendor information form and noticed that in addition to seeking information from vendors the form required the employee proposing the hiring to certify that any conflict of interest involving the vendor had been disclosed and okayed by management and the C&E officer. While I know that many companies have some form of COI certifications (see prior posts), I can’t recall having seen one on a vendor information form of this sort before – even though the common sense of such a “point-of-risk” compliance approach seems pretty obvious. Indeed, it is hard to think of any reason why a company wouldn’t do this.
- [Earthquakes and Shaky Ethics: The Perils of Construction Corruption](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/earthquakes-and-shaky-ethics-the-perils-of-construction-corruption/) - A study in Nature shows that our planet has a lot to teach us about business ethics. While we know that ethics pays, what is also now clear is that the absence of ethics can kill. Nicholas Ambraseys of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Imperial College London and Roger Bilham from the Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences and the Department of Geological Sciences at the University of Colorado, Boulder compared deaths from earthquakes and found that “83% of all deaths from building collapse in earthquakes over the past 30 years occurred in countries that are anomalously corrupt.” This is all the more staggering when you consider that the researchers removed any contributing factors, such as poor building materials, from their analysis. The construction industry is an industry both highly valued and highly susceptible to corruption. Governments, regulators, businesses and workers all have a vested interest in reducing and eliminating bribery and other practices that put people at risk. Without a systemic approach to reducing corruption and improving ethics, it won’t just be buildings that crumble; trust, stability and the long-term viability of a governmental body also risk imminent collapse.
- [2015 Collaborators in the News: A Year of Many Achievements](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/2015-collaborators-in-the-news-a-year-of-many-achievements/) - Dan Ariely published new installments in his Wall Street Journal ethics column. His new book, "Irationally Yours" was released May 18 while Ariely's new documentary "(Dis)Honesty – The Truth About Lies" premiered at select theaters nationwide. He also joined Qapital as Chief Behavioral Economist, launched (and sold) his Timeful startup, conducted a new TED talk on "How equal do we want the world to
- [Ethical Systems Year End Letter from Jon Haidt](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/ethical-systems-year-end-letter-from-jon-haidt/) - Dear Friends, Ethical Systems reflects on a year marked by tragedy and triumph, major ethics news and new research. We began 2015 by receiving IRS recognition of our organization as a 501c3 non-profit, and filing our first 990 report. Finally, we can begin raising money to fund our operations. What started as an informal collaborative network of researchers has blossomed into an official organization uniting researchers and business leaders who want to change the business world by “making ethics easy.”
- [Taking the Pulse of Employee Satisfaction to Predict Future Earnings](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/taking-the-pulse-of-employee-satisfaction-to-predict-future-earnings/) - Do miserable employees serve as harbingers of a drop in their company’s stock price? What is the true value of an employee’s smile? Researchers Andy Moniz from the Rotterdam School of Management and Franciska de Jong of Erasmus University addressed these questions at a session based on their recent paper in Advances in Informational Retrieval as part of the Economics of Culture Conference put on by the New York Federal Reserve in November 2015. The authors have taken a new approach to an enduring question within business: What is the best way to evaluate corporate culture?
- [Your Permanent Record: Blacklist for ethics gaining steam](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/your-permanent-record-blacklist-for-ethics-gaining-steam/) - Bad ethics should not be forgotten in the new year- or any other- as bankers and regulators discussed creating an ethical blacklist for individuals working at regulated financial institutions, at the NY Federal Reserve‘s recent culture conference. This signals new enthusiasm for a provocative proposal originally suggested in 2014 by Bill Dudley, President of the NY Fed: When an employee leaves a company, the organization would have a mandate to report information relating to his/her misconduct to a central database. Concerning hiring decisions, all firms would have a reciprocal duty to check the database against their potential hire list. The goal is to stem the tide of bad apples that bounce from firm-to-firm, negatively influencing stability, profits and planning.
- [Featured Collaborator for January: Robert Frank](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/featured-collaborator-for-january-robert-frank/) - Interview with Robert Frank, the H. J. Louis Professor of Management and Professor of Economics at Cornell University's Johnson Graduate School of Management, author and New York Times columnist What are your main areas of research? When I was recently asked to offer a short course based on my work, I chose “Rivalry and Cooperation” as my title, since these two themes have dominated my research for more than three decades. My focus on rivalry springs from the fact that humans evolved under extremely competitive conditions in which local rank was often the best predictor of who would survive and prosper. When there wasn’t enough food to go around, for example, the lowest-ranked individuals were most likely to starve, and in early polygynous societies, high-ranking males were most likely to claim multiple wives. So rivalry—competition for relative position—has always been a central feature of human interaction. This strand of my work has explored the consequences of concerns about relative position for a range of important outcomes, including the kinds of things we buy, the kinds of jobs we prefer, the behaviors we choose to regulate, and the tax systems we adopt.
- [Feeling All The Feels: The value of emotional culture at work](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/feeling-all-the-feels-the-value-of-emotional-culture-at-work/) - You catch more flies with honey than you do with vinegar, says an old adage. In today’s economy, companies would be wise to continuously tend to their hives in order to maximize and motivate their worker bees. A recent study published in Harvard Business Review examined the importance and benefits of fostering an “emotional culture” at work and its findings reinforce much of the buzz within behavioral and organizational psychology: that employees thrive in environments where joy, love and fun are the predominant cultures, as opposed to anger, fear and hostility.
- [Ethical Systems Lands 8 of the Top 100 Most Influential in Business Ethics](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/ethical-systems-lands-8-of-the-top-100-most-influential-in-business-ethics/) - Each year, Ethisphere recognizes 100 individuals that have made a material impact in the world of business ethics through their annual 100 Most Influential People in Business Ethics list. Ethical Systems collaborators have long been featured on this prestigious list. This year, however, is the first we have had 8 of our distinguished leaders included at one time.
- [David Mayer Writes For Fast Company](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/david-mayer-writes-for-fast-company/) - David Mayer, associate professor of management and organizations at the University of Michigan's Stephen M. Ross School of Business has recently signed on as a monthly contributor to Fast Company, writing about business ethics and leadership. From their website: Fast Company "is the world's leading progressive business media brand, with a unique editorial focus on innovation in technology, ethical economics, leadership, and design." We invite you to read David Mayer's recent essays by clicking on this link to his Fast Company author profile.
- [Is Political Ideology a Compliance and Ethics Risk?](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/is-political-ideology-a-compliance-and-ethics-risk/) - Cross posted with permission from ES Collaborator Jeffrey Kaplan's Conflict of Interest blog In a post last week on the Harvard Law School Forum on Corporate Governance and Financial Regulation, Danling Jiang, Associate Professor of Finance at Florida State University, summarizes a recent article she authored with Irena Hutton, Associate Professor of Finance at Florida State University; and Alok Kumar, Professor of Finance at the University of Miami: “Political Values, Culture, and Corporate Litigation,” which was published in the latest issue of Management Science and which “examine[s] whether the political culture of a firm defines its ethical and legal boundaries as observed by the propensity for corporate misconduct.” In a post last week on the Harvard Law School Forum on Corporate Governance and Financial Regulation, Danling Jiang, Associate Professor of Finance at Florida State University said of recent research, “Using one of the largest samples of litigation data to date, [they] show that firms with Republican culture are more likely to be the subject of civil rights, labor, and environmental litigation than Democratic firms, consistent with the Democratic ideology that emphasizes equal rights, labor rights, and environmental protection. However, firms with Democratic culture are more likely to be the subject of litigation related to securities fraud and intellectual property rights violations than Republican firms whose Party ideology stresses self-reliance, property rights, market discipline, and limited government regulation.” This is interesting – if not necessarily surprising – stuff, and particularly so in an election year. But does it bear on the work of C&E professionals? And does it have anything to do with conflicts of interest?
- [Featured Collaborator for February: Steven Blader](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/featured-collaborator-for-february-steven-blader/) - Interview with Steven Blader, associate professor of Management and Organizations at New York University's Stern School of Business. Can fairness motivate ethical decision making or do most people look out for fairness as a one way street: to ensure they are treated like they imagine they deserve to be. There is an extraordinary amount of evidence that people’s concern about fairness is much more than simply a tool they may use to help them get what they feel they deserve or want. For instance, we often see people defining and evaluating fairness independently of their outcome concerns; reacting more strongly to fairness than to their self-interest; and evaluating and reacting to fairness even as third parties to an encounter and thus when their own outcomes are not involved. These and other findings confirm to us that people’s concern about fairness is genuine, distinct, and pervasive. As such, fairness can absolutely provide a route to enhancing ethicality in both one’s own, as well as other’s, decision making. That said, there are factors that make the picture more complicated, factors that must be considered when turning to fairness as a route to enhancing ethicality.
- [Strategy and Business Interview: Jonathan Haidt](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/strategy-and-business-interview-jonathan-haidt/) - Jonathan Haidt, Thomas Cooley Professor of Ethical Leadership at New York University's Stern School of Business, was interviewed by strategy+business and shares his insight and expertise on ethical systems design and the various initiatives of our organization. What causes a company to undermine its own future through ethical missteps? What enables it to lie to regulators, conceal critical data, and take chances on fraudulent activity that might, sooner or later, come to light? Is it the rapacious nature of capitalism itself, as some believe? Is it the work of a few “bad apples,” unavoidable in a milieu of dynamic innovation? Or is it some innate aspect of human behavior, impossible to regulate completely, but possible to understand? This inquiry, framed by New York University professor Jonathan Haidt and a global network of colleagues, could help keep companies out of trouble in the future — or perhaps change our view of what trouble really means. Continue reading this in-depth interview with Jonathan Haidt >>
- [A Lesson for Ethics Professors: Focus on the Positive](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/a-lesson-for-ethics-professors-focus-on-the-positive/) - Guest post by Adam Waytz, Associate Professor of Management and Organizations at the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern Are ethics professors unwittingly encouraging a pessimistic attitude towards business ethics? In October of last year, many of the country’s top business school deans and faculty members gathered at the New York Federal Reserve Bank for a discussion titled, A Convening of America’s Business School Leaders and Faculty: Ethics in the Classroom. The meeting’s purpose was to spark dialog between business schools and the financial industry on how to teach ethics. Much discussion centered on ensuring students know the legal consequences of white collar crime to discourage unethical behavior. Yet, another attendee, University of Chicago Booth behavioral science professor and Ethical Systems collaborator Nick Epley (who happens to have been my graduate school advisor), proposed a more thoughtful- and yes radical- idea: Ethics professors might do well to highlight more examples of good behavior than bad behavior, promoting images ethical heroes rather than villains.
- [IEX: Ethical Leadership in Finance](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/iex-ethical-leadership-in-finance/) - As we at Ethical Systems often state, we believe that integrity in business can be enhanced by leaders who take a systems-approach to the organizations and environments in which they operate. IEX is a model of such leadership and systems thinking in business. Jonathan Haidt and I had the pleasure to meet the team there in January and learn about their motivations, practices and approach to business relationships and investor protection. The meeting was initiated by Chatham Financial, who succinctly summarizes the opportunities and challenges of running an ethical business by highlighting IEX's role in improving trust in the financial services in an OpEd on CNBC. IEX currently has an application pending before the SEC to be approved as a national securities exchange. Ethical Systems submitted a comment letter in support of approval of that application and we invite you to read it here.
- [Featured Collaborator for March: Dorothee Baumann-Pauly](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/featured-collaborator-for-march-dorothee-baumann-pauly/) - Interview with Dorothee Baumann-Pauly, Research Director at the NYU Stern Center for Business and Human Rights How does your work on human rights help companies that want to improve themselves as ethical systems? In contrast to the more established, yet still vague framework, of corporate social responsibility (CSR), business and human rights (BHR) explicitly focuses on aligning companies’ core business processes with their commitment to human rights. Thus, BHR asks how companies are making their money, not how they are spending it. Human rights challenges are real for multinational companies; they pose major business risks to their operations. Companies today are expected to commit to respecting human rights in their business operations, and they need concrete standards that clarify what this commitment means in their operational context. The requirement to report against a specific standard increases transparency over a corporation’s human rights conduct and creates incentives to develop enduring ethical systems.
- [Professionalism and Ethical Leadership From General Counsel’s Suite](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/professionalism-and-ethical-leadership-from-general-counsels-suite/) - Among the active debate among compliance professionals, lawyers, and commentators about the proper role of compliance within a corporate hierarchy, there is an emerging consensus that lawyers have become the “loophole finders” and that compliance must step in to protect the firm’s integrity and ethics. Azish Filabi, CEO of Ethical Systems and Jim Lager, ES collaborator, have written a piece for Corporate Counsel that addresses this ongoing conversation. Read the piece on "Professionalism and Ethical Leadership From General Counsel’s Suite." >>
- [The Global Ethics Summit: Culture at the forefront](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/the-global-ethics-summit-culture-at-the-forefront/) - Last week, I had the pleasure to attend The Global Ethics Summit, put on by The Ethisphere Institute. The event brought together over 400 people with broad perspectives on managing ethics within organizations, including ethical culture, encouraging speak-up culture, and best practices for Board management. At the plenary on company culture, it was instructive to hear strategies companies are using to address one specific challenge – how do you use the lever of values to change behavior and outcomes in organizations? For us at Ethical Systems, this panel was particularly important because we recognize that creating and maintaining ethical culture within an organization is key to supporting everyday ethical behavior.
- [Internal Reporting: Praising leaders for identifying issues](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/internal-reporting-praising-leaders-for-identifying-issues/) - Internal reporting is one of the quickest ways employees can alert relevant organizational- and governmental- contacts that something is amiss. While extensive research shows that a major impediment to doing so is fear of retaliation, new research from ES collaborator David Mayer and others demonstrates that for organizational leadership, speaking up is an asset while keeping quiet about ethical lapses is viewed as detrimental. The study, “When are Do-Gooders Treated Badly? Legitimate Power, Role Expectations, and Reactions to Moral Objection in Organizations,” [PDF] to be published in the Journal of Applied Psychology, identifies important implications for both people and organizations.
- [Featured Collaborator for April: Jeffrey Kaplan](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/featured-collaborator-for-april-jeffrey-kaplan/) - Interview with Jeffrey Kaplan, partner in the Kaplan & Walker LLP law firm in Princeton, New Jersey What are your main areas of research /writing? I am principally a practitioner - in the compliance and ethics (“C&E”) field - rather than a professional researcher, and I certainly have not conducted any experimental research. I have done survey research – for the Conference Board (on the role of corporate directors in promoting C&E and on shortfalls in US government enforcement policy vis a vis C&E) and for the Ethics & Compliance Initiative (the “ECI,” which used to be called the ECOA) on conflicts of interest and various C&E program practices. Also, for the past four years I have been assembling and analyzing cases and articles about conflicts of interest (“COIs”) for a blog which looks at various COI issues across varying industry contexts (e.g., what types of interests are cognizable for COI purposes or when should a waiver be permitted) I hope at some point to turn these posts into a book about all things COI-related.
- [Combating a Culture of Minimalism with Preet Bharara](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/combating-a-culture-of-minimalism-with-preet-bharara/) - What does it mean to have an organizational culture of minimalism? On the surface, it results in doing only the bare minimum to avoid punishment from internal or external groups. The more insidious implications means that both shareholders and stakeholders end up disillusioned and disconnected after prolonged exposure to the ennui and modicum of expended energy in actually making positive change. In a recent talk by U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara as part of NYU Stern Business and Society Program’s Sani Lecture Series, he identified cultures of minimalism as a trending, troubling development in today’s business world. And this is, without doubt, extremely vexing for business leaders, investors, academics and advocates.
- [Lapsed Priorities: New Survey reveals lack of focus on bribery and corruption](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/lapsed-priorities-new-survey-reveals-lack-of-focus-on-bribery-and-corruption/) - If the following survey results are any indication, a betting man would be doubling down on increased FCPA cases in 2016. The study by international law firm Hogan Lovells and reported in the International Business Times highlights that, for over half of multinational companies, fighting bribery and corruption does not feature as a main priority. The piece reveals that old habits die hard. A focus on short term sales goals, making deadlines/sales quotas and operating in areas where bribery runs rampant contribute to a casual attitude towards maintaining ethical behavior and staying true to internal values and external regulations.
- [Guarding Ethics: Azish Filabi's Keynote at Food and Enterprise Summit](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/guarding-ethics-azish-filabis-keynote-at-food-and-enterprise-summit/) - What does it mean to eat and shop “local”? While there is no prescribed territory that those in- and in charge of regulating- the food industry can point to, many will generally agree that it is best to avoid regulation around the appropriate use of the term. While there is widespread disinterest in having officials involved, when businesses cannot agree on how to accurately define, and ethically use, increasingly common terms like “local” (as well as “sustainable”, “natural’, and “artisanal”) it opens the door to participation by regulatory bodies. Many are drawn to the local food movement because of a passion for community involvement and realizing their role in local economic development. Intending to start, manage or invest in a purpose-driven business, however, is not sufficient without establishing mechanisms to guard the company’s ethics in the long-run. This theme was at the center of my recent keynote address at the Food & Enterprise Summit in Brooklyn on April 8 (audio now available via the Heritage Radio Network). Our motivation to be ethical can only take us so far- businesses need proper corporate governance, accountability mechanisms, and strong community ties to help guard their ethics as the company grows.
- [Twice as Nice: On ethics teaching](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/twice-as-nice-on-ethics-teaching/) - Can people be taught to be more ethical? While some may say teaching ethics is a recipe for continued headaches and an ongoing, almost Sisyphus-like journey to ensure lessons are absorbed, a new study has positive implications for both academics and practitioners who have dedicated their work to engaging others in ethics education, training and programs. The as yet unpublished study, covered by Ben DiPietro in The Wall Street Journal’s “Morning Risk Report” and presented at the recent Academy of Management conference, spotlights a key training tactic that will greatly increase ethics knowledge retention and, in the long term, may possibly reduce misconduct.
- [Featured Collaborator for May: Robert Bloomfield](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/featured-collaborator-for-may-robert-bloomfield/) - Interview with Robert Bloomfield, Nicholas H. Noyes Professor of Management and Professor of Accounting at Cornell University’s Johnson Graduate School of Management My research reinforces a maxim long emphasized by accountants: it is most useful to view ethical behavior as a result of institutional choices, rather than as a result of moral character. It isn’t that a manager’s character has no effect on the ethicality of their decisions, just that it tends to be swamped by institutional forces—and in general, people are far too prone to attribute ethical actions to character when they are actually driven by environment; this bias is so well documented it has been named the Fundamental Attribution Error. Also, we rarely know a person’s character, and even if we do, we don’t know much about how to change it.
- [Never Black and White: Eugene Soltes Exposes the Gray](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/never-black-and-white-eugene-soltes-exposes-the-gray/) - White collar criminals typically conjure images of dark boardrooms, wealthy conspirators and syndicated, international crime rings. Yet, in a new book, Eugene Soltes shows white collar crime is less a cause of pernicious plots and more a product of a lack of focus, proximity and context. What distinguishes Why They Do It from others on the subject is Soltes’ extensive use of almost 50 interviews with those convicted of white collar crimes- which he defines as individuals in high social standing who committed crimes while doing business. The main takeaway is that corporate leaders are more or less normal people, who are as susceptible to the same conflicts of interest and ability to rationalize decisions made in the moment as the rest of us. By virtue of their position, however, their decisions can do harm not only to themselves but also all with whom they do business.
- [Risking Reputation Rarely Rewarded: Lessons From The Lending Club](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/risking-reputation-rarely-rewarded-lessons-from-the-lending-club/) - The recent news about Lending Club is a prime example of the reputational value of business ethics. Last week, The Wall Street Journal reported the company’s twisted fate – it went from receiving a Tribeca “Disruptive Innovation Award” in April (given to then-CEO Renaud LaPlanche) to suffering tumbling stock prices in May, plummeting from approximately $8 on April 1, to a low of $3.94 on the day (May 16th) the WSJ report came out.
- [​​​​​​​Featured Collaborators for June: Ethics By Design Speakers](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/​​​​​​​featured-collaborators-for-june-ethics-by-design-speakers/) - Each month, Ethical Systems publishes an interview with one of our esteemed collaborators covering their research and work in an area relating to ethics and ethical systems design. For June, however, we decided to upend that tradition and focus on the wealth of expertise at our conference on June 3rd. Truly, it would not be an Ethical Systems event without a leading group of academics and practitioners exchanging resources and strategies around strengthening the ethical climate and culture of today's business world.
- [Unethical Amnesia: A Term Big Business Cannot Afford to Forget](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/unethical-amnesia-a-term-big-business-cannot-afford-to-forget/) - Time heals all wounds. Time erodes even the mightiest mountain into a pebble. Time also, as a recent study highlighted in Harvard Business Review, enables people to forget their ethical lapses- a fact that has strong implications for businesses today. Researchers found that “memories of unethical actions become obfuscated over time” coining the term “unethical amnesia.” The reason for this amnesia is simple: recalling our own misconduct is a threat to our positive self-image.
- [By Design: Ethical Systems conference a great success](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/by-design-ethical-systems-conference-a-great-success/) - Ethical Systems, in collaboration with BSPA, held our first conference, Ethics By Design, on June 3. Thanks to the presenters and attendees, it was the behavioral science equivalent of an all-star game attended by the most passionate fans. Close to 80 leaders from the ethics and compliance space, prominent professors from across the country and influential business leaders and thinkers came together to learn from what one participant called “a massive amount of brain power in the room.” And truly, it was. From those who wrote the seminal texts on business ethics to the people in charge of designing ethics programs at top companies, the attendee mix was evenly distributed among both academics and practitioners in order to stimulate dialog, research and connections.
- [Start A Culture Change With Feedback [reblogged from impraise]](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/start-a-culture-change-with-feedback-reblogged-from-impraise/) - Reblogged from our friends at impraise. Written by Andrea Hak. Every company has their own unique culture. Whether positive or negative, company culture is a set of norms, beliefs, values and vision that define how employees and managers interact within an organization. Whether you have a preset list of company values or not your company has its own culture. The question is how you can shape your company’s culture to fit new norms and objectives you’d like to see in your company?
- [Featured Collaborator for July & August: Hal Movius](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/featured-collaborator-for-july-august-hal-movius/) - Interview with Hal Movius, president of Movius Consulting and senior consultant to The Consensus Building Institute What are your main areas of research? Lately I’m interested how we can help people to negotiate with greater emotional and behavioral confidence, without becoming cognitively blinded. There’s a fair amount of research on how judgmental overconfidence can worsen conflict, but very little on why most of us dread negotiating, even though it is a critical life skill. While there are self-assessment tools that people use to categorize their negotiating styles, these are largely useless because 1) people don’t realize how powerful and varied situations can be, and therefore how varied their own behaviors will be, and 2) many people respond in self-enhancing ways, claiming to be assertive or collaborative when in fact the modal human response to conflict is avoidance. So I’m in interested in taking apart what it means to be “confident” and what it means to “negotiate,” so we can help people be less frightened and more competent, without falling prey to common self-serving biases and other errors in judgment.
- [Should Whistleblowers Receive a Reward for Speaking Up?](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/should-whistleblowers-receive-a-reward-for-speaking-up/) - The increased exposure recently provided to the actions of whistleblowers at organisations like CommInsure, Theiss and 7-Eleven is, in a perverse way, a very positive development. Obviously we feel for those who under extremely difficult circumstances have taken considerable personal risk to expose wrongdoing, especially if their selfless actions have come at a cost. This latter outcome can never be excused. However, the increased publicity is proving to be a catalyst for change. And there is no question that change is needed. At the organisational level companies must begin to recognise that there are enormous benefits associated with giving employees voice. Even the best laid compliance framework has limitations, and the most effective way to overcome these is to promote and embrace a speak up culture – employees shining a torch on poor conduct should be cherished not chastised.
- [Bro-ken speech? Speaking up and speaking out](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/bro-ken-speech-speaking-up-and-speaking-out/) - Speaking-up is hard to do. In a research survey conducted by Sean Martin, Associate Professor at the Carroll School of Management, and presented at Ethics By Design, respondents identified speaking up about ethical issues as the scariest form of “employee voice” in organizations (even more so than speaking up to point out problems). If you’ve ever felt that pain in your gut about giving bad news to your boss, you likely share this sentiment. Raising ethical issues requires courage compared to other forms of workplace interactions, as shown in research by James Detert – people’s self-preservation instincts drive their decision to stay silent, even if it’s an issue the company could perceive as one that improves its processes, products or procedures. Research by Professors Milliken (NYU Stern), Morrison and Hewlin (NYU Stern) also shows that employees are likely to be silent because they fear being labeled a troublemaker by their colleagues, and thus damaging valued business relationships. Surprisingly, retaliation in the form of losing one’s job or being passed up for a promotion is at the bottom of the list of reasons to stay silent. Given this fear, it’s no surprise that corporations struggle to change their internal culture, particularly when the issues are cultural transgressions that subtly create imbalances in the workplace.
- [Shareholders vs Stakeholders: Who should companies focus on enriching?](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/shareholders-vs-stakeholders-who-should-companies-focus-on-enriching/) - When a company has a record year in its stock price, who wins? Frequently it is only a limited number of individuals as opposed to the greater society in which we all live. For public shareholders, a bump in stock price is a good thing but what history shows is that more often than not, the short-term jolts come at the expense of a more sustainable strategy towards success (VW, HSBC and other recent corporate scandals come to mind). At Ethical Systems, in addition to taking a systems approach to corporate culture and ethics, we advocate for a stakeholder perspective towards business and profits. In contrast to a shareholder focus, which prioritizes the stock price over other factors, concentrating on stakeholders, i.e. those outside of the investor pool, yields a more ethically focused organization where leaders consider actions in the long term. While the latter strategy may forego the highs of the market, it can inoculate against the lows and downturns which can be more debilitating than heights reached at peak economic times.
- [The Scandal Effect: Removing the taint of corporate ethical lapses](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/the-scandal-effect-removing-the-taint-of-corporate-ethical-lapses/) - Imagine an executive at a company leaves their job in January, six months before the company becomes embroiled in an ethical scandal. The executive now has the taint of a botched job attributed to him/her and, like the smelly car from Seinfeld, it is hard to wash off and seems to follow them everywhere. A recent article in Harvard Business Review illuminated this phenomenon, shows how much of a long term impact scandal can have on people. The results were shocking (though not so much odiferous).
- [Featured Collaborator for September: Robert Hurley](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/featured-collaborator-for-september-robert-hurley/) - Interview with Dr. Robert Hurley, Professor of Organization Behavior at Fordham University’s Gabelli School of Business How does your work on trust help companies that want to improve themselves as ethical systems? We work with collaborators all over the world to examine in depth what stakeholder trust is and precisely how organizations that earn and sustain that trust operate. We very much agree with the eco system approach adopted by Ethical Systems. In 2012 we formed the Consortium for Trustworthy Organizations to translate this research into practical tools to help organizations move along a path to becoming more trustworthy. Examples of these tools are executive programs where we teach leaders about trust in leadership and the need to create congruent organizational systems that create a reliable infrastructure to meet stakeholder needs. We have also developed survey tools to diagnose which elements of an organization need improvement to make the organization more trustworthy. Interestingly, our work has shown that there is not a one size fits all approach to developing a more trustworthy organization. Organizations, like people, are unique and our contests present different challenges. As such we must start with a full diagnosis that shows us in what ways we are trustworthy and in what ways we are not. Only then can we start moving in the right direction to meet our own and stakeholders needs.
- [New Behavioral Science One Sheets](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/new-behavioral-science-one-sheets/) - It is no secret that behavioral science can be chock full of terms that, while widely recognized in our community, may still present some confusion among practitioners. To that end, in partnership with the Notre Dame Center for Ethical Leadership, Ethical Systems has created the first in an ongoing series of downloadable one-sheets designed to demystify and connect behavioral science concepts to daily workflow and organizational cultures across the world.
- [Crediting the Behavioral Approach](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/crediting-the-behavioral-approach/) - This piece has been cross-posted from the NYU Law Compliance and Enforcement blog. By: Timothy J. Lindon, Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer at Philip Morris International Inc. The compliance message to companies from Washington is practical and encouraging. Regulators are not looking to reward check-the-box programs or companies that simply say the right things about integrity in their Codes of Conduct. They are looking for innovative approaches that work to prevent misconduct in the real world, and can be measured. The problem of course is identifying and measuring what works. We have lots of compliance metrics like training completion rates and the number of helpline calls, but none of them measures fully the impact of our programs on ethical decisions by individual employees. In fact, research shows that many of the activities credited under the federal sentencing guidelines may actually be counter-productive. For example, training that is regarded by employees as a check-the-box exercise is viewed as insincere and undermines compliance with policies. So what works?
- [Developing Ethical Behavior in Financial Institutions](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/developing-ethical-behavior-in-financial-institutions/) - Guest post by Rachel Fichter of S&P Global Ratings and member of our Advisory Board Late last year I published a post on LinkedIn about my dissertation research on developing ethical behavior in financial institutions. I was disheartened, but not surprised, by comments such as “a losing battle” and “oxymoron,” which promulgated a deeply cynical view of ethics in the financial sector. Fast forward to the announcement last week that Wells Fargo will pay a fine of $185 million (a mere drop in the bucked for a company that generated $23 billion in profits in 2015) to settle allegations of fraud committed by thousands of its employees. It is particularly disconcerting that unethical behavior could take place on such a massive scale after years of intense post-financial crisis scrutiny and regulation. In spite of continued ethical breaches in the financial industry, as a “scholar-practitioner” in the field of adult learning, I am firm believer in the possibility of positive human growth and transformation. And, as a 17-year veteran of the financial industry, I have had the privilege of collaborating with many outstanding people who are fully committed to “doing the right thing”—helping clients achieve their long term financial goals and to supporting the development of vibrant economies in the communities they serve. Unfortunately, I have also worked with self-serving and even mean-spirited individuals whose behaviors were, in my view, unethical. Although many of them imploded over time, it was not before creating a trail of lasting devastation.
- [Why Your Hiring Process Keeps Missing Candidates' Character Flaws](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/why-your-hiring-process-keeps-missing-candidates-character-flaws/) - In a captivating article for Fast Company ES collaborator David Mayer, of the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan, outlines “Why Your Hiring Process Keeps Missing Candidates' Character Flaws.” We at Ethical Systems talk a lot about hiring for ethics and culture, as opposed to hiring for skills and personality, during the interview process. The reason is that the dialogue between employer and potential employee is wrought with miscues, overestimations, hyperbole and a reliance on presenting the best possible version of oneself. In addition, research by ES collaborator Nick Epley, and cited in the Fast Company piece, highlights how we are actually less reliable than we may think when it comes to identifying deceits and spotting potential bad apples.
- [Measuring Ethical Culture:  Tips and Tools](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/measuring-ethical-culture-tips-and-tools/) - As any Compliance Officer knows well, demonstrating that your company has an effective compliance program is one of the main goals of your day-to-day efforts, but also one of the most elusive. The Federal Sentencing Guidelines are designed to incentivize businesses to implement ethics and compliance programs by rewarding companies through reduced sanctions- if they can demonstrate that they have an effective compliance program. The broad goal for most companies is to demonstrate, in the face of an investigation or finding of illegal actions, that the act was caused by a rogue employee and not because of how the company inherently conducts its business. Yet, we all know that in practice demonstrating effectiveness of a compliance program is rife with gray areas, cynicism and challenges.
- [ETSY: A Positive Culture of Negative Confessions](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/etsy-a-positive-culture-of-negative-confessions/) - What happens when people make a mistake at work? That depends on the culture of the organization- covering it up or passing the buck are options when competition drives behavior or if there is a low trust environment. But at Etsy, employees are not only asked to own up to their errors but reveal them to the entire company. In a recent piece on Quartz, Etsy CEO Chad Dickerson revealed that people at the company are encouraged to document their mistakes, how they happened and what they learned from it, in public emails. The company “also gives out an annual award—a real three-armed sweater— to whomever who made the most surprising error, not the worst one, as a reminder to examine the gap between how things are expected to happen and how they actually do.”
- [Featured Ethics Scholar for October: Charles H.Green](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/featured-ethics-scholar-for-october-charles-h-green/) - Interview with Charles H. Green, founder and CEO of Trusted Advisor Associates What are your main areas of research? I’m not an academic, so I’ll have to define “research” a little loosely. But for the last 20 years, what I’ve focused on is the role played by trust in business relationships, particularly complex B2B relationships – and particularly in sales and in advisory relationships. In practice, that has meant pointing out a distinction rarely used in business, even though it’s fairly obvious: the relationship between the trustor and the trustee. You can’t talk about trust in practical terms without distinguishing between those two very distinct roles (though most general discussions about ’trust’ do just that). The trustor initiates the relationship by taking a risk; the trustee responds, or not. And then the roles shift for the next go-round. Trust is iterative, dynamic, and creates itself around risk. I have also focused on the role of personal relationships rather than institutional relationships, because trust is like politics – as Tip O’Neill said years ago, it’s all local. Or personal, in the case of trust. Institutional trust, like branding, is a far weaker force. The role of institutions in trust is largely to foster or hinder personal trust.
- [Corporate Scandal, Reputation Risks and Common Sense](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/corporate-scandal-reputation-risks-and-common-sense/) - When corporate scandal occurs- whether it makes headlines or not- there is a tendency to blame bad apples instead of examining the organizational culture to identify areas in need of further improvement or oversight. In a recent piece in The Wall Street Journal, Lou Gerstner, a former chairman and CEO of IBM and RJR Nabisco, now chairman of the board of directors at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, outlines why there is continued misunderstanding around culture and the various ways companies undercut their own efforts to strengthen it.
- [Featured Ethics Scholar for November: Beverly Kracher, PhD](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/featured-ethics-scholar-for-november-beverly-kracher-phd/) - Interview with Beverly Kracher, Robert B. Daugherty Chair and Professor in Business Ethics & Society and CEO / Executive Director of the Business Ethics Alliance in Omaha, NE What are your main areas of research/work at Creighton University? First, let me tell you what I’d like to do. Before I retire or die, I’d like to collaborate with musicians to create a set of positive business ethics jingles that stick in our brains as much as the Oscar Mayer Baloney song (of course, since Oscar Mayer doesn’t resonate with everyone, we’d need to identify the jingles for each part of the world). However, I haven’t found the musicians who want to work on this project yet. So, recently I have spent my time on city-level business ethics as Executive Director/CEO of the Business Ethics Alliance.
- [Bias Among Choice Architects: On psychology and regulation](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/bias-among-choice-architects-on-psychology-and-regulation/) - In their seminal work on `nudges,’ Cass Sunstein and Richard Thaler have made a tremendously influential contribution to academic policy research and to practical policy. They insightfully describe how to improve people’s saving, consumption, and life choices by improving the `choice architecture’ (the structure and framing) of decision problems. Specifically, the idea is to help people who are subject to psychological bias—i.e., just about everyone—make better choices. Sunstein and Thaler emphasize that this can often be achieved without coercion, a policy strategy which they call `libertarian paternalism.’ Over the last decade, Sunstein and Thaler and their followers have devised many ways in which the lives of people can be improved by seemingly modest and non-invasive tweaks in individual choice problems. Just think about whether people would eat as much candy if it were only found in the back of supermarket aisles. It is no accident that it is also prominently displayed at the checkout stand where hungry shoppers must stand around staring at it. Who wouldn’t want an improvement on that choice architecture?
- [The UK’s Banking Standards Board: Should a US model follow?](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/the-uks-banking-standards-board-should-a-us-model-follow/) - I recently returned from a trip to London, where I spoke about the role of ethics and culture in organizations with varied, leading professionals. My meeting with the Banking Standards Board (“BSB”) stands out as a potential model for what financial services firms in the U.S. could emulate. The BSB is a non-profit organization, established by the industry in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis to address core challenges relating to the culture of banking, and help restore the industry’s trust and reputation. To raise standards of behavior in financial services, the BSB began with a comprehensive analysis of the current standards for culture, the details of which are provided in their 2015 assessment report, identifying themes relating to norms within the banking industry. After conducting assessments at individual firms, and extrapolating common themes, they plan to use these as the framework for future work plans. This assessment creates a baseline so that firms and the BSB can then measure the impact of reform efforts, both internal ethics programs and industry and regulatory initiatives, over time. As I’ve written in previous blog posts, evidence-based ethics research and culture measurement are key to determining what works to drive more ethical behavior in organizations. In order to improve culture, researchers need to help firms better measure their culture and track changes in indicators over time. The BSB has taken a vital step towards this goal.
- [Featured Ethics Scholar for December: Dennis Gentilin](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/featured-ethics-scholar-for-december-dennis-gentilin/) - Interview with Dennis Gentilin, Whistleblower, Author and Consultant on Corporate Citizenship What are your main areas of research/work? Let me begin by stating that I don’t see myself as a scholar (at least not formally). However I do see enormous value in using the findings and tools from the social and behavioral sciences to help address the ethical challenges facing the business world. This is one of the many reasons I am a big advocate of Ethical Systems. As one would expect given my experience and background (outlined below), my primary area of interest is employee voice and speak up cultures. What my experience showed me is that even the best “formal systems” (rules, regulations, compliance and other such artifacts) have shortcomings. The best (and arguably the only) way to overcome these is to nurture the “human systems” within organizations. A speak up culture is a core component of this latter system.
- [Ethical Systems Design: Crosspost from AuditFutures](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/ethical-systems-design-crosspost-from-auditfutures/) - Cross posted from the AuditFutures Blog. See original post here. On 23rd November, we hosted a conference exploring the concept of organisational culture and what systemic approaches we can take to foster ethical culture within organisations, particularly professional service firms. This interdisciplinary conference engaged around 100 leading international academics, business leaders and accounting professionals in a holistic discussion on the significant role of culture in organisations. The event built on our Future Firms project which explores in a systemic way the interdependencies of the different aspects of the firm: culture, governance, technology, services, structure, and people and what this means for the future of . Our Ethics by Design Conference explored the key challenges and trends, faced through the interaction between the three levels of employees, the organisation and society. Participants explored the possible design ideas that can be implemented to work towards overcoming these challenges and forming a more ethical culture.
- [MBA: Means Being Aware to Short-Termism](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/mba-means-being-aware-to-short-termism/) - It takes a commitment to business and a desire to better oneself that motivates earning a Master in Business Administration. The degree is seen as a passport to financial success and business leadership, a necessary piece of the puzzle should you want to attain keys to the executive suite. Yet, a new study by Danny Miller, research professor at HEC Montreal and Xiaowei Xu, an assistant professor at the University of Rhode Island shows that for MBA-holders who go on to lead companies and achieve a level of recognition in mainstream media, self-interested behavior becomes more apparent and their firms can suffer as a result. Acknowledging that earning an MBA does not cause people to be any less reliable, honest or ethical than others, Miller and Xu’s findings have implications for executive compensation, the dangers of short-termism and how the drive to be distinguished among peers may create a blind spot when thinking about other areas of the business.
- [2016 Collaborators in the News: A Year of Many Achievements](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/2016-collaborators-in-the-news-a-year-of-many-achievements/) - 2016 was a year of many achievements for our growing collaborator network. We invite you to browse a highlight list of the research, articles, appearances and talks that helped advance our mission and promote a greater understanding of ethics, decision making, and ethical systems design. Browse our collaborators and their highlights and achievements from this year >>
- [2016 End of Year Letter from Jonathan Haidt](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/2016-end-of-year-letter-from-jonathan-haidt/) - Dear Friends: 2016 has been a year of extraordinary change. Many of these changes make our mission – to help companies strengthen their ethical cultures using behavioral science research – more vital than ever. Consider just these three facts: Populist movements around the world are usually antagonistic towards large corporations, which they often perceive as engaging in predatory behavior The recent U.S. election likely means a new and lighter-touch approach to regulation and compliance, particularly in the financial services industry The Brexit vote means that Britain must quickly decide upon its own approach to regulation. Putting these together: The world is hungry for new ideas on how to improve business ethics in ways that do not rely as heavily as before on detailed rules formulated by legislatures and regulators. There is a desperate need to help businesses become more self-regulating, in ways that will protect multiple stakeholders while increasing the dynamism and profitability of the business. That is exactly what Ethical Systems is doing and we have made great progress towards our goals this year.
- [Crosspost: The (Il)legitimacy of Compliance?](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/crosspost-the-illegitimacy-of-compliance/) - Cross posted from NYU Law's PCCE's Compliance & Enforcement blog. Each new compliance scandal triggers something of a “what were they thinking” response among those who consider it self-evident that sensible people inside a business organization would try hard to avoid behaviors that can bring such serious legal and reputation harm. So it is with the current subject of fascination, Wells Fargo. “Salespeople” (many of whom were branch employees serving customers’ basic banking needs) created millions of unauthorized customer accounts of various sorts in order to generate fee revenues. While some corporate legal violations are implicitly blessed from above because any sanctions can be seen as just the cost of doing business, such was probably not the case here.
- [Featured Ethics [and Sustainability] Scholar for January: Tensie Whelan](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/featured-ethics-and-sustainability-scholar-for-january-tensie-whelan/) - Interview with Tensie Whelan, Clinical Professor and Director of the Center for Sustainable Business at NYU Stern Why was now the right time to launch the Center for Sustainable Business here at Stern? Why was Stern the right home for this important center? Business manages the majority of the resources on the planet. In the US, for example, business is responsible for $18 trillion of GDP and government and civil society $3 trillion. If we wish to solve the environmental and social challenges before us, we need business to play a leadership role. Stern, with its location in the world’s financial center, and its award-winning faculty and students who are focused on finance, can play a unique role in addressing the structural problems of shareholder capitalism and the Center for Sustainable Business can assist the transition to a capitalism better suited to the needs of the 21st century. The moment is right because a growing number of business leaders such as Paul Polman at Unilever, John Mackey at Whole Foods and Larry Fink at BlackRock are questioning the benefits of short-termism and are turning to their broader purpose in society. These business leaders need research, networks and employees who can help them on this journey and CSB can be a key partner.
- [Behavioral Ethics: From nudges to norms](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/behavioral-ethics-from-nudges-to-norms/) - Scott Killingsworth, Senior Counsel with Bryan Cave, LLP, writes a broadly applicable and thought-provoking piece on nudges vs. culture. Killingsworth illustrates how a strong ethical culture can take the place of consistent, ongoing nudges and shows that culture should be considered through the lens of not just preventing ethical mishaps, but also about creating a positive environment “where the good apples can thrive”. We encourage you to read this informative article >>
- [Interview with Rashmi Airan: Law, Blindspots, Prison and Redemption](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/interview-with-rashmi-airan-law-blindspots-prison-and-redemption/) - An interview with Rashmi Airan, speaker on ethics, law and culture; leadership and compliance consultant; and growth strategist Background: Rashmi was a successful lawyer who graduated with honors from Columbia Law School. After working for several major corporations, she launched an independent law practice in Miami, Florida. During the housing boom, she was recruited to work with a local real-estate developer who later engaged in shady business practices. Her involvement resulted in a one year sentence in Federal prison, alongside a $19M judgment against future earnings, required community service hours and 3 years supervised release. As a mother of two and devoted community activist, Rashmi has reconfigured her subsequent career to focus on growth strategies and leadership/compliance training for firms, corporations, and graduate schools. She has also become widely known as a public speaker, sharing her story to help illustrate the ethical perils and situations that can result from a drive to succeed and the blindspots created when pursuing a goal. This interview has been edited and condensed from a conversation on January 19, 2017. 1) What are the main takeaways from your story that you want others to know? I believe there are many reasons why I am telling my story. I want to help people so that they do not find themselves in the same predicament that I was in and make different choices when faced with daily “gray” decisions. I finally came to a place of peace that I had done something wrong when I gave myself the freedom to forgive. After I forgave myself, my lessons became clearer. I reflected on different business relationships and the fact that I had not looked into things deeply enough. I know there are lessons for both young and seasoned professionals. I believe I can enlighten people to the fact that there is a fine line and we must all walk between the two sides of right and wrong and choose to be on the right side of the line.
- [Ethical Decision Making: Easy in Training, Harder in Reality](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/ethical-decision-making-easy-in-training-harder-in-reality/) - Over the course of a workday, people make innumerable decisions ranging in degrees of severity, from critical to mundane. Often times, choices are made in a vacuum and are considered for only as long as it takes until the next intellectual dilemma or distraction demands our attention. A recent piece by Eugene Soltes in Harvard Business Review explores the difficulty around ethical decision-making, while also exploring the gap between attempts to train or educate people on organizational ethics and the real-world pressures people face when face with an ethical dilemma (or even recognizing that they may be in an ethical quandary). Soltes, an Associate Professor of Business Administration at Harvard Business School, points to a variety of executive misdoings by ostensibly smart and talented— not to mention prominent— leaders that illustrate that even those under scrutiny and fully aware of their responsibility for shareholder funds can act in self-serving ways that, in retrospect, they realize are obviously unethical. And, as Soltes writes, in hindsight the fact that these were adverse decisions are not lost on these individuals, but in the moment they failed to consider the impact or consequences.
- [Featured Ethics [and Governance] Scholar for February: Andrea Bonime-Blanc](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/featured-ethics-and-governance-scholar-for-february-andrea-bonime-blanc/) - Interview with Andrea Bonime-Blanc, Author and CEO of GEC Risk Advisory What are your main areas of research/work? Even though I teach at a couple of universities (including NYU and ESADE) and hold a PhD (in political science), I am not a scholar in the traditional sense of the word. I have always worked as a lawyer or corporate executive for global companies and four years ago started my own strategic advisory firm (GEC Risk Advisory). That said, my current advisory practice falls under the general rubric of “Strategic ESG (environmental, social and governance) Risk and Value Creation”. Subtopics include: Governance (including cyber-risk governance) Ethics and culture Strategic risk Reputation risk Crisis preparedness Transforming risk into value Sometimes clients ask me to do practical research – one of my favorite recent client engagements was preparing a white paper for the board of directors of a leading African bank on future trends in global corporate responsibility. I also use my own research on cutting edge topics like reputation risk and cyber-risk governance to push the limits of where we currently are on finding solutions to current serious challenges in the marketplace, focused almost exclusively on what the board and the c-suite need to know.
- [Varying Tasks to Increase Compliance](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/varying-tasks-to-increase-compliance/) - A new study illustrates how providing variety in job-related tasks for workers contributes to rule adherence and stymies unethical decision making. The paper “Reducing Organizational Rule Breaking Through Task Variety: How Task Design Supports Deliberative Thinking,” is authored by Rellie Derfler-Rozin, ES collaborator Celia Moore and Bradley R. Staats and published in Organization Science. The authors discuss the positive implications of this research for designing roles and responsibilities in various organizational settings, and the beneficial outcomes for both workers and businesses.
- [Making Business Ethics a Cumulative Science](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/making-business-ethics-a-cumulative-science/) - When businesses and researchers cooperate, collaborate and communicate, everyone wins. A new article in the premiere edition of Nature: Human Behavior by Ethical Systems founder Jonathan Haidt of NYU Stern and collaborator Linda Trevino of the University of Pennsylvania illustrate just how far deeper partnership can take the field of business ethics research and why that will help companies and people to flourish. In their piece, entitled “Make Business Ethics a Cumulative Science” Haidt and Trevino outline the various factors that have impeded ties between the business and research communities. Some are due to the misalignment between operational models— academics depend on open access to information towards the goal of building on research and understanding, while businesses need to maintain tight control over information about their inner-workings and ethics— while others are based in the complexity of business ethics as a field.
- [Featured Ethics [and Leadership] Scholar for March: Ron Carucci](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/featured-ethics-and-leadership-scholar-for-march-ron-carucci/) - Interview with Ron Carucci, author, leadership consultant and cofounder / managing partner at Navalent What are your main areas of research/work? My colleagues and I at Navalent spend our days working with organizations pursuing dramatic change. That could be changes in strategy, re designs of organizations, or strengthening of leadership capability. Our writing and research focuses on those same areas – we see our intellectual capital as the opportunity to learn on behalf of the clients we serve. How does strengthening leadership help reduce ethical misconduct in companies? If you think about the nature of many ethical misconduct, they can often emanate from previously undiscovered character flaws that get exposed when leaders are pressured in broader roles. Preparing leaders early in their careers to assume increasingly bigger jobs can help reduce the likelihood that the challenges of power and resources, political rivalries, or intensified performance pressures won’t drive leaders to make short-sighted, unethical choices.
- [Bank Culture: Can regulators have an impact?](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/bank-culture-can-regulators-have-an-impact/) - A March 14 New York Times Dealbook article by David Zaring of the Wharton School looks at bank culture from a regulatory perspective and questions why NY FED regulators are taking on the grand task of attempting to make culture and ethics an important part of bank supervision- especially when “creating and regulating culture by regulatory fiat is so difficult.” Ethical Systems has made fortifying ethical corporate culture a main concentration of our efforts, as there is no better determinant to predicting misconduct. An ethical systems approach to business ethics considers the interplay between corporate culture with considerations for how to motivate individual to be more ethical (nudging),and the regulatory (guiding policies that impact behavior and outcomes). When examining company culture, leaders should consider whether it is one in which company values are infused into all aspects of the operation, where managers lead by example and teams are encouraged to speak up about ethics and other issues? Or, if it is a culture in which checking the compliance boxes off a list is seen as most important and certain behavior is tolerated by high-performers but not allowed for others?
- [Featured Ethics [and Human Rights] Scholar for April: Mike Posner](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/featured-ethics-and-human-rights-scholar-for-april-mike-posner/) - Interview with Mike Posner, Jerome Kohlberg Professor of Ethics and Finance and Director for the Center of Business and Human Rights at NYU Stern School of Business What are your main areas of research/work? When we launched the Center in 2013, we sought to pioneer new ways of investigating business practices at the industry level. Our methodology prioritizes interview-based research with business leaders and other stakeholders, combined with documentary evidence, policy and data analysis, and visualization. How does strengthening human rights help reduce ethical misconduct in companies? To date, most approaches to address human rights or sustainability in business have focused on what happens within the four walls of the firm. They focus on the activities of individual managers to improve company practices or corporate financial contributions to improve the environment, women’s empowerment, or public health. We are very focused on how large global companies make money, their business models for doing so, and the human rights risks in their industry that accompany that model.
- [Sharing: The Five Levels of Building an Ethical Culture](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/sharing-the-five-levels-of-building-an-ethical-culture/) - We are republishing this piece by Alison Taylor, via Richard Bistrong, exploring the five levels at which companies should build an ethical culture. This guest post is by Alison Taylor, Director, BSR, and first appeared on BSR here. How to build and sustain an organization whose employees are happy, motivated, and ethical remains one of the most
- [Is Your Legal Department Creating Organizational Risk?](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/is-your-legal-department-creating-organizational-risk/) - This piece, written by Ethical Systems CEO Azish Filabi, was originally published on The FCPA Blog and is cross-posted here. At the 2017 Global Ethics Summit, put on by the Ethisphere Institute, Caroline Rees of SHIFT spoke on a panel about business and human rights. When asked about differences in stakeholder management approaches between European and U.S. businesses, and why U.S. companies are not as far along as their European counterparts, she highlighted that U.S. lawyers have a more dominant role. When business leaders want to audit their supply chain, for example, lawyers often warn against such initiatives in the absence of a regulatory mandate. But, as Rees discussed, the existence of human rights risk in your supply chain is not a secret -- it’s just a question of when and how it will be exposed.
- [Our new 'Ask an Ethics Expert' Feature](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/our-new-ask-an-ethics-expert-feature/) - Expanding on our mission to curate and distil ethics research for the business community, Ethical Systems is proud to launch a new initiative soliciting questions to submit to one of our esteemed collaborators. Our "Ask an Ethics Expert" project allows you to learn more about business ethics, culture, decision making and more. Submit your questions online and see your answers in our May newsletter and on our Ask an Ethics Expert page online.
- [Building Cultures of Trust at Laureate Education](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/building-cultures-of-trust-at-laureate-education/) - Ethical Systems seeks to highlight companies with a strong commitment to ethical, speak up cultures and trust. One of these companies is Laureate Education, Inc., who created a series of internal videos for their 70,000 employees about trust, blame and ethics. We present them below with an introduction by Laureate's Chief Ethics & Compliance Officer, Mark Snyderman. Laureate Education, Inc. is the largest global network of degree-granting higher education institutions, with more than one million students enrolled across 70 institutions in 25 countries at campuses and online. Laureate offers high-quality, undergraduate, graduate and specialized degree programs in a wide range of academic disciplines that provide attractive employment prospects. Laureate believes that when our students succeed, countries prosper and societies benefit. This belief is expressed through the company's philosophy of being 'Here for Good' and is represented by its status as a Certified B Corporation™ and conversion in 2015 to a U.S. public benefit corporation, a new class of corporation committed to creating a positive impact on society.
- [Featured Ethics [and Transparency] Scholar for May: Alison Taylor](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/featured-ethics-and-transparency-scholar-for-may-alison-taylor/) - Interview with Alison Taylor, Director of BSR’s sustainability management practice What are your main areas of research/work? I’ve spent most of my career working in consulting roles, helping large companies navigate integrity challenges. These are becoming ever more complex, are not confined to a single department, and require difficult judgment calls at the critical intersection of risk, responsibility, and reputation. Currently, I work for BSR, which is a global nonprofit organization that works with its network of more than 250 member companies and other partners to build a just and sustainable world. There, I saw the sustainability field attempting to tackle some core business ethics and integrity challenges, though from a very different angle than the approach taken by risk and compliance teams. Both perspectives are essential, but too many discussions and purported solutions remain separate, in distinct silos. I see huge potential in a more integrated approach to ethics that incorporates ideas from both compliance and sustainability. The concept of a “culture of compliance” is strangely empty. It may sound obvious to say that corporate values statements must amount to more than words on a website, but the task of giving these concepts substance can be neglected. We still hesitate to question the dominant idea that all decisions to maximize profit are ethically neutral. And we still argue that a private sector organization needs a ‘business case’ for integrity, while expecting that the individuals within that organization should behave ethically. I argue that ideas taken from corporate responsibility and sustainability can provide both the direction and the decision-making frameworks we need to use when tackling today’s challenges in business ethics.
- [Retail Bank Incentive Schemes in Australia](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/retail-bank-incentive-schemes-in-australia/) - Dennis Gentilin is the author of “The Origins of Ethical Failures” (Routledge, 2016) and the Founding Director of Human Systems Advisory. Last week, Mr Stephen Sedgwick AO released the findings from his review into remuneration arrangements for retail banking staff in Australia (the final report can be downloaded here). The review is part of a broader program of work being undertaken by the Australian Bankers Association that is aiming to address the culture and conduct issues within the banking sector. With this objective in mind, the review represents a significant (albeit small) step in the right direction. Although some may question whether Mr Sedgwick went far enough, he has squarely placed the ball in the banks’ court and left them under no illusions that change is needed.
- [A Long Term Fix for Our Short Term Focus on Corporate Culture and Profits](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/a-long-term-fix-for-our-short-term-focus-on-corporate-culture-and-profits/) - In a society and culture that emphasizes the new and the now what does it mean to manage for the long term? If we want what we want when we want it, businesses that take a multi-year perspective may be misaligned with modern expectations by shareholders to maximize profits, almost immediately. Today’s businesses have morphed into revenue generators designed to squeeze every ounce of productivity and profit from its people and operations. Many corporate leaders see their role as the facilitator of shareholder enrichment. Coupled with a culture of instant gratification, it is not that shocking to see the reinforcement from the field as to what it means to be a successful enterprise. However, a new article in Harvard Business Review by authors Joseph Bower and Lynn Paine of Harvard Business School argues that the entire basis for the popularity of shareholder primacy is deeply flawed and that its growing reliance excludes real opportunities for sustained growth and imperils the broader economy.
- [Airlines and Stakeholders: A First Class Relationship](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/airlines-and-stakeholders-a-first-class-relationship/) - U.S. airlines have recently hit some ethical turbulence, beginning last month when United Airlines personnel physically dragged a passenger from an overbooked flight and culminating last week when a “near riot” broke out in Fort Lauderdale after Spirit Airlines canceled 11 flights during a labor dispute with its pilots. The public has become increasingly critical of air travel. Yet the business community seems to disincentivize airlines from pursuing a more ethics-forward approach. When American Airlines gave pay raises to its pilots and flight attendants ahead of contract negotiations, Wall Street analysts complained about the prioritization of labor over shareholders and exacted punishment on AAL’s stock price. The flight attendants’ union countered with a petition pointing out that shareholders have received ample compensation over the last three years.
- [Our Book Discussion With Jack Ewing and NYU's Center For Sustainable Business](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/our-book-discussion-with-jack-ewing-and-nyus-center-for-sustainable-business/) - On May 23, the NYU Stern Center for Sustainable Business and Ethical Systems welcomed Jack Ewing, European Economics Correspondent for The New York Times, for a discussion of his new book "Faster, Higher, Farther: The Volkswagen Scandal". Ethical Systems CEO Azish Filabi introduced Jack Ewing and discussed the ways in which this event exemplifies the mission of each center: "This event is a great opportunity for our two organizations to partner given the overlap between ethical failures and environmental impact at VW. That VW’s actions breached the trust of its customers, employees, and the government is an understatement. The emissions fraud represents not only disregard for good business practices, but also the necessity of businesses to be at the forefront of meeting global environmental challenges. It is precisely the type of management decisions we are educating Stern students NOT to make." Ewing, who has spent more than 20 years covering German business and economics, opened his presentation with a brief history of Volkswagen, which emerged in the late 1940s as the icon of post-war German regeneration. He detailed Volkswagen’s fraudulent emissions testing and took the audience behind the scenes to expose how this deception happened, who discovered it and how the company tried to cover up its misdeeds.
- [Featured Ethics and Behavioral Science Scholar for June: Caroline Webb](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/featured-ethics-and-behavioral-science-scholar-for-june-caroline-webb/) - Interview with Caroline Webb, author of How to Have a Good Day and Expert on Ethics and Behavioral Science What are your main areas of research/work? I show people how to use insights from behavioral science to improve their performance and wellbeing at work. In practice that often means helping them rethink the way they set goals, approach important conversations, tackle their tasks, manage their workload, handle personal setbacks and sustain their energy from day to day. Sometimes this is through 1-1 coaching and team sessions for senior leaders, but it’s often through workshops and interactive speeches for larger groups too. I also advise a couple of companies on ways to use behavioral science more broadly, including McKinsey & Company where I did behavioral change work for 12 years. What do most companies overlook when it comes to behavioral economics, psychology, and neuroscience? The primary focus of applied behavioral science to date has been public policy – something I applaud as a one-time policy wonk myself. But there’s a lot of untapped opportunity in business. At the moment, behavioral insights are mostly being applied by folks in the marketing function, and to a lesser extent in strategic decision-making. I’m always surprised that there isn’t more making its way into the people and culture domain, both through the HR function and in everyday management. But I’m optimistic that this will change – and it’s my mission to help change it.
- [Azish Filabi at The Banking & Finance Ethics 2017 Conference](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/azish-filabi-at-the-banking-finance-ethics-2017-conference/) - Ethical Systems CEO Azish Filabi was invited to deliver the opening remarks at The Banking & Finance Ethics 2017 conference on June 8th in Sydney, Australia. The conference covered the importance of trust and an ethical foundation for the financial services sector; exploring the crucial role individuals play in ensuring that the industry operates with integrity. We present her address below
- [The Only Way is Ethics: A new whitepaper](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/the-only-way-is-ethics-a-new-whitepaper/) - We are pleased to announce a newly-released white paper in partnership with MindGym entitled The Only Way is Ethics: Why good people do bad things and how to stop us. This resource is a free, 44-page guide which presents research on why traditional solutions to managing ethics aren’t working, while also providing a set of tools and a framework to begin diagnosing your own organization alongside concrete advice for improvement. The Only Way is Ethics includes a foreward by Ethical Systems Founder/Director Jonathan Haidt and CEO Azish Filabi.
- [Featured Ethics and Social Science Expert: Jonathan Haidt](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/featured-ethics-and-social-science-expert-jonathan-haidt/) - Interview with Jonathan Haidt, author of The Righteous Mind and Thomas Cooley Professor of Business Ethics at NYU Stern What are your main areas of research/work around business ethics? What I discovered when I moved to NYU-Stern in 2011 is that there’s a lot of great research on behavioral ethics going on at business schools, which I had not known about as a social psychologist studying morality, and which ethics and compliance officers generally didn’t know about. What was needed was a way to gather up all the existing research and make it available and accessible to businesspeople. That’s why I created the first iteration of Ethical Systems back in 2011 – it was originally just a simple website to bring together all the varied worlds of knowledge that one needs before one can try to improve these complicated things called corporations. In 2014 the site was re-launched as the much larger collaborative project that it is today. Through our collaborative approach, we are researching topics where we think business could benefit, such as culture measurement.
- [Introducing the Ethical Systems Culture Measurement Tool](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/introducing-the-ethical-systems-culture-measurement-tool/) - Ethical culture is the linchpin to running an ethical organization. Yet, while everyone agrees that culture is a vital aspect of any successful organization there is no consensus on how to analyze and measure it. At Ethical Systems, we are working with the top researchers on organizational culture and have developed assessment tools that companies can use. Our new Ethical Systems Culture Measurement site provides a suite of modules designed to measure various elements of organizational culture.
- [Are We In a Compliance Arms Race?](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/are-we-in-a-compliance-arms-race/) - Over at the NYU Law's Compliance and Enforcement blog, ES CEO Azish Filabi has written a guest post on whether companies are in a compliance arms race-- and the detrimental impact it can have on organizational culture and ethics.
- [A New Paradigm For "Just" Business: JUST Capital publishes its research results](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/a-new-paradigm-for-just-business-just-capital-publishes-its-research-results/) - In 1970 Milton Friedman wrote a now famous essay in the NY Times Magazine declaring that the social responsibility of business is to increase its profits. Since then, writers and researchers have been debating whether this accurately reflects the responsibilities of business in society. In the decade since the Global Financial Crisis these debates have become particularly critical, with some participants questioning the basic principles of free market capitalism and whether they serve our current societal needs. But what if the best way to do right by shareholders was to run a socially responsible business? New findings by JUST Capital are showing that this is often the case. JUST Capital is a non-profit research organization whose mission is “to build a more just marketplace that better reflects the true priorities of the American people.” Their distinctive research approach began with a survey of the U.S. public on what they believe makes a “JUST” company.
- [Azish Filabi Interviewed by the American Marketing Association](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/azish-filabi-interviewed-by-the-american-marketing-association/) - Ethical Systems CEO Azish Filabi, was interviewed in a far-reaching discussion with Hal Conick published on Marketing News, a publication of the American Marketing Association. In the piece, which covers both the components and traits of an ethical leader as well as how to make ethics front and center in the hiring process and how marketers can be more ethical, Azish connects research with practice, helping identify academic reference points to confirm potential, and profitable, strategies.
- [Featured Business Ethics and Compliance Expert: Azish Filabi](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/featured-business-ethics-and-compliance-expert-azish-filabi/) - Interview with Azish Filabi, CEO of Ethical Systems As the CEO of Ethical Systems, what keeps you motivated? Are you optimistic about the current state of business? I am motivated every day by the opportunity to connect businesses with research and strategies that will make them more ethical and productive for the long term. We at Ethical Systems believe that good ethics is good business and our mission is to strengthen ethics within organizations by providing content, resources and tools by which to improve internal cultures and climates. It is rewarding to know that our organization is playing a needed role, and connecting with like-minded professionals.
- [Our New Collaborator: Marshall Schminke](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/our-new-collaborator-marshall-schminke/) - We welcome Marshall Schminke as our newest Ethical Systems collaborator. Marshall serves on the working group for our culture measurement project and is both a leading voice on business ethics in the media and in the classroom. Bio: Marshall Schminke is the BB&T Professor of Business Ethics at the University of Central Florida, where he specializes in business ethics and strategy. He received his doctorate from Carnegie Mellon University, and has served as a Visiting Scholar at Oxford University and the London School of Economics.
- [Ethical Systems is a Compliance Officer Day Champion](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/ethical-systems-is-a-compliance-officer-day-champion/) - Ethical Systems is honored to have been chosen as a Compliance Officer Day Champion. Compliance Officer Day, on September 26, is an annual event put on by SAI Global recognizing the professionals who have dedicated their careers to the field of ethics and compliance. The goal is to raise awareness of resources, support wellness, and promote growth among the ethics and compliance community.
- [[Updated] The Ethics Case for Due Diligence: Azish Filabi's New "Expert Analysis" on Law360](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/updated-the-ethics-case-for-due-diligence-azish-filabis-new-expert-analysis-on-law360/) - The case for business ethics was recently made very clear to me when I co-chaired at the New York State Bar Association International Section’s Seasonal Meeting in Guatemala, particularly as it relates to hidden ethics risks in M&A transactions. I wrote a piece for the Law360 site as part of their "Expert Analysis" explaining these risks. It's a case study about A.P Moller-Maersk who purchased a port in Guatemala in 2016 just before it became embroiled in a corruption scandal, eventually adding another $43M to their acquisition costs to get a new, clean permit.
- [Featured Culture and Business Ethics Expert: Marshall Schminke](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/featured-culture-and-business-ethics-expert-marshall-schminke/) - Featured Culture and Business Ethics Expert: Marshall Schminke, BB&T Professor of Business Ethics at the University of Central Florida What are your main areas of research around business ethics? I focus on the idea that ethics don’t happen in isolation. They emerge from a complicated mix of individual and situational factors. My research explores this messy stew and how it drives ethical behavior. More specifically, I study the impact of organizational structure and culture on individual ethics, such as trying to understand climates that support or resist ethical decision making, abusive supervision, moral emotions, and ethical efficacy. My work also examines how ethical and unethical action drifts through organizations. I study how factors like trust and fairness—which provide the foundation for organizational ethics—“trickle down” the organization from managers to supervisors to line employees. Understanding these patterns helps to explain why relatively small changes in ethical or unethical activity may lead to profound, organization-wide effects.
- [Richard Thaler, The Nobel Prize and Nudge](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/richard-thaler-the-nobel-prize-and-nudge/) - All of us at Ethical Systems extend a hearty congratulations to Richard Thaler on the announcement of his Nobel Prize for his pioneering research around nudging. From The New York Times announcement: The Nobel committee, announcing the award in Stockholm, said that it was honoring Professor Thaler for his pioneering work in establishing that people are predictably irrational — that they consistently behave in ways that defy economic theory. People will refuse to pay more for an umbrella during a rainstorm; they will use the savings from lower gas prices to buy premium gasoline; they will offer to buy a coffee mug for $3 and refuse to sell it for $6. The committee credited Professor Thaler, who teaches at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, for moving economics toward a more realistic understanding of human behavior, and for using the resulting insights to improve public policies, notably a sweeping shift toward the automatic enrollment of employees in retirement savings programs.
- [ECI Webcast Recording: New Behavioral Science Tools from Ethical Systems](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/eci-webcast-recording-new-behavioral-science-tools-from-ethical-systems/) - Azish Filabi (Executive Director of Ethical Systems) and Jeffrey Kaplan (ES collaboarator and Partner at Kaplan & Walker, LLP) recently led a webcast about ethics, research, and culture highlighting new behavioral science tools for the ethics and compliance field. The slides and recording are now available.
- [The Flip Side of the Quarter: Only 25% of employees think colleagues model ethical behavior](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/the-flip-side-of-the-quarter-only-25-of-employees-think-colleagues-model-ethical-behavior/) - A recent survey by Gartner (formerly CEB) indicates some bleak stats for companies — the 2017 poll of 5,000 workers in the U.S. indicates that “only 25 percent of employees believe their teammates and colleagues engage in and model the right ethical behaviors.” This is a lost opportunity for many organizations. Research that shows that running an ethical organization pays off financially in the long-run. The CEB/Gartner findings also indicate, “Employees from strong cultures of integrity are 90 percent less likely to observe misconduct and are more likely to report that which they do see. They are also more likely to over-perform on individual and team goals. Gartner also notes financial opportunities – notably, that companies with strong cultures of integrity have 10-year total shareholder returns 7 percentage points higher than companies with low perceptions of integrity.”
- [Featured Ethics and Compliance Expert: Hui Chen](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/featured-ethics-and-compliance-expert-hui-chen/) - Featured Interview: Hui Chen, Compliance and Anti-Corruption Consultant and First-ever Compliance Counsel Expert at the United States Department of Justice As the first lawyer to hold the post of Compliance Counsel in the DOJ, how would you articulate the goal of the DOJ’s expansion with respect to the role of compliance in corporate crimes? DOJ Policy requires federal prosecutors to consider certain factors in corporate prosecutions, including the state of the company's compliance program at the time the misconduct occurred, and any enhancements made in remediation to the misconduct. By creating the Compliance Counsel role, the Fraud Section in the Criminal Division sought to bring in-house expertise to that evaluation. In doing so, the Fraud Section both recognizes compliance as an area of professional expertise, and heightens the significance of that expertise as something that is critical to companies.
- [Cathy O’Neil to the Ivory Tower: Stop ignoring the ethics risks in tech](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/cathy-oneil-to-the-ivory-tower-stop-ignoring-the-ethics-risks-in-tech/) - The use of artificial intelligence (AI) in most all aspects of modern business and social life is now ubiquitous. From wealth management, to hiring employees, assessing the effectiveness of teachers, and our news feeds, AI impacts most every aspect of our day-to-day life — whether or not we are aware of it. As the use of AI has grown, so has a corresponding gap in the ability of many companies and people to explain what, how, and most importantly, why these bots make certain decisions. In a NYT op-ed this week, Cathy O’Neil gives academics a call to action — the time has come to provide a deeper, and unbiased view of the risks of AI and the ethics challenges we face as their power and influence grows.
- [Ethical Systems Files Amicus Brief in Defense of Internal Whistleblowers](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/ethical-systems-files-amicus-brief-in-defense-of-internal-whistleblowers/) - This post originally appeared on The FCPA Blog. It is cross posted here. On November 28, 2017, the Supreme Court will hear arguments in Digital Realty Trust v. Paul Somers on the question of whether the whistleblower protections of the Dodd-Frank Act extend to internal whistleblowers, or only to those who report to the SEC. Research shows that the majority of employees who report misconduct do so internally, through informal discussions with managers and other conduits. If the Court interprets the Act’s protections as extending only to those who provide information to the SEC, it could stymie and complicate the important work of ethics & compliance ers.
- [Bridging the Gap: The Oxford Review on the problem of academic-practitioner distance](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/bridging-the-gap-the-oxford-review-on-the-problem-of-academic-practitioner-distance/) - David Wilkinson, Editor-in-Chief of The Oxford Review, has written an incredibly insightful piece on the gap between the world of research and that of business- what he deems the “academic-practitioner distance.” It both underscores the mission of Ethical Systems and spotlights the reasons why it is in the best interest of both communities to close this chasm. Wilkinson shows how “The gap isn’t just a physical one, [extending to] a gap of perspective, language, understanding and thinking.”
- [2017 Ethical Systems Collaborator Highlights](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/2017-ethical-systems-collaborator-highlights/) - For our expanding collaborator network, 2017 was a year of many achievements, significant contributions to research, and broad recognition of their work. We invite you to browse a highlight list of the research, articles, appearances and talks that helped advance our mission and promote a greater understanding of ethics, decision making, and ethical systems design.
- [2017 End of Year Letter from Jonathan Haidt and Azish Filabi](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/2017-end-of-year-letter-from-jonathan-haidt-and-azish-filabi/) - Dear Friends, 2017 has been a year of surprises, transformation, and growth. Thirteen months ago, on the morning after Election Day, we walked in to the conference room of a global consulting firm based here in New York City. We sat down at a long table with 30 ethics and compliance officers. We gave our talk as planned—a talk on designing ethical systems. But all of us around the table were in a state of… surprise to say the least. Our conversation focused primarily on the consequences of the rather unexpected election of Donald Trump. What were the implications for businesses? How would rules and enforcement change? Now, a year later, it is clear that whatever regulations are rolled back, businesses face an ever-changing landscape of ethics challenges. Questions of business ethics and ethical culture are front and center in national discussions on sexual harassment in the workplace, diversity and inclusion (which may include viewpoint and political diversity, as we learned in response to the famous “Google memo”); fairness and cheating, and new pressures on leaders to take stands on political controversies. We are on a path to further deregulation of business. The compliance workload may decrease, but the ethics workload will likely increase. This is the time for the business ethics community to show that, together, we can create a better society through ethical business behavior.
- [Ethical Systems seeks a Senior Research Associate](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/ethical-systems-seeks-a-senior-research-associate/) - Ethical Systems seeks a NYC-area based Senior Research Associate (remote or in-person) Help companies improve their ethics while advancing research on organizational behavior! Ethical Systems is a research collaboration among the leading social and behavioral scientists. The core team is housed at the NYU Stern School of Business, but the Sr. Research Associate can work remotely. Our
- [Whistleblower: Companies Need to Encourage Speak-Up Culture](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/whistleblower-companies-need-to-encourage-speak-up-culture/) - Maria Lemos Stein recently interviewed noted consultant Wendy Addison, Founder and Chief Executive of SpeakUp SpeakOut, in The Wall Street Journal. Addison is also known for her personal role as a whistleblower on fraud and corruption in 2000 regarding LeisureNet Ltd., whose joint chief executives were convicted of fraud in one of the biggest corporate scandals in South Africa Addison promotes a speak up culture as the method by which companies develop an environment where problems are acknowledged and solved transparently, and before a problem becomes widespread. That way, she asserts, companies avoid the fines, reputation loss, and other negatives associated with more public scandal. Further, the person or group reporting the issue does not face internal retribution because speaking up is encouraged at all levels of the organization.
- [Prioritizing Social Responsibility in Companies: A coming firestorm?](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/prioritizing-social-responsibility-in-companies-a-coming-firestorm/) - In a development that Andrew Ross Sorkin of The New York Times believes will cause “a firestorm” in boardrooms across the country, Larry Fink, the CEO of BlackRock has sent a letter to the chief executives of the world’s largest public companies urging them to prioritize their company’s social responsibilities. Sorkin writes that this is likely to be a watershed moment for American companies, given BlackRock’s position as one of the largest investors in the world with more than $6 trillion under management through 401(k) plans, exchange-traded funds and mutual funds.
- [New Behavioral Science One Sheet: Goals Gone Wild](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/new-behavioral-science-one-sheet-goals-gone-wild/) - Ethical Systems has released our newest Behavioral Science One Sheet, created in partnership with the Notre Dame Center for Ethical Leadership. Our Winter 2017 one sheet on Goals Gone Wild encompasses the concept of goal setting and how doing so can inadvertently lead to unethical behavior in organizations. We credit Professor Lisa Ordóñez of the Eller School of Management for her work helping both introduce the topic to the academic field and her work crafting the text on this informative one sheet.
- [Under Pressure: Wells Fargo, Misconduct, Leadership and Culture](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/under-pressure-wells-fargo-misconduct-leadership-and-culture/) - Consistent with our mission to bring timely and relevant research to the business ethics community, Ethical Systems has just published a new electronic resource: Under Pressure: Wells Fargo, Misconduct, Leadership and Culture [updated May 2018 to include a new Executive Summary and further details about the case] This case study, created by Bharathy Premachandra, our 2017 Bryan Turner Intern in Business Ethics, with Azish Filabi, Executive Director of Ethical Systems, spotlights the lessons learned from the recent scandal at Wells Fargo around false accounts, inflated sales targets and misguided directives from bank executives.
- [Featured Expert Pat Harned, CEO of the Ethics and Compliance Initiative](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/featured-expert-pat-harned-ceo-of-the-ethics-and-compliance-initiative/) - Featured Business Ethics and Leadership Expert Pat Harned, CEO of the Ethics and Compliance Initiative For many years, ECI has been a leader in providing research, resources and communities of practice for business ethics leaders. What do you see on the horizon for the organization as it helps companies elevate their E&C programs? It has been an honor for us to be able to work alongside some of the finest practitioners who are dedicated to establishing and maintaining a high standard of integrity in their organizations. We intend to continue providing these practitioners new insights from research, and new benchmarks on the drivers of ethical cultures. We will also be launching even more ways for professionals to exchange ideas and to advance best practice. ECI is also working with a group of practitioners to develop a maturity model of E&C programs, based on our recent Blue Ribbon Panel report on High Quality Ethics & Compliance Programs. Our expectation is that this new resource will help companies to further assess and improve their programs.
- [NY Fed Offers New Insights for Financial Services Firms](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/ny-fed-offers-new-insights-for-financial-services-firms/) - There are two new resources on the Governance and Culture Reform site of the Federal Reserve Bank of NY that highlight the regulatory trends with respect to managing culture in financial services firms. The first is a transcript from an event at Thomson Reuters on February 7, 2018, which was a moderated discussion among Bill Dudley (President of the NY Fed), Bill Rhodes (WR Rhodes Global Advisors), and Ellen Alemany (Chairwoman and CEO of CIT Group), moderated by Rob Cox (Reuters News). The panelists covered a wide array of matters relating to the topic of Banking Culture: Still room for reform? Dudley highlighted that while some progress has been made, there’s still much room for improvement. For example, the NY Fed has proposed a banking registry to keep track of whether employees have left their jobs for reasons of fraud or other misconduct. This would address the so called “rolling bad apples” problem, whereby companies may inadvertently hire a rogue employee of another firm because employment law discourages employers from sharing potentially derogatory information about former employees. He mentions that the U.K. has perhaps made more progress on this matter, having already established a similar registry.
- [Featured Expert Mira Dewji, Attorney, Adjunct Professor and Strategic Advisor](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/featured-expert-mira-dewji-attorney-adjunct-professor-and-strategic-advisor/) - Featured Expert Mira Dewji, Attorney, Adjunct Professor and Strategic Advisor What are your current areas of work and instruction? I’m a practicing attorney in the social impact sector and an Adjunct Professor in the Business and Society Program at NYU’s Stern School of Business. I provide legal and strategic advice to high-impact social enterprises, small businesses, foundations, and nonprofits whose means and ends align with my values. I see the law as a tool with which I can craft, protect and facilitate my clients’ social objectives. Perhaps because my clients are organizations and not individuals, my interest in business ethics is at the organizational level. When social impact is framed as ethics, it adopts a powerful lexicon. A business or industry’s responsibility becomes more than merely a conversation around compliance with law or private sector benevolence. Social impact encompasses the duties and relationship between an organization and the environment that facilitates its existence. From this perspective, it is not sufficient for an organization to maintain certain ethical practices with key stakeholders such as employees, customers, and partners. Designing systems that define and foster company values such as honesty, integrity, transparency, accountability, trust, and ethical leadership are essential. But organizations also participate in shaping societal values and outcomes, and the extent to which a company embraces that responsibility is a reflection of its ethics.
- [Jon Haidt Presents Keynote on "Maintaining Ethical Culture" at Global Ethics Summit 2018](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/jon-haidt-presents-keynote-on-maintaining-ethical-culture-at-global-ethics-summit-2018/) - In today's polarized political climate, it is even more important to know how to engage in constructive dialogue in order to advance mutual business interests and perpetuate a sustainable organizational culture of ethics and respect. Addressing this head on, Ethical Systems co-founder Jonathan Haidt delivered a mid-day keynote entitled Maintaining Ethical Culture in a Political Whirlwind on day 1 at Ethisphere's Global Ethics Summit 2018.
- [Bank Culture Reform & Behavioral Science Event April 9](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/bank-culture-reform-behavioral-science-event-april-9/) - Ethical Systems is partnering with Thomson Reuters Legal Managed Services, Regulatory Intelligence, and Starling to put on a panel event on Bank Culture Reform & Behavioral Science. Location: Thomson Reuters 3 Times Square 30th Floor New York, NY 10036 Date and Time: Monday, April 9th 8:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. ET
- [The Echo Effect of the Bear Stearns Collapse: The Loss of Trust](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/the-echo-effect-of-the-bear-stearns-collapse-the-loss-of-trust/) - In the wake of the 10 year anniversary of the collapse of Bear Stearns, we’ve been considering the long-term impact of the financial crisis and its reverberations on Main Street today. For many, there’s been a seemingly permanent shift in how they view Wall Street, including its purpose and the people who have been charged with managing their hard earned money. While the economy may have recovered since the Great Recession, there are numerous former investors whose levels of trust in financial companies have not. In a recent piece in The Wall Street Journal, writer Jason Zweig spotlights how the collapse of Bear Stearns wreaked havoc on the sense of fairness among everyday investors and “what psychologists call ‘belief in a just world,’ the notion that, on average, we get what we deserve.”
- [COMMENTARY: Safeguarding financial ­firm cultures: five focus factors for directors](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/commentary-safeguarding-financial-firm-cultures-five-focus-factors-for-directors/) - Board members have the difficult job of overseeing the success of a firm without getting involved in day-to-day management or operations. Increasingly, they are expected to understand compliance and other risks of misbehavior, particularly as those risks have been shown to impact financial performance. In a commentary I co-wrote with Mike Silva, Partner and Chair of the Financial Services Regulatory practice at DLA Piper, we emphasize the role of corporate culture in promoting good behavior as well as financial stability.
- [Azish Filabi Presents on Measuring Corporate Culture at the 2018 OECD Conference](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/azish-filabi-presents-on-measuring-corporate-culture-at-the-2018-oecd-conference/) - Last week, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) had its annual Anti-Corruption and Integrity Forum at their headquarters in Paris. Entitled Planet Integrity: Building a Fairer Society, over 2,000 attendees discussed how integrity plays a role in improving economic inequality, enhances the benefits of public policies and government programs, and more broadly equalizes the gains of globalization. Ethical Systems won one of the OECD Research Edge competition awards. The paper, co-written by Caterina Bulgarella and myself, provided the summary of our culture assessment framework, which demystifies an often complex organizational issue: how to define and measure ethical culture.
- [Middle Meddling: Management and ethics](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/middle-meddling-management-and-ethics/) - Goal setting is often a subject of discussion about behavioral ethics and internal programs. We’ve seen in recent cases such as at Wells Fargo and Volkswagen how cheating and lying become the norm when performance goals are not reasonably achievable. Recent evidence in a paper by Niki den Nieuwenboer, João da Cunha, and ES collaborator Linda Treviño shows the internal dynamics and processes that lead directly to cheating behaviors. The researchers, one of which was embedded inside the company, observed managers and sales staff over 15 months at a large (10,000 employees) telecommunications company. The company had established goals for its desk sales teams designed to motivate productivity, including a target for sales as well as sales-related work, such as making cold calls to customers, and gathering information about potential customers, among other planning activities.
- [Creating and Maintaining a Healthy Corporate Culture: RANE podcast with Azish Filabi](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/creating-and-maintaining-a-healthy-corporate-culture-rane-podcast-with-azish-filabi/) - In this podcast, (Risk Assessment Network + Exchange) RANE’s Serina Vash sits down with Azish Filabi, Executive Director, Ethical Systems, to discuss what drives a healthy corporate culture and best practices for creating and maintaining that culture. Through research and collaboration with the best academics in the field, Azish dedicates her time to helping businesses assess and promote ethical behavior and culture in their organizations.
- [New Behavioral Science One Sheet: Motivated Reasoning](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/new-behavioral-science-one-sheet-motivated-reasoning/) - Our newest topic is "Motivated Reasoning" explaining how the process by which we make decisions is less like a judge who carefully evaluates all the facts and arrives at a well-reasoned judgment and more like a lawyer who advocates for a particular outcome.
- [A Behavioral Science Approach to Bank Culture, with Azish Filabi](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/a-behavioral-science-approach-to-bank-culture-with-azish-filabi/) - At a recent Thomson Reuters forum in New York on culture and behavioral science in the banking industry, Ethical Systems' Executive Director Azish Filabi joined a panel with fellow experts to discuss how research and data helps shape ethics and culture. We invite you to read a piece on Reuters on the event featuring the following takeaways we share in this blog. Video from the event is also embedded.
- [Tribes, vibes and hives: improving diversity through science](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tribes-vibes-and-hives-improving-diversity-through-science/) - This is an article by Laura Smart cross-posted from Insight, the opinion and analysis page of the UK's Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Original post. Behavioural science can tell us a lot about how humans are hardwired, and where efforts to improve diversity will be best spent. In 1951, Solomon Asch carried out an experiment which was to become one of the most widely known and pivotal findings in psychology. Wanting to investigate how people were influenced by others when making decisions, he recruited students to judge the relative lengths of lines on a piece of paper. The catch was that each student was put into a group which, unknown to them, was made up of actors who had been instructed to give the same, obviously incorrect, answer some of the time. The videos show the conflict faced by the participants when they come to give their verdict after listening to others ahead of them denying what is in front of their eyes. All in all, 70% of participants gave the same answer as the others at least some of the time - despite knowing that it was wrong. There lies a perfect illustration of the dangers of conformity and groupthink - dangers that employers are increasingly trying to tackle, in part, through increasing diversity. In financial services, considerable effort and resources have been put into diversity and inclusion programmes, including mandating training, introducing targets and changing recruitment processes. But senior managers often find it hard to know which efforts are most effective and where resources would be best spent. Fortunately, behavioural science can tell us a lot about this. And some of the findings might come as a surprise.
- [Regulating for Ethical Culture in Behavioral Science & Policy](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/regulating-for-ethical-culture-in-behavioral-science-policy/) - Ethical Systems partnered with The Behavioral Science and Policy Association (BSPA) to put on our 2016 conference “Ethics By Design.” One byproduct of the event- in addition to knowledge transfer and widespread press coverage- was the extension of our conference theme in an issue of BSPA’s interdisciplinary journal Behavioral Science & Policy (published twice yearly with the Brookings Institution) with a focus on applying behavioral science strategies and strengthening ethical culture. In a "spotlight on ethics," co-edited by Jon Haidt and Azish Filabi, the Journal's issue has just been released with three review articles on how behavioral insights can guide policies and interventions meant to promote ethical behavior. The three pieces include: “Treating ethics as a design problem,” by ES collab Nicholas Epley alongside David Tannenbaum, “Using behavioral ethics to curb corruption,” by friend of ES Yuval Feldman and the essay we summarize below, “Regulating for ethical culture,” by ES collab Linda Trevino, co-founder Jonathan Haidt and Executive Director Azish Filabi.
- [FCA UK Culture Conference Event Summary & Next Steps](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/fca-uk-culture-conference-event-summary-next-steps/) - At the recent Financial Conduct Authority March 2018 meeting in London, Ethical Systems Executive Director Azish Filabi and collaborator Celia Moore participated in panels featuring fellow experts discussing current, pressing issues in regards to culture, regulation, ethics and compliance in the financial sector.
- [Inquiry into Australia’s Banking and Finance Industry](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/inquiry-into-australias-banking-and-finance-industry/) - By Dennis Gentilin, founding director of Human Systems Advisory and an adjunct fellow at Macquarie University. He was employed at the National Australia Bank for 16 years. As readers of this blog may know, there is currently an inquiry into the banking and finance industry in Australia. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull announced The Royal Commission into Misconduct in the Banking, Superannuation and Financial Services Industry in November 2017. Former High Court Judge Kenneth Hayne AC was appointed as the commissioner shortly after the announcement and public hearings commenced earlier this year.
- [Long Term Thinking Means Ending Short-Term Reports](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/long-term-thinking-means-ending-short-term-reports/) - The chorus to end quarterly corporate reporting recently gained two prominent voices from the financial world. In a recent article in Bloomberg, Jamie Dimon, CEO of JP Morgan Chase, and Warren Buffett, the Chairman of Berkshire-Hathaway, advised companies to do away with their emphasis on quarterly earnings reports, arguing that it motivates misconduct and shifts the focus from sustained growth and stability to immediate profits and performance.
- [And Now Ethics 2.0: An Argument For More Self-Governance](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/and-now-ethics-2-0-an-argument-for-more-self-governance/) - In a new article in Forbes, ES advisory board member Carsten Tams offers advice on designing ethics and compliance programs that serve to both strengthen adherence to regulatory guidelines and provide employees with a broader measure of moral agency. The intention behind an action is central to the distinction between "compliance" and "ethical behavior." Compliance is simply behavior in accordance with someone else’s requirements in order to gain rewards or avoid punishment. When people act ethically, they are self-governed. Ethical behavior is prosocial behavior for its own sake. People engage in it for no other reason than that they view it as the right thing to do. As such, ethical behavior is intrinsically motivated.
- [New paradigms to tackle age-old governance problems](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/new-paradigms-to-tackle-age-old-governance-problems/) - This article was originally published on the Thomson Reuters Regulatory Intelligence service, found here Since the creation of the modern corporation as a form of business, the issue of opportunistic behavior by managers has plagued shareholders. But new approaches to guiding behavior are offering alternatives to common governance failures. Most governance arrangements have grappled with
- [Featured Expert Interview: Noel Boyland, on well-being, higher purpose, and connecting companies with the research community](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/featured-expert-interview-noel-boyland-on-well-being-higher-purpose-and-connecting-companies-with-the-research-community/) - Featured Expert: Noel Boyland What are your current areas of work and research? I'm currently involved in several somewhat overlapping activities. First, I am working with Duke University’s Center for Advanced Hindsight, founded by ES collaborator Dan Ariely, on a project involving the development and deployment of a peer-to-peer fundraising platform that will be used to co-fund health insurance for low income Kenyans. This platform will incorporate the latest insights in behavioral science as it relates to altruistic behavior as well as serve as an experimentation platform to test hypotheses as to what features are most effective and then integrate those new insights.
- [SCHOLAR SPOTLIGHT: Yuval Feldman shares about his new book “The Law of Good People”](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/scholar-spotlight-yuval-feldman-shares-about-his-new-book-the-law-of-good-people/) - Yuval Feldman, the Mori Lazarof professor of legal research at Bar-Ilan University’s law school, recently published his first book "The Law of Good People" by Cambridge University Press. Learn more about what motivated him to pursue the intersections of law and psychology
- [Don’t quit, not just yet](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/dont-quit-not-just-yet/) - Employees who are stressed out at work should consider learning something new, according to new research by David Mayer, a professor at the University of Michigan's Stephen M. Ross School of Business and Ethical Systems’ collaborator. Read more.
- [September's In the News: Jonathan Haidt's Times' column; David Mayer on Ohio State's controversy and more](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/septembers-in-the-news-jonathan-haidts-times-column-david-mayer-on-ohio-states-controversy-and-more/) - Ethical Systems' collaborators have had a busy September including op-ed's in The New York Times, publications in the Harvard Business Review and the launch of new books.
- [Purpose driven companies are winners](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/purpose-driven-companies-are-winners/) - Caterina Bulgarella argues that purpose focused companies come out ahead in more ways than one.
- [SCHOLAR SPOTLIGHT: Dolly Chugh discusses her new book](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/scholar-spotlight-dolly-chugh-discusses-her-new-book/) - Dolly Chugh's new book “The Person You Mean to Be” serves as a guide to tackling issues from sexism to racism
- [Data & Behavioral Science:  a new approach to risk management](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/data-behavioral-science-a-new-approach-to-risk-management/) - I recently sat on a panel at an event hosted by Ropes and Gray LLP in connection with the launch of their new report, Data & Behavioral Science: a new approach to risk management. The report summarizes survey results from 300 senior executives on the topic of compliance and behavioral science approaches to risk management.
- [Considering money: Dan Ariely argues there is more to life than money](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/considering-money-dan-ariely-argues-there-is-more-to-life-than-money/) - A year since Dan Ariely published “Dollars and Sense: How We Misthink Money and How to Spend Smarter,” the social scientist and Duke University professor, writes “I’ve learned a lot about the truly meaningful value of non-monetary rewards in engagement, motivation, habits, loyalty, wellness and more.” Here Ethical Systems’ editor reflects on culture and values against the backdrop of Ariely’s hypothesis.
- [SCHOLAR SPOTLIGHT: Todd Haugh offers insight on corporate governance](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/scholar-spotlight-todd-haugh-offers-insight-on-corporate-governance/) - Todd Haugh, an assistant professor of business law and ethics at Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business, specializes in research on the connections between white collar and corporate crime and behavioral ethics. Haugh’s trio of recently published academic papers bring unique perspectives on how behavioral science can – and sometimes can’t - be integrated in
- [Behavioral sciences inform public policy in Australia](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/behavioral-sciences-inform-public-policy-in-australia/) - In Australia the public hearings at the Royal Commission into misconduct in the financial services industry came to an end last week. Over the past year there have been 68 hearing days and 138 witnesses called to give evidence to the inquiry. And despite publishing a comprehensive interim report in September that forensically reviewed the
- [End of Year Letter, 2018, from Jon Haidt and Azish Filabi](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/end-of-year-letter-2018-from-jon-haidt-and-azish-filabi/) - Stop the World—I Want to Get Off. The title of that 1960s musical captures a timeless sentiment, but it seems more common in recent years, and is perhaps especially on the minds of leaders of organizations and their ethics-and-compliance staff. In this era of rising political polarization and social-media fueled speculation, small things can quickly blow
- [How to Avoid Becoming the Next Wells Fargo](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/how-to-avoid-becoming-the-next-wells-fargo/) - Last year, in September, CNN Business ran the headline, “The two-year Wells Fargo horror story just won’t end.” By now, many have heard how it all began: In 2016 it was revealed that the bank fired over 5,300 employees for opening millions of potentially unauthorized or fraudulent customer accounts between 2011 and 2016. These
- [New Evidence in Favor of Active Internal Whistleblowing](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/new-evidence-in-favor-of-active-internal-whistleblowing/) - Over two decades ago, two of the largest corporate bankruptcies in U.S. history sprung up one after another—first Enron, then WorldCom—after the companies became mired in accounting and financial fraud. In 2002, in response to these ethics breaches, President Bush passed the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, which established many of the internal controls now common in U.S.
- [The Paradox of Employee Surveillance](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/the-paradox-of-employee-surveillance/) - This piece was originally published in Behavioral Scientist magazine. For many people, the global financial crisis eroded trust in corporations and government. There was a double-digit decline in trust of large banks in particular, dropping from 69% before the crisis to 49% in 2013 in Edelman Trust data. These perceptions have ushered in a new
- [Socialism and Conflicts of Interest](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/socialism-and-conflicts-of-interest/) - There was a time in my life when I might have embraced the cause of socialism, but that was many years ago, and today I proudly march under the banner of centrism. And the current flirtation with socialism in the U.S. has me worried—at least a little bit. My concern is not that the
- [How to Make Lying at Your Company Normal](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/how-to-make-lying-at-your-company-normal/) - Earlier this month at the Beacon Theater, in New York City, Daniel Kahneman, famed author of Thinking, Fast and Slow, had a conversation with neuroscientist Sam Harris. It ranged over many of the topics the Nobel Prize-winning behavioral scientist has explored in his work. This included the “remembering” and “experiencing” self, where intuitions reliably fail,
- [The Hidden Insights Evolution Has for Healthy Businesses](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/the-hidden-insights-evolution-has-for-healthy-businesses/) - Charles Darwin ended The Origin of Species, his argument for evolution by natural selection, on a note of celebrated eloquence. “There is grandeur to this view of life,” he wrote, “with its several powers, having been originally breathed into a few forms or into one; and that, whilst this planet has gone cycling on according
- [Being a Parent as a Source of Ethics Risk](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/being-a-parent-as-a-source-of-ethics-risk/) - In 1973, in speaking to colleagues on the Cook County Democratic Committee, Mayor Richard Daley of Chicago defended his having directed a million dollars of insurance business to an agency on behalf of his son John with the immortal words: “If I can’t help my sons, then [my critics] can kiss my ass. I make
- [How the Stressful World of Science Can Be Healthier (and More Ethical)](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/how-the-stressful-world-of-science-can-be-healthier-and-more-ethical/) - Last month, Tim van der Zee, a Ph.D. student at the University of Leiden who studies ways to improve open online education, got a bit snarky. He didn’t take well to a recent news article from Science magazine about how meditation can help Ph.D. students handle their outsized rates of anxiety and depression. “A recent study
- [Miss the 2019 Ethics by Design Conference? Watch It Online](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/miss-the-2019-ethics-by-design-conference-watch-it-online/) - Jon Haidt, in his closing remarks during our second Ethics by Design conference, wanted to share his overall takeaway, encapsulating a day’s worth of ideas on managing organizations in an era of anxiety, polarization, and disruption. “We’re always talking about the importance of systems—ethical systems, designing systems. At the end of the day, I have a much
- [Mirage or Vision? Four Blind Spots at the Core of Theranos’ Failure](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/mirage-or-vision-four-blind-spots-at-the-core-of-theranos-failure/) - The parable of Elizabeth Holmes and her company, Theranos, is not an unfamiliar one. It involves a dream, a mission, a plan, a vision and quite possibly monumental corruption. It’s unclear whether Theranos’ rise and fall will turn out to be a dazzling mirage of “would-be” business greatness, one of the most infamous stories of
- [Is Creative Talent Critical to Ethical Systems Design?](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/is-creative-talent-critical-to-ethical-systems-design/) - In March, Ethical Systems hosted its second “Ethics by Design” conference. It showcased not just the expertise of top behavioral-science researchers and business practitioners, but also the challenges—both empirical and managerial—that they face in redesigning organizations to function more ethically. As social psychologist Jon Haidt, the Founding Director of Ethical Systems, said in his closing
- [Ethics Bots and Other Ways to Move Your Code of Business Conduct Beyond Puffery](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/ethics-bots-and-other-ways-to-move-your-code-of-business-conduct-beyond-puffery/) - Eugene Soltes, a professor at Harvard Business School and an expert in why people commit fraud, gave a keynote speech at our recent Ethics by Design conference on how to engineer integrity in organizations. Part of that effort involves crafting effective codes of business conduct. Harvard Business School’s Working Knowledge recently discussed Soltes’ new research
- [The Case Against A.I. Controlling Our Moral Compass](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/the-case-against-a-i-controlling-our-moral-compass/) - Earlier this month, at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, I saw something, or someone, that would, on any other day, be out of place: a philosopher. Damon Horowitz—a philosopher at Columbia University who has a history of serial entrepreneurship and was once In-House Philosopher and Director of Engineering at Google—was here to lend
- [“Superstore” and the Science of Pitching Social Change at Work](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/superstore-and-the-science-of-pitching-social-change-at-work/) - In an episode of NBC’s sitcom Superstore, Cheyenne, a teenage associate at a Walmart-like retail giant called Cloud-9, goes into labor on the store floor. Coworkers rush for medical supplies as customers spectate out of curiosity and boredom. Cheyanne’s at work so late in her pregnancy because her employer doesn’t offer paid maternity leave—she can’t
- [How This Acclaimed Entrepreneur Built an Honest Company from the Ground Up](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/how-this-acclaimed-entrepreneur-built-an-honest-company-from-the-ground-up/) - As headlines barrage us with news of once-beloved companies turned crooked, I’ve wondered: Are the strongest ethical companies those that have embedded systems in their DNA that promote a culture of honesty from the start? Business communication company Nextiva offers an example of an organization that incorporated systems that promote integrity from its inception. I spoke with co-founder
- [Does Ideological Diversity Makes Teams More Effective?](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/does-ideological-diversity-makes-teams-more-effective/) - As I was watching The Expanse, a science fiction TV series, I realized that the show demonstrates, perhaps without meaning to, the value of ideological diversity within a team. The story follows the small crew of the Rocinante as they stumble into a solar system-wide conspiracy that threatens a fragile peace among a United Nations-led
- [Understanding Behavioral Ethics Can Strengthen Your Compliance Program](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/understanding-behavioral-ethics-can-strengthen-your-compliance-program/) - Behavioral ethics is a well known field of social science which shows—due to various cognitive biases—“how we are not as ethical as we think.” Practitioners of behavioral compliance and ethics (C&E), which is less well known, use behavioral-ethics insights to develop and maintain effective compliance programs. How do they do that? This should be viewed on two levels.
- [What She Learned Leading Microsoft’s Culture Change](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/what-she-learned-leading-microsofts-culture-change/) - One of the most successful culture transformations, at a company with over 140,000 employees, is unfolding before our eyes. Microsoft’s Chief Executive Officer Satya Nadella has written about this journey in Hit Refresh: The Quest to Rediscover Microsoft’s Soul and Imagine a Better Future for Everyone, and Chief People Officer Kathleen Hogan has shared early insights on progress.
- [Can Business Schools Have Ethical Cultures, Too?](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/can-business-schools-have-ethical-cultures-too/) - Early in Managing Business Ethics: Straight Talk About How to Do It Right, I had to wonder whether an anecdote the authors share was apocryphal. It comes in a section of the book’s seventh edition (published in 2017) called “Moving Beyond Cynicism.” It’s not that the authors, Linda Treviño and Katherine Nelson, both professors of

## Pages

- [Homepage](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/)
- [Who we are](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/who-we-are/)
- [Todd Haugh](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/todd-haugh/) - Todd Haugh is the Director of Ethical Systems and an Associate Professor of Business Law and Ethics at Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business. His scholarship focuses on white collar and corporate crime, business and behavioral ethics, and federal sentencing policy, exploring the decision-making processes of the players most central to the commission and adjudication
- [Friends of Ethical Systems (Business Ethics Organizations)](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/friends-of-ethical-systems/) - United States Groups Using Behavioral Science to Change Behavior Center for Advanced Hindsight (at Duke University with Dan Ariely) TGG Group (whose founding members include Daniel Kahneman) Behavioural Design Lab (Warwick Business School and the Design Council) Recommended Ethics Organizations Aspen Institute: Business and Society Program; see their project on B school education: Beyond Grey
- [Our Approach to Culture Measurement](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/our-approach-to-culture-measurement-2/) - Why Measure Organizational Culture? When a company measures its organizational culture, its leaders can gain some control over changing it for the better. Measuring ethical culture, in particular, can also help executives clarify the objectives of the company’s ethics objectives, improve decision-making, and evaluate impact on stakeholders. It is best to think of organizational culture
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- [Alison Taylor](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/alison-taylor/) - I am the former Executive Director of Ethical Systems, and a Clinical Associate Professor at NYU Stern School of Business. I have spent the last two decades consulting to multinational companies on risk, anti-corruption, sustainability, human rights, culture and behavior, stakeholder engagement, ESG, and ethics and compliance. I am also a senior advisor at sustainability
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- [The Research](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/the-research/) - Explore our research by selecting from the list of topics below. A good way to get started is by exploring our research summaries.
- [Nicholas Epley](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/nicholas-epley/) - I am a professor of behavioral science at the University of Chicago's Booth School of Business. My webpage Ethical Systems Interview (September 2015) ES blog mentions My Approach to Ethical Systems: I am a social psychologist who studies mind reading: how we make inferences about others' thoughts, beliefs, attitudes, emotions, intentions, and other mental states.
- [Book Summaries](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/book-summaries/) - Here you'll find summaries of books about moral psychology, business ethics, and many other topics related to designing ethical systems. Authors Books Bazerman (2014) The Power of Noticing: What the Best Leaders See [homepage, public library] SUMMARY Epley (2014) Mindwise: How We Understand What Others Think, Believe, Feel, and Want [homepage, public library] SUMMARY Grant (2013) Give and
- [Podcast](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/breaking-the-fever-podcast/) - Listen to "Breaking the Fever" on Spreaker.
- [Adam Grant](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/adam-grant/) - I am the Class of 1965 Professor of Management at The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania. I am an organizational psychologist who studies work motivation, job design, and prosocial and proactive behaviors. My Homepage My CV My Approach to Ethical Systems: My research examines the forces that motivate employees to help others, and the implications
- [Sinziana Dorobantu](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/sinziana-dorobantu/) - I am an Associate Professor of Management and Organizations at the NYU Stern School of Business. My website LinkedIn My Approach to Ethical Systems: My research focuses on the relationships between firms and social and political stakeholders, including local communities, social groups, nongovernmental organizations, and governments. I examine how firms engage and govern their relationships
- [Julianna Pillemer](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/julianna-pillemer/) - I am an Assistant Professor of Management and Organizations at New York University's Stern School of Business. Academic page Twitter (@JPillemer) LinkedIn My Approach to Ethical Systems: My work focuses on the complexities inherent in close relationships at work, how individuals navigate the boundary between their personal and professional lives, and the impact social media is
- [Jessica Kennedy](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/jessica-kennedy/)
- [David Mayer](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/david-mayer/) - I am a professor in the Management and Organizations Area at the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan. I conduct research on how to make organizations more ethical with a particular emphasis on ethical climate/culture, ethical leadership, and ethical decision making. My webpage Ethical Systems Interview (July/August 2015) ES blog mentions Follow me on Twitter My
- [Linda Treviño](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/linda-trevino/) - I have been researching ethics in organizational contexts (workplaces and universities) for nearly 30 years, taking a social scientific approach to understanding why people behave the way they do (ethically and unethically). My webpage Ethical Systems Interview (March 2015) ES blog mentions My Approach to Ethical Systems: Early on in my thinking, I developed a
- [Marc Hodak](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/marc-hodak/) - I am an adjunct professor at the NYU Stern School as well as a visiting lecturer at the University of St. Gallen in Switzerland. In both places I teach corporate governance. In 2020, I was selected by the National Association of Corporate Directors as a Directorship 100 Honoree, their selection of "the most influential people in and around
- [Steven Blader](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/steven-blader/) - I am a Professor of Management and Organizations at New York University's Stern School of Business. My website Ethical Systems Interview (February 2016) My Approach to Ethical Systems: My research investigates the psychology of justice, particularly (though not exclusively) in organizational contexts. As such, I address questions such as how people (e.g., employees) evaluate justice,
- [Daylian Cain](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/daylian-cain/) - I am a Senior Lecturer of Leadership, Negotiations, and Ethics at the Yale School of Management. Much of my research focuses on conflicts of interest and the psychology of altruism. My website Ethical Systems Interview (February 2015) My Approach to Ethical Systems: Like many of my fellow collaborators, I believe that many instances of ethical failure
- [Max Bazerman](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/max-bazerman/)
- [Dolly Chugh](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/dolly-chugh/)
- [David Hirshleifer](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/david-hirshleifer/) - I am a Distinguished Professor of Finance and Paul Merage Chair in Business Growth at the Merage School of Business, UC Irvine. My research interests include behavioral economics and finance, the theory of social interactions, and cultural evolution. I am a Fellow and former President of the American Finance Association, and a Senior Fellow of
- [Dorothee Baumann-Pauly](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/dorothee-baumann-pauly/) - I split my time as Research Director at the NYU Stern Center for Business and Human Rights and as Director of the Geneva Center for Business and Human Rights. We believe that respect for human rights is the most enduring way to ensure justice, opportunity, and dignity for people everywhere. Respecting human rights while advancing business interests is one the
- [Robert Frank](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/robert-frank/) - I am the H. J. Louis Professor of Management and Professor of Economics at Cornell University's Johnson Graduate School of Management and the Co-director of the Paduano Faculty Research Seminar in Business Ethics and NYU's Stern School of Business. My "Economic View" column appears regularly in The New York Times. My website Ethical Systems Interview
- [Robert Bloomfield](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/robert-bloomfield/) - I am the Nicholas H. Noyes Professor of Management and Professor of Accounting at Cornell University’s Johnson Graduate School of Management. For my research, I create laboratory financial markets and games, and analyze how changes in market structure and regulation affect individual behavior and aggregate market outcomes. Many of my studies show that psychological and
- [Brian Harward](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/brian-harward/) - I am a research scientist at Ethical Systems, where I combine psychology and advanced analytics to evaluate ethical dimensions of company culture. My CV (download) My LinkedIn My approach to ethical systems is maximizing human flourishing by investigating individual differences and maintaining self-determination wherever possible. To me, success in ethics is giving the gift of
- [Login](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/login/) - [RM_Login]
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- [Jonathan Haidt](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/jonathan-haidt/) - I am the Thomas Cooley Professor of Ethical Leadership at New York University's Stern School of Business. I am a social psychologist who studies morality, emotion, and culture. My CV (download) Ethical Systems Interview (July 2017) My homepage @jonhaidt My Approach to Ethical Systems: My research examines the intuitive foundations of morality. I have found that
- [Thank you for your generous support.](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/thankyou/) - Thank you for your generous support of Ethical Systems. You will receive a confirmation at the email provided. We would greatly appreciate if you could take a moment to answer a few questions to help us improve our work.
- [Take Our Survey: Ethical Culture Measurement](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/take-our-survey-ethical-culture-measurement/) - About the Survey In recent years, behavioral science has provided practitioners with a uniquely insightful perspective on the organizational elements companies need to focus on to build an ethical culture. The Ethical Systems culture measurement tools draw on this research to create a culture assessment that helps executives and managers understand their unique organizational context so
- [About](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/about/) - About Ethical Systems Ethical Systems is founded on the conviction, backed by research, that in the long run, good ethics is good business. Our collaborators are top researchers—most of them are faculty at leading business schools—who believe that wise leaders take a holistic, systematic approach to organizational culture in order to foster greater integrity in
- [Behavioral Science One Sheets](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/behavioral-science-one-sheets/)
- [Research test 3](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/research-test-3/)
- [Research Test 2](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/research-test-2/)
- [Research Adv Post](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/research-adv-post/)
- [Research](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/research/)
- [Links for Site Administrators](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/links-for-site-administrators/) - For contributors to the site, here are Frequently Asked Questions and Common Issues related to editing and formatting, and here is the template for research pages. Additionally, you can download our Guidelines for Collaborators.
- [Our Approach to Culture Measurement](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/our-approach-to-culture-measurement/) - Why Measure Culture? Organizational culture is a multi-system framework that includes formal and informal systems that must be aligned to support the firm's values, decisions, and actions. Leadership is essential to driving ethical culture from both a formal and informal perspective. Formally, leaders provide the resources to implement structures and programs that support ethics.
- [FixModule](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/fixmodule/)
- [J.S. Nelson](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/j-s-nelson/) - I am a law professor, teaching at the Charles Widger School of Law at Villanova University, who specializes in how legal frameworks affect individual behavior within organizations. I am the first tenure-track appointment I know of in a U.S. law school hired specifically to teach business ethics and develop law-school curricula around the subject. I have
- [Newsletter](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/newsletter/)
- [We're Hiring!](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/were-hiring/) - Communications Director (Part time, can work remotely) Want to help companies improve their ethics while advancing research on organizational behavior? Ethical Systems is a research collaboration among the leading social and behavioral scientists. We are housed at the NYU Stern School of Business. Our mission is to make the world's best research available, for free,
- [Our Approach](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/our-approach/) - Why Measure Culture? Why Ethical Systems? Our Measurement Modules Why Measure Culture? Organizational culture is a multi-system framework that includes formal and informal systems that must be aligned to support the firm's values, decisions, and actions. Leadership is essential to driving ethical culture from both a formal and informal perspective.
- [Request for Proposals](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/request-for-proposals/) - Have a research idea that you’d like to test in a company? Ethical Systems has been developing relationships with business leaders and organizations who share our passion for evidence-based business ethics and may be interested in working with you. We invite you to submit your research idea via the form below – we are particularly
- [Cognitive Diversity](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/cognitive-diversity/) - Intro here. ​ Ideas to Apply
- [Form Embed Demo](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/form-embed-demo/) - Here is my form as an embed... More explanatory! Continue typing...
- [Publications and Book Summaries](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/publications-and-book-summaries/) - Ethical Systems has consolidated our resources and pages on unique publications, reading lists and book summaries. As an organization based in research, our goal is to maintain a centralized point of information for our audience and those interested in finding additional sources of data on ethics, culture and compliance. Book Summaries Find summaries of
- [cronfix](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/cronfix/)
- [Whistleblowing](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/whistleblowing/)
- [Academic and Practitioner Partnership](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/academic-and-practitioner-partnership/) - Articles and Blogs Jeffrey Pfeffer and Robert I. Sutton, "Evidence-Based Management," Harvard Business Review, January 2006. "Bridging the Gap: The Oxford Review on the problem of academic-practitioner distance," ES blog, November 2017. "Cathy O’Neil to the Ivory Tower: Stop ignoring the ethics risks in tech," ES Blog, November 2017. "Why You Need a Chief Behavioral
- [Take Our Survey: Speak Up Culture Assessment](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/take-our-survey-speak-up-culture-assessment/) - About The Speak Up Culture Assessment: Creating an inclusive workplace culture where employees can say what is on their mind, effectively make contributions to projects and processes, and comfortably offer criticism — without fear of retaliation — is key to a high performing organization. The Speak Up Culture Assessment is a survey that provides nuance
- [Marshall Schminke](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/marshall-schminke/) - I am the BB&T Professor of Business Ethics at the University of Central Florida, where I specialize in business ethics and strategy. I received my doctorate from Carnegie Mellon University, and served as a Visiting Scholar at Oxford University and the London School of Economics. I have also served as Associate Editor at the Academy of Management
- [Ethical Systems Culture Working Group](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/ethical-systems-culture-working-group/) - The Ethical Systems Culture Working Group is comprised of social and behavioral scientists who are among the top experts in the world on designing ethical organizations. We convened the group to select the best constructs and measures for assessing ethical culture, in order to help organizations design systems that reinforce positive behavior. The members of the working group are:
- [Ask an Ethics Expert](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/ask-an-ethics-expert/) - Get answers to your most pressing business ethics-related questions. Expanding on our mission to curate and distill ethics research for the business community, Ethical Systems has launched a new initiative soliciting questions to submit to one of our esteemed collaborators. Selected questions and answers will be featured here and in the subsequent month's newsletter. Use the form below
- [Capitalism Reading List](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/capitalism-reading-list/)
- [Reading to Succeed in 21st Century Global Capitalism](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/reading-to-succeed-in-21st-century-global-capitalism/) - While awaiting your flight, you notice a bookstore across from your gate and consider picking up a new title for the journey, one extra step in your quest for an edge. Something that informs you about the distant market your competitors are entering, where you also happen to be considering an exotic getaway. A title
- [Open Research Opportunities](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/open-research-opportunities/) - Consistent with our mission to build bridges between academia and business, Ethical Systems has been developing relationships with business leaders and organizations who share our passion for evidence-based business ethics. From business professionals, we hear the need for effective research that will support the impact and effectiveness of their ethics programs and help create a
- [Celia Moore](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/celia-moore/) - I am currently an Associate Professor in the Department of Management and Technology at Bocconi University in Milan. Prior to my appointment at Bocconi, I was on the faculty of the London Business School, where I was responsible for the core ethics course for every incoming MBA and EMBA student. My Website Download my C.V. Follow me on
- [Robert Hurley](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/robert-hurley/) - I am a Professor of Organization Behavior at Fordham University’s Gabelli School of Business. I have also been a core faculty member in the Columbia Business School executive education program High Impact Leadership for more than 25 years. In that program I teach sessions on building trustworthy organizations, leadership styles and self-management and emotional intelligence.
- [International Resources](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/international-resources/) - Resources on business ethics outside the United States. Submit more links and information to our Communications Director, Brian Gallagher. Canada Organizations Canadian Business Ethics Research Network (CBERN): A network of Canadian researchers in business ethics, corporate social responsibility, sustainable development, and corporate governance. Canadian Center for Ethics and Corporate Policy: A registered charity devoted to promoting ethical
- [Bryan Turner Internship in Business Ethics](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/bryan-turner-internship-in-business-ethics/) - The Bryan Turner Internship in Business Ethics provides talented and committed researchers an opportunity to lead and participate in projects that focus on the social and behavioral science of business ethics. The internship is named for Bryan Turner, Ethical Systems' first Executive Director. Learn more about Bryan and his extraordinary life. About Ethical Systems Ethical Systems is
- [Ethics By Design Conference Schedule](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/ethics-by-design-conference-schedule/) - Conference Schedule All programming in Tisch 415 / Meals and breaks in Tisch 411-413 8:30-9:00am Registration and Breakfast 9:00-9:05am Introduction to Ethics By Design Brief introduction and remarks Azish Filabi, CEO of Ethical Systems with Danny Oppenheimer, Spotlight Director at BSPA Peter Henry, Dean of NYU's Stern School of Business 9:05-9:15am Introduction to Ethical
- [Demo of iFrame](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/demo-of-iframe/)
- [Game Changers](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/game-changers/) - [page under construction] Business is often thought of using the metaphor of a game. You've got to play to win. In some leagues, the game is played "dirtier" than in others. But sometimes something happens that changes the rules of the game, with big consequences for ethical behavior. The clearest example of a game changer
- [Measuring Ethical Culture](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/measuring-ethical-culture/) - INTRODUCTION An organization’s culture is expressed through its shared values, beliefs and norms. Business culture is manifested in both formal channels such as a Code of Conduct, and a set of informal unwritten rules that guide business practices. Together, the formal and informal systems establish the organization’s personality and distinguish companies in a competitive marketplace.
- [Azish Filabi](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/azish-filabi/) - Azish Filabi works in investment stewardship and corporate governance at BlackRock. She was the Executive Director of Ethical Systems from September 2015 to April 2019. Through research and collaboration with leading social and behavioral scientists, she dedicated her time to helping business distill findings from academic research, and develop strategies to measure and promote ethical culture in their organizations. She was also a Sr. Research Scholar
- [Sena Koleva](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/sena-koleva/) - I am a social and personality psychologist who studies morality, ideology, relationships, and applied topics. I co-founded and help run YourMorals.org, a large web platform for psychology research and outreach. Currently I am an adjunct professor at CSU Los Angeles, an Associate Research Scientist at New York University, and a research consultant. You can learn
- [Meet Our New CEO: Azish Filabi](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/meet-our-new-ceo-azish-filabi/) - To Our Community, We are proud to introduce Azish Filabi, our new CEO. After the devastating loss of Executive Director Bryan Turner, we knew it would be hard to find a replacement. Embarking on a comprehensive search, we identified the ideal candidate and are thrilled that she has come on board. Azish comes to us from
- [Beyond Measure: The big impact of small changes](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/beyond-measure-the-big-impact-of-small-changes/) - Beyond Measure: The big impact of small changes by Margaret Heffernan [public library] Summarized by Katharina Weghmann Margaret Heffernan's new book "Beyond Measure: The big impact of small changes," is an original manifesto for business leaders. Creating strong organizational cultures does not require multi-million dollar programs; instead, small actions by each employee- from
- [Ombudsman](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/ombudsman/) - What is an ombudsman and why are they an important component of creating both a more motivated workforce and a stronger ethical culture within an organization? In short, an "ombuds" or "ombudsman" acts as a neutral go-between to help facilitate informal and confidential communications up and down the chain of command. Housed separately from both
- [Eulogy for Bryan Turner](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/eulogy-for-bryan-turner/) - Delivered by Jonathan Haidt, at the memorial service at Columbia University, April 11, 2015 My father’s best friend from childhood was a man named Fred Stein. At Fred’s memorial service, 2 years ago, one of their mutual friends opened his Eulogy in this way: “We all have a Fred Stein story, and we all have the
- [Thank You](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/thank-you/) - All of us at Ethical Systems thank you for your generous support. Your donation helps us make the world's best research available and accessible, for free, to anyone interested in improving the ethical culture and behavior of an organization. You will receive acknowledgment of your contribution to use for tax purposes shortly. To keep you
- [Executive Director Search](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/executive-director-search/) - About Ethical Systems is a non-profit organization founded in 2013 to bridge the gap between the behavioral sciences and the business world. Our mission is to make the world's best research available, for free, to anyone interested in improving the ethical culture and behavior of an organization. We believe that the knowledge is already out there to
- [Internal Reporting Literature Review](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/internal-reporting-literature-review/) - Journal Articles Mayer, D., Nurmohamed, S., Trevino, L.K., Shapiro, D.L., Schminke, M. (2013) "Encourage employees to report unethical conduct internally: It takes a village", Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 2013, 121, 89-103. Schaubroeck, J., Hannah, S., Avolio, B., Kozlowski, S., Lord, R., Treviño, L.K., Dimotakis, N, & Peng, C. (2012). Embedding ethical leadership within and across organizational levels. Academy of Management Journal, 55(5): 1053-1078.
- [Whistle Blower Extended Resource List](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/whistle-blower-extended-resource-list/) - Journal Articles Rivoli, P. and Waddock, S. (2011): First they ignore you: the time- context dynamic and corporate responsibility. California Management Review, 53 (2). 87-104 Goldman, A. (2010). Hubris and narcissism: the dark underbelly of leadership; and destructive leaders and dysfunctional organizations: tearing down the walls of professional greed, hubris, toxic genius and psychopathology. Destructive
- [In Memoriam: Bryan Turner](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/in-memoriam-bryan-turner/) - The team at Ethical Systems learned with deep sadness that our executive director, Bryan Turner, died in a parachuting accident on Monday, March 9, 2015. He was 32 years old. Bryan was a brilliant, devoted, and compassionate leader who dedicated much of his professional and personal life to social causes, especially to alleviating extreme poverty. He accepted
- [Carnegie Council Podcasts Featuring ES Collaborators](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/carnegie-council-podcasts-featuring-es-collaborators/) - "Impact: Where Business and Ethics Meet," a podcast developed by the Carnegie Council, examines the evolution of global business and related ethical questions, allowing listeners from all sectors to make purposeful decisions. Ethical Systems collaborators were featured in the April, May, and June 2015 episodes, available below. Collaborators Topic Air Date Dan Ariely and Francesca Gino
- [Capitalism](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/capitalism-2/) - This page will host links to a project on "Stories about Capitalism." Here are two 90-second videos presenting the two stories: Video of Story 1: Capitalism is Exploitation Video of Story 2: Capitalism is Liberation Below is Jonathan Haidt's talk at Zurich Minds, which introduced these two short videos and discussed their implications
- [Capitalism](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/capitalism/)
- [Bryan Turner](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/bryan-turner/) - I am Executive Director of Ethical Systems and an Associate Research Scholar at New York University’s Stern School of Business. Throughout my career, I have been fortunate to work with great people and organizations including the Executive Office of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Make Poverty History, Millennium Promise, the Millennium Villages, the UN Sustainable
- [Katharina Weghmann](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/katharina-weghmann/) - I am the Director of Business Outreach at Ethical Systems. My role focuses on engaging with business leaders to understand their needs and challenges in implementing ethics. These meetings both inform my work and that of the organization. In addition, I serve as an independent executive coach, facilitator, and adviser for whistleblowing in the financial sector. Please visit my website and LinkedIn to learn
- [Jim Lager](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/jim-lager/) - I am an Adjunct Professor (Lecturer) teaching ethics to graduate students at the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business and the Chief Ethics Officer at the US Government Accountability Office.[1] My Approach to Ethical Systems: My professional and academic interests are in the exploration of right and wrong as expressed in law, rule, and
- [Subscribe to our monthly newsletter](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/subscribe-to-our-monthly-newsletter/) - We will not give your email to anyone for any reason, it will only be used to share monthly updates about EthicalSystems.org.
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- [Aggregator Demo](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/aggregator-demo/)
- [Measurement](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/measurement/) - On this page we'll collect links to existing measurement tools, and offer advice for what and how to measure, to quantify progress toward making any organization an ethical system
- [Support Ethical Systems](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/support-ethical-systems/) - We partner with businesses by providing useful tools and distilling the best research in the behavioral sciences to improve their ethical culture. Your support helps Ethical Systems develop new resources and expand our ability to "make ethics easy." Donors who give more than $1,000 will receive a signed copy of Jonathan Haidt and Greg Lukianoff's The Coddling of the
- [Activities and Demonstrations](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/activities-and-demonstrations/) - On this page we will post activities and other tools for use by anyone interested in teaching ethical systems. Using novels to explore business ethics: Here's the handout used at NYU-Stern, including a link to a spreadsheet listing dozens of business-related novels suitable for use in a business ethics or professional responsibility course.​ A system
- [Thank You for Subscribing](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/thank-you-for-subscribing/) - Thank you! Your email has been subscribed.
- [Press](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/press/) - For Media: Download the Ethical Systems press kit. We also invite you to download the Ethical Systems one sheet for an overview of our organization. Ethical Systems in the News Media from Ethics By Design, including The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Inc. and more. Azish Filabi and Mike Silva of DLA Piper co-authored
- [Government Regulation](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/government-regulation/) - INTRODUCTION CONTENTS Areas of Research Case Studies Ideas to Apply Open Questions To Learn More AREAS OF RESEARCH Back to top ... CASE STUDIES Back to top A) Failures B) Successes IDEAS TO APPLY Back to top ... ​OPEN QUESTIONS Back to top ... TO LEARN MORE Back to top Books ...
- [Executive Summary](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/executive-summary/) - Ethical systems design is based on the principle that behavior in organizations must be understood by examining the interaction of many factors and forces; you should not start by looking for good and bad people. This is particularly true in business, where leaders, managers, and employees face conflicting incentives, messages, and pressures from multiple stakeholders. If you
- [Real Life Conditions](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/real-life-conditions/) - INTRODUCTION CONTENTS Areas of Research Case Studies Ideas to Apply Open Questions To Learn More AREAS OF RESEARCH Back to top ... CASE STUDIES Back to top A) Failures B) Successes IDEAS TO APPLY Back to top ... ​OPEN QUESTIONS Back to top ... TO LEARN MORE Back to top Books ...
- [Business Decisions](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/business-decisions/) - What are you deciding? Hiring Firing Managing High-Performing Teams Performance Measurement and Review Change Management
- [Reputation](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/reputation/) - INTRODUCTION On this page you'll find research on how reputational concerns can cause individuals and companies to behave more ethically and resist short-term temptations. CONTENTS Areas of Research Case Studies Ideas to Apply Open Questions To Learn More AREAS OF RESEARCH Back to top ... CASE STUDIES Back to top A) Failures B) Successes
- [Growth Challenges](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/growth-challenges/) - INTRODUCTION CONTENTS Areas of Research Case Studies Ideas to Apply Open Questions To Learn More AREAS OF RESEARCH Back to top ... CASE STUDIES Back to top A) Failures B) Successes IDEAS TO APPLY Back to top ... ​OPEN QUESTIONS Back to top ... TO LEARN MORE Back to top Books ...
- [Empathy](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/empathy/) - INTRODUCTION CONTENTS Areas of Research Case Studies Ideas to Apply Open Questions To Learn More AREAS OF RESEARCH Back to top ... CASE STUDIES Back to top A) Failures B) Successes IDEAS TO APPLY Back to top ... ​OPEN QUESTIONS Back to top ... TO LEARN MORE Back to top Books ...
- [Template](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/template/) - INTRODUCTION CONTENTS Ideas to Apply Areas of Research Case Studies Open Questions To Learn More IDEAS TO APPLY (Based on research covered below) Back to top ... ​ AREAS OF RESEARCH Back to top ... CASE STUDIES Back to top Failures ... Successes ... OPEN QUESTIONS Back to top ...
- [National Culture](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/national-culture/) - INTRODUCTION CONTENTS Areas of Research Case Studies Ideas to Apply Open Questions To Learn More AREAS OF RESEARCH Back to top CASE STUDIES Back to top A) FAILURES B) SUCCESSES IDEAS TO APPLY Back to top ​OPEN QUESTIONS Back to top TO LEARN MORE Back to top Books
- [Buchanan, Bruce](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/buchanan-bruce/) - I am the Director of the Business & Society Program Area, the C.W. Nichols Professor of Business Ethics, and a Professor of Marketing at New York University's Stern School of Business. My webpage My Approach to Ethical Systems: My interests include business and professional ethics, the self regulation of business, advertising claim substantiation, market research
- [Coming Soon](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/coming-soon/) - COMING SOON The following pages are currently under construction: Academic-Practitioner Partnership Cognitive Diversity Corporate Finance Positive Psychology in Business Corporate Social Responsibility Empathy (How can moments of empathy, or training programs, combat ethical fading and humanize relationships? We'll include research on emotional intelligence in business.) Game Changers Government Regulation Growth Challenges (What ethical problems tend
- [FAQ](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/faq/) - The following page includes links and comments on commonly requested issues with development of the site, often in regards to the editor (called CKeditor). Common Issues: How do I enter a single newline in the editor vs. a paragraph? The default behavior is to create a new paragraph every time enter is pressed in the
- [Corporate Finance](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/corporate-finance/) - INTRODUCTION Corporate finance studies the financing, investment, risk management, and disclosure decisions of firms, how organizational structure and the incentive systems of managers impinge upon these decisions, and corporate governance. These issues often involve agency problems owing to the need to motivate managers or other employees to take actions on behalf of owners, and information
- [Videos](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/videos/) - On this page you'll find links to videos and other multimedia resources that might be useful in teaching courses on designing ethical systems, or courses on ethics that have a behavioral science component. Ethical Systems YouTube Channel Here you will find clips relevant to the various research areas of the Ethical Systems website, as well
- [Readings](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/readings/) - [UNDER CONSTRUCTION; we anticipate having more readings shortly] On this page you'll find links to publicly available papers, particularly review articles, that may be useful in teaching courses about designing ethical systems. And of course you can assign students to read our research pages whenever you cover the relevant topic, e.g., conflicts of interest, whistle
- [Course Syllabi (non-MBA)](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/course-syllabi-non-mba/) - On this page you'll find links to course syllabi for teaching ethics and ethical systems engineering for graduate students and advanced undergraduates who are not in an MBA program.
- [Course Syllabi](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/course-syllabi/) - Find course syllabi from business school classes that incorporates research on ethical systems design. At present nobody has ever taught a whole course specifically on ethical systems design, but our goal is to make materials available that anyone can use to teach a day or a module on it. Learn more about teaching ethics. 1) Business Ethics
- [Cases](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/cases/) - Here, we provide links to cases useful in teaching courses about ethical systems design. You can also find case studies on our individual research pages. Ethical Systems Case Studies: Under Pressure: Wells Fargo, Misconduct, Leadership, and Culture Barings Bank [Barings Bank.pdf] Fixing a Hole, an Accounting case by Robert Bloomfield of Cornell University. Ethical Systems Company
- [Mission](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/mission/) - Businesses are marvels of engineering. They are collections of people, materials, and ideas that—when properly configured—generate the enormous value that makes modern society possible. We created EthicalSystems.org in response to the waves of scandals and crashes that have plagued the business world – and harmed people across the globe. To use this site, please click on
- [Style Guide for Researcher Pages](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/style-guide-for-researcher-pages/) - This page serves as a style guide for creating and formatting Researcher pages. ===================================== Content Needed for EthicalSystems.org Researcher page 1. Recent head shot 2. Link to your website 3. A one to two sentence "about me" introduction 4. One to three paragraphs on your approach to Ethical Systems (150-250 words). If you don't have anything to say about ethical systems in general, you can write about how your research might improve one aspect of business behavior.
- [Lynn Stout](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/lynn-stout/) - I am the Distinguished Professor of Corporate and Business Law at Cornell Law School. I believe that business success is not only consistent with ethical behavior, it ultimately depends on it. My home page is here. My Approach to Ethical Systems: For the past three decades, many legal, economics and business experts have urged us to
- [Michael Posner](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/michael-posner/) - I have worked in the human rights field since the 1970s. For about thirty years, I was the Executive Director and then President of Human Rights First, a non-governmental advocacy organization. In 2009, I joined the Obama Administration and former Secretary Clinton as Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy Human Rights and Labor. In March
- [Hal Movius](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/hal-movius/) - I am president of Movius Consulting and senior consultant to The Consensus Building Institute. Ethical Systems Interview (July/August 2016) Follow me on Twitter My Approach to Ethical Systems: Most weeks I teach negotiation to corporate leaders, and I coach teams who want to implement a Mutual Gains Approach to Negotiation in highly competitive situations. My work has taken me to
- [Jeffrey Kaplan](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/jeffrey-kaplan/) - I am a partner in the Kaplan & Walker LLP law firm in Princeton, New Jersey. ES blog mentions Ethical Systems Interview (April 2016) My Approach to Ethical Systems: I began my professional life in criminal defense but have spent most of the past twenty years practicing compliance-and-ethics (“C&E”) program law, meaning that I help companies conduct C&E risk
- [Bruce Buchanan](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/bruce-buchanan/) - I am___________. My website is here. [Hyperlink "here" to Resident Expert's site] My Approach to Ethical Systems: [NOTE - all headings should be formatted as "Heading 3"; all body font should be formatted as "normal."] My Major Relevant Publications: Books [This is for books where Resident Expert is author; hyperlink title to book site or Amazon.com listing]
- [Ann Tenbrunsel](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/ann-tenbrunsel/) - I am the David E. Gallo Professor of Business Ethics at the University of Notre Dame. My current research interests focus on the psychology of ethical decision making and the ethical infrastructures within organizations, examining why employees, leaders and students behave unethically, despite their best intentions to behave to the contrary. My homepage Ethical Systems Interview
- [Ron Berenbeim](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/ron-berenbeim/) - I am a Senior Fellow at the Conference Board and an Adjunct Professor at the NYU-Stern School of Business, where I teach a course called Professional Responsibility: Markets Ethics and Law. I am also working with the United Nations Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME) initiative which includes more than 400 business schools world wide to integrate
- [Positive Psychology in Business](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/positive-psychology-in-business/) - Until recently, much work in psychology has been done on negative abnormalities of the mind (i.e., psychopathologies) or on social dynamics that lead to undesirable behavior such as social conformity or obedience. In contrast, positive psychology focuses on positive or optimal psychological states and behaviors. What positive psychology has contributed to psychological science, positive organizational
- [Pay and Promotion](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/pay-and-promotion/) - On this page you'll find research on how various ways of paying and promoting employees leads them to behave more or less ethically. ​ AREAS OF RESEARCH Two to five bulleted sub-areas for focus CASE STUDIES A)FAILURES Two to four links to example cases; can be a placeholder for now B)SUCCESSES Two to four links
- [Misc/Other](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/misc-other/) - Here you'll find links to research that doesn't fit neatly into our other tabs. What behavioral ethics might mean for corporate compliance and ethics programs: index of posts from Jeffrey Kaplan's Conflicts of Interest blog Goals Gone Wild: The Systematic Side Effects of Over-Prescribing Goal Setting. Ordonez et al (2009). Goal setting can lead to unethical behavior, as
- [Legal Environment](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/legal-environment/) - OVERVIEW (1 paragraph) ​ AREAS OF RESEARCH Two to five bulleted sub-areas for focus CASE STUDIES A)FAILURES Two to four links to example cases; can be a placeholder for now B)SUCCESSES Two to four links to example cases; can be a placeholder for now IDEAS TO APPLY Two to four key takeaways for academics and/or business
- [Corporate Social Responsibility](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/corporate-social-responsibility/) - **** OVERVIEW (1 paragraph) ​ AREAS OF RESEARCH Two to five bulleted sub-areas for focus CASE STUDIES A)FAILURES Two to four links to example cases; can be a placeholder for now B)SUCCESSES Two to four links to example cases; can be a placeholder for now IDEAS TO APPLY Two to four key takeaways for academics and/or
- [Resources](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/resources/) - Links to other organizations and web-basead resources... Aspen Institute: Business and Society Program Business Roundtable Institute for Corporate Ethics Ethics Resource Center. They conduct the "National Business Ethics Survey." Ethisphere, a think tank dedicated to "the creation, advancement and sharing of best practices in business ethics, corporate social responsibility, anti-corruption and sustainability" Olsson Center for
- [Home](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/home/) - What Is an Ethical System? Video Production by Daniel Fenjves

## Categories

- [Uncategorized](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/category/uncategorized/)
- [Research](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/category/research/)
- [Blog](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/category/blog/)
- [Events](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/category/events/)
- [Book Summaries](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/category/research/resource-type/book-summaries/)
- [Behavioral Science One Sheets](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/category/research/resource-type/behavioral-science-one-sheets/)
- [Case Study](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/category/research/resource-type/case-study/)
- [Course Syllabus](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/category/research/resource-type/course-syllabus/)
- [Resource Type](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/category/research/resource-type/)
- [Research Summaries](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/category/research/resource-type/research-summaries/)
- [Topic](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/category/topic/)
- [Accounting](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/category/topic/accounting/)
- [Cheating & Honesty](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/category/topic/cheating-honesty/)
- [Compliance & Ethics Programs](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/category/topic/compliance-ethics-programs/)
- [Conflicts of Interest](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/category/topic/conflicts-of-interest/)
- [Contextual Influences](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/category/topic/contextual-influences/)
- [Corporate Culture](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/category/topic/corporate-culture/)
- [Corporate Governance](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/category/topic/corporate-governance/)
- [Corruption](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/category/topic/corruption/)
- [Decision Making](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/category/topic/decision-making/)
- [Ethics Pays](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/category/topic/ethics-pays/)
- [Fairness](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/category/topic/fairness/)
- [Human Rights](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/category/topic/human-rights/)
- [Internal Reporting](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/category/topic/internal-reporting/)
- [Law](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/category/topic/law/)
- [Leadership](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/category/topic/leadership/)
- [Negotiation](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/category/topic/negotiation/)
- [Personality & Personnel](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/category/topic/personality-personnel/)
- [Teaching Ethics](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/category/topic/teaching-ethics/)
- [Trust](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/category/topic/trust/)
- [Audience](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/category/research/audience/)
- [Researcher](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/category/research/audience/researcher/)
- [Professor](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/category/research/audience/professor/)
- [Practitioner](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/category/research/audience/practitioner/)
- [News](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/category/news/)
- [Video](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/category/research/resource-type/video/)
- [E-Book](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/category/research/resource-type/e-book/)
- [Workplace Surveillance](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/category/topic/workplace-surveillance/)
- [Podcast](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/category/podcast/)
- [Corporate Culture Assessment](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/category/topic/corporate-culture-assessment/)
- [Speak-Up and Call-Out Culture](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/category/topic/speak-up-and-call-out-culture/)
- [Remote Work](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/category/topic/remote-work/)
- [Incentives](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/category/topic/incentives/)
- [Positive Organizational Psychology](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/category/topic/positive-organizational-psychology/)
- [Political Polarization](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/category/topic/political-polarization/)
- [Diversity](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/category/topic/diversity/)
- [Psychological Safety](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/category/topic/psychological-safety/)
- [Business Ethics](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/category/topic/business-ethics/)

## Tags

- [Ethical Systems](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/ethical-systems/)
- [Book Summaries](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/book-summaries/)
- [In the News](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/in-the-news/)
- [Current Research](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/current-research/)
- [Research](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/research/)
- [law](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/law/)
- [financial crisis](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/financial-crisis/)
- [#EthSys Insights](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/ethsys-insights/)
- [Education](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/education/)
- [teaching](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/teaching/)
- [Education, Dan Ariely](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/education-dan-ariely/)
- [#EthSys Insights, Marc Hodak](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/ethsys-insights-marc-hodak/)
- [Personality & Personnel, Amy Wrzesniewski](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/personality-personnel-amy-wrzesniewski/)
- [Cheating & Honesty, Robert Frank](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/cheating-honesty-robert-frank/)
- [Barry Schwartz](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/barry-schwartz/)
- [Jeffrey Kaplan](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/jeffrey-kaplan/)
- [ethics](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/ethics/)
- [history](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/history/)
- [Compliance & Ethics, Ethics Pays](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/compliance-ethics-ethics-pays/)
- [Ethical Systems Thinking](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/ethical-systems-thinking/)
- [Human Rights, Michael Posner](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/human-rights-michael-posner/)
- [ethical systems design](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/ethical-systems-design/)
- [psychology](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/psychology/)
- [Nicholas Epley](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/nicholas-epley/)
- [cognitive biases](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/cognitive-biases/)
- [book summary](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/book-summary/)
- [Mindwise](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/mindwise/)
- [Interview](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/interview/)
- [Booth](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/booth/)
- [David Mayer](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/david-mayer/)
- [Max Bazerman](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/max-bazerman/)
- [Amy Wrzesniewski](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/amy-wrzesniewski/)
- [Mark Hodak](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/mark-hodak/)
- [Sarah Labowitz](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/sarah-labowitz/)
- [Francesca Gino](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/francesca-gino/)
- [Dan Ariely](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/dan-ariely/)
- [Adam Grant](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/adam-grant/)
- [News](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/news/)
- [dolly chugh](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/dolly-chugh/)
- [The OS Fund](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/the-os-fund/)
- [Bryan Johnson](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/bryan-johnson/)
- [Jeff Kaplan](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/jeff-kaplan/)
- [morality](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/morality/)
- [risk](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/risk/)
- [risk assessment](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/risk-assessment/)
- [C&E](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/ce/)
- [compliance](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/compliance/)
- [Business Ethics Alliance](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/business-ethics-alliance/)
- [Beverly Kracher](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/beverly-kracher/)
- [city-level business ethics](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/city-level-business-ethics/)
- [Omaha Business Ethics Alliance](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/omaha-business-ethics-alliance/)
- [business ethics](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/business-ethics/)
- [The Power of Noticing](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/the-power-of-noticing/)
- [decision making](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/decision-making/)
- [leadership](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/leadership/)
- [behavioral ethics](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/behavioral-ethics/)
- [behavioral economics](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/behavioral-economics/)
- [bounded rationality](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/bounded-rationality/)
- [bounded awareness](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/bounded-awareness/)
- [behavioral science](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/behavioral-science/)
- [Wall Street, Culture, Business School Education, Unethical behavior, financial sector, ethical behavior, dishonesty, honest behavior, organizational culture, ethics in business](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/wall-street-culture-business-school-education-unethical-behavior-financial-sector-ethical-behavior-dishonesty-honest-behavior-organizational-culture-ethics-in-business/)
- [fraud, corruption, principal agent, conflict of interest](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/fraud-corruption-principal-agent-conflict-of-interest/)
- [Harvard Business School](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/harvard-business-school/)
- [motivated blindness](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/motivated-blindness/)
- [bounded ethicaly](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/bounded-ethicaly/)
- [fast and slow thinking](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/fast-and-slow-thinking/)
- [system 1](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/system-1/)
- [system 2](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/system-2/)
- [automatic processing](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/automatic-processing/)
- [controlled processing](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/controlled-processing/)
- [heuristics](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/heuristics/)
- [WYSIATI](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/wysiati/)
- [WYSINATI](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/wysinati/)
- [change blindness](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/change-blindness/)
- [escalation of commitment](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/escalation-of-commitment/)
- [positive illusions](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/positive-illusions/)
- [hyperbolic discounting](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/hyperbolic-discounting/)
- [slippery slope effect](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/slippery-slope-effect/)
- [omission bias](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/omission-bias/)
- [temporal myopia](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/temporal-myopia/)
- [present bias](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/present-bias/)
- [in-group discrimination](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/in-group-discrimination/)
- [conflict of interest](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/conflict-of-interest/)
- [belief change](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/belief-change/)
- [behavior change](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/behavior-change/)
- [motivated reasoning](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/motivated-reasoning/)
- [value self-confrontation condition](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/value-self-confrontation-condition/)
- [environmental factors](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/environmental-factors/)
- [social intuitionism](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/social-intuitionism/)
- [elephant and rider](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/elephant-and-rider/)
- [roy baumeister](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/roy-baumeister/)
- [willpower](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/willpower/)
- [ego depletion](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/ego-depletion/)
- [framing](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/framing/)
- [frame](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/frame/)
- [schema](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/schema/)
- [moral foundation](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/moral-foundation/)
- [moral foundations theory](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/moral-foundations-theory/)
- [narratives](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/narratives/)
- [jonathan haidt](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/jonathan-haidt/)
- [naive realism](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/naive-realism/)
- [moral psychology](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/moral-psychology/)
- [cognitive science](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/cognitive-science/)
- [cognitive psychology](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/cognitive-psychology/)
- [social psychology](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/social-psychology/)
- [Dorothée Baumann-Pauly](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/dorothee-baumann-pauly/)
- [behavioral insights](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/behavioral-insights/)
- [daylian cain](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/daylian-cain/)
- [collaborators in the news](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/collaborators-in-the-news/)
- [steven blader](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/steven-blader/)
- [robert bloomfield](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/robert-bloomfield/)
- [robert frank](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/robert-frank/)
- [david hirshleifer](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/david-hirshleifer/)
- [marc hodak](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/marc-hodak/)
- [hal movius](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/hal-movius/)
- [michael posner](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/michael-posner/)
- [ann tenbrunsel](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/ann-tenbrunsel/)
- [linda trevino](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/linda-trevino/)
- [applications](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/applications/)
- [Tigran Eldred](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/tigran-eldred/)
- [behavioral legal ethics](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/behavioral-legal-ethics/)
- [bounded ethicality](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/bounded-ethicality/)
- [pro-social behavior](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/pro-social-behavior/)
- [change management](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/change-management/)
- [stakeholder theory](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/stakeholder-theory/)
- [video](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/video/)
- [World Bank](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/world-bank/)
- [nudge](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/nudge/)
- [mind society and behavior](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/mind-society-and-behavior/)
- [bribes; corruption; in the news; research; governments](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/bribes-corruption-in-the-news-research-governments/)
- [behavioral sciences](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/behavioral-sciences/)
- [ethics pays](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/ethics-pays/)
- [corruption; berenbeim; FCPA; management; leadership](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/corruption-berenbeim-fcpa-management-leadership/)
- [World Development Report](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/world-development-report/)
- [conflicts of interest](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/conflicts-of-interest/)
- [altrusim](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/altrusim/)
- [Business;](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/business/)
- [Trevino; ethics pays; leadership; teaching ethics; whistleblowing](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/trevino-ethics-pays-leadership-teaching-ethics-whistleblowing/)
- [purpose](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/purpose/)
- [Goyder](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/goyder/)
- [India](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/india/)
- [governance](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/governance/)
- [stakeholders](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/stakeholders/)
- [manager](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/manager/)
- [Culture](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/culture/)
- [banking](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/banking/)
- [corporate culture](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/corporate-culture/)
- [China](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/china/)
- [stakeholder model](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/stakeholder-model/)
- [norman chan](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/norman-chan/)
- [cheating](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/cheating/)
- [honesty](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/honesty/)
- [dishonesty](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/dishonesty/)
- [Ariely](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/ariely/)
- [Haidt](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/haidt/)
- [Brooks](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/brooks/)
- [Mayer](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/mayer/)
- [aarp](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/aarp/)
- [ellen hunt](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/ellen-hunt/)
- [interviews](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/interviews/)
- [negotiation](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/negotiation/)
- [nudges](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/nudges/)
- [fines](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/fines/)
- [Tenbrunsel](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/tenbrunsel/)
- [Trevino](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/trevino/)
- [Movius](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/movius/)
- [Hershleifer](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/hershleifer/)
- [Berenbeim](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/berenbeim/)
- [Kaplan](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/kaplan/)
- [FIFA](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/fifa/)
- [corruption](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/corruption/)
- [bribery](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/bribery/)
- [book review](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/book-review/)
- [Heffernan](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/heffernan/)
- [thaler](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/thaler/)
- [misbehaving](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/misbehaving/)
- [ombuds](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/ombuds/)
- [Pacifica](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/pacifica/)
- [John Zinsser](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/john-zinsser/)
- [Incivility](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/incivility/)
- [Porath](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/porath/)
- [Azish Filabi](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/azish-filabi/)
- [CEO](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/ceo/)
- [collaborator of the month](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/collaborator-of-the-month/)
- [capitalism](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/capitalism/)
- [CEO Activism](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/ceo-activism/)
- [language](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/language/)
- [DOJ](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/doj/)
- [governments](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/governments/)
- [personality and personnel](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/personality-and-personnel/)
- [Nick Epley](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/nick-epley/)
- [Amazon](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/amazon/)
- [G30](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/g30/)
- [Richard Bistrong](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/richard-bistrong/)
- [FCPA](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/fcpa/)
- [Blind Spots](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/blind-spots/)
- [Yates](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/yates/)
- [Sally Quillian Yates](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/sally-quillian-yates/)
- [Obama](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/obama/)
- [management](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/management/)
- [opportunism](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/opportunism/)
- [ethical consequences](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/ethical-consequences/)
- [Contextual influences](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/contextual-influences/)
- [bad apples](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/bad-apples/)
- [SEC](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/sec/)
- [VW](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/vw/)
- [Yates Memo](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/yates-memo/)
- [professionalism](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/professionalism/)
- [bias](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/bias/)
- [bazerman](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/bazerman/)
- [Accounting](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/accounting/)
- [short termism](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/short-termism/)
- [economics](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/economics/)
- [Omaha](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/omaha/)
- [Boston](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/boston/)
- [BEA](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/bea/)
- [inequality](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/inequality/)
- [aspen ideas](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/aspen-ideas/)
- [Happiness Hypothesis](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/happiness-hypothesis/)
- [federal reserve](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/federal-reserve/)
- [lagarde](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/lagarde/)
- [finance](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/finance/)
- [ethical fading](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/ethical-fading/)
- [epley](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/epley/)
- [lager](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/lager/)
- [bloomfield](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/bloomfield/)
- [cain](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/cain/)
- [hodak](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/hodak/)
- [construction](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/construction/)
- [Haiti](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/haiti/)
- [New Zealand](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/new-zealand/)
- [year end](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/year-end/)
- [employee satisfaction](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/employee-satisfaction/)
- [earnings](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/earnings/)
- [Jon Haidt](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/jon-haidt/)
- [robert johnson](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/robert-johnson/)
- [blacklist](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/blacklist/)
- [FINRA](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/finra/)
- [NY Fed](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/ny-fed/)
- [cheating and dishonesty](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/cheating-and-dishonesty/)
- [Cheating & Honesty](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/cheating-honesty/)
- [rivalry](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/rivalry/)
- [cooperation](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/cooperation/)
- [one-shot](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/one-shot/)
- [emotions](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/emotions/)
- [Ethisphere](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/ethisphere/)
- [influence](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/influence/)
- [Fast Company](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/fast-company/)
- [righteous mind](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/righteous-mind/)
- [fairness](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/fairness/)
- [justice](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/justice/)
- [status](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/status/)
- [hierarchy](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/hierarchy/)
- [strategy and business](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/strategy-and-business/)
- [teaching ethics](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/teaching-ethics/)
- [adam waytz](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/adam-waytz/)
- [IEX](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/iex/)
- [Human Rights](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/human-rights/)
- [Asia](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/asia/)
- [Bangladesh](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/bangladesh/)
- [Supply Chain](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/supply-chain/)
- [lawyer](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/lawyer/)
- [general counsel](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/general-counsel/)
- [Conference](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/conference/)
- [Whistleblowing](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/whistleblowing/)
- [Internal Reporting](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/internal-reporting/)
- [Preet Bharara](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/preet-bharara/)
- [minimalism](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/minimalism/)
- [survey](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/survey/)
- [food and enterprise](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/food-and-enterprise/)
- [artisanal](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/artisanal/)
- [training](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/training/)
- [WSJ](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/wsj/)
- [Measure Management](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/measure-management/)
- [Eugene Soltes](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/eugene-soltes/)
- [White Collar Crime](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/white-collar-crime/)
- [reputation](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/reputation/)
- [Lending Club](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/lending-club/)
- [ethics by design](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/ethics-by-design/)
- [harvard business review](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/harvard-business-review/)
- [amnesia](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/amnesia/)
- [behavioral confidence](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/behavioral-confidence/)
- [emotion](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/emotion/)
- [whistleblowers](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/whistleblowers/)
- [Dennis Gentilin](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/dennis-gentilin/)
- [Australia](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/australia/)
- [employee voice](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/employee-voice/)
- [shareholder](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/shareholder/)
- [stakeholder](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/stakeholder/)
- [Bruce Scott](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/bruce-scott/)
- [PBS](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/pbs/)
- [scandal](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/scandal/)
- [Seinfeld](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/seinfeld/)
- [Trust](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/trust/)
- [Robert Hurley](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/robert-hurley/)
- [bob Hurley](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/bob-hurley/)
- [Fordham University](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/fordham-university/)
- [NDDCEL](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/nddcel/)
- [notre dame](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/notre-dame/)
- [Timothy Lindon](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/timothy-lindon/)
- [NYU Law](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/nyu-law/)
- [enforcement](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/enforcement/)
- [Rachel Fichter](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/rachel-fichter/)
- [Wells Fargo](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/wells-fargo/)
- [Daniel Tarullo](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/daniel-tarullo/)
- [Group of Thirty](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/group-of-thirty/)
- [HR](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/hr/)
- [Hiring](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/hiring/)
- [Jose Tabuena](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/jose-tabuena/)
- [measurement](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/measurement/)
- [Donald Langevoort](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/donald-langevoort/)
- [Etsy](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/etsy/)
- [confession](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/confession/)
- [accountability](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/accountability/)
- [Charles Green](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/charles-green/)
- [Charlie Green](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/charlie-green/)
- [trustworthy](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/trustworthy/)
- [Lou Gerstner](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/lou-gerstner/)
- [Alliance](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/alliance/)
- [City Lab](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/city-lab/)
- [regulation](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/regulation/)
- [Hirshleifer](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/hirshleifer/)
- [Behavioral Public Policy Journal](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/behavioral-public-policy-journal/)
- [banking standards board](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/banking-standards-board/)
- [UK](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/uk/)
- [Bill Dudley](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/bill-dudley/)
- [Speak up culture](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/speak-up-culture/)
- [Origin of ethical failures](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/origin-of-ethical-failures/)
- [jim lager](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/jim-lager/)
- [AuditFutures](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/auditfutures/)
- [MBA](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/mba/)
- [HBR](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/hbr/)
- [Danny Miller](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/danny-miller/)
- [Xiaowei Xu](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/xiaowei-xu/)
- [2016](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/2016/)
- [2017](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/2017/)
- [end of year](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/end-of-year/)
- [Donald C. Langevoort](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/donald-c-langevoort/)
- [Tensie Whelan](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/tensie-whelan/)
- [Center for Sustainable Business](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/center-for-sustainable-business/)
- [Sustainability](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/sustainability/)
- [Scott Killingsworth](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/scott-killingsworth/)
- [BryanCave](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/bryancave/)
- [Philip Howard](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/philip-howard/)
- [The Rule of Nobody](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/the-rule-of-nobody/)
- [review](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/review/)
- [regulations](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/regulations/)
- [lawyers](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/lawyers/)
- [Andrea Bonime-Blanc](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/andrea-bonime-blanc/)
- [GEC Risk Advisory](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/gec-risk-advisory/)
- [Rashmi Airan](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/rashmi-airan/)
- [jail](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/jail/)
- [Soltes](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/soltes/)
- [Rellie Derfler-Rozin](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/rellie-derfler-rozin/)
- [Celia Moore](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/celia-moore/)
- [Bradley R. Staats](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/bradley-r-staats/)
- [Organization Science.](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/organization-science/)
- [Ron Carucci](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/ron-carucci/)
- [Navalent](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/navalent/)
- [Nature](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/nature/)
- [financial system](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/financial-system/)
- [David Zaring](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/david-zaring/)
- [New York Times](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/new-york-times/)
- [Wharton](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/wharton/)
- [Mike Posner](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/mike-posner/)
- [Center of Business and Human Rights](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/center-of-business-and-human-rights/)
- [Stern](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/stern/)
- [Jerome Kohlberg Professor of Ethics and Finance](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/jerome-kohlberg-professor-of-ethics-and-finance/)
- [ethical culture](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/ethical-culture/)
- [BSR](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/bsr/)
- [Alison Taylor](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/alison-taylor/)
- [FCPA blog](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/fcpa-blog/)
- [cross post](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/cross-post/)
- [ask an ethics expert](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/ask-an-ethics-expert/)
- [Laureate Education](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/laureate-education/)
- [videos](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/videos/)
- [mark snyderman](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/mark-snyderman/)
- [transparency](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/transparency/)
- [retail](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/retail/)
- [long term thinking](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/long-term-thinking/)
- [Joseph Bower](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/joseph-bower/)
- [Lynn Paine](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/lynn-paine/)
- [airlines](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/airlines/)
- [United](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/united/)
- [American](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/american/)
- [Jack Ewing](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/jack-ewing/)
- [Caroline Webb](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/caroline-webb/)
- [How to Have a Good Day](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/how-to-have-a-good-day/)
- [McKinsey](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/mckinsey/)
- [whitepaper](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/whitepaper/)
- [mindgym](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/mindgym/)
- [Filabi](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/filabi/)
- [foreward](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/foreward/)
- [Heterodox Academy](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/heterodox-academy/)
- [thomas Cooley](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/thomas-cooley/)
- [culture survey](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/culture-survey/)
- [company](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/company/)
- [Head to Head](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/head-to-head/)
- [eBook](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/ebook/)
- [AMA](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/ama/)
- [Marketing](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/marketing/)
- [Ethical Leadership](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/ethical-leadership/)
- [Marshall Schminke](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/marshall-schminke/)
- [University of Central Florida](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/university-of-central-florida/)
- [compliance officer day](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/compliance-officer-day/)
- [cheating and honesty](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/cheating-and-honesty/)
- [Law360](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/law360/)
- [due diligence](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/due-diligence/)
- [Univ of Central Florida](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/univ-of-central-florida/)
- [Climate](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/climate/)
- [Richard Thaler](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/richard-thaler/)
- [Nobel Prize](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/nobel-prize/)
- [Thomas Fox](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/thomas-fox/)
- [ECI](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/eci/)
- [webcast](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/webcast/)
- [webinar](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/webinar/)
- [25%](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/25/)
- [Gartner](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/gartner/)
- [CEB](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/ceb/)
- [behavior](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/behavior/)
- [Hui Chen](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/hui-chen/)
- [fraud](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/fraud/)
- [Department of Justice](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/department-of-justice/)
- [Artificial Intelligence](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/artificial-intelligence/)
- [AI](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/ai/)
- [Cathy ONeil](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/cathy-oneil/)
- [Academia](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/academia/)
- [Weapons of Math Destruction](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/weapons-of-math-destruction/)
- [Amicus Brief](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/amicus-brief/)
- [Digital Realty Trust v. Paul Somers](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/digital-realty-trust-v-paul-somers/)
- [Dodd-Frank](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/dodd-frank/)
- [The Oxford Review](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/the-oxford-review/)
- [David Wilkinson](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/david-wilkinson/)
- [Academics-practitioner gap](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/academics-practitioner-gap/)
- [practitioner](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/practitioner/)
- [academics](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/academics/)
- [Recap](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/recap/)
- [Senior Research Associate](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/senior-research-associate/)
- [positions](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/positions/)
- [work with us](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/work-with-us/)
- [Catarina Bulgarella](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/catarina-bulgarella/)
- [Wendy Addison](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/wendy-addison/)
- [Andrew Ross Sorkin](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/andrew-ross-sorkin/)
- [Larry Fink](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/larry-fink/)
- [BlackRock](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/blackrock/)
- [Goals Gone Wild](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/goals-gone-wild/)
- [Lisa Ordonez](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/lisa-ordonez/)
- [Notre Dame Center for Ethical Leadership](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/notre-dame-center-for-ethical-leadership/)
- [Case study](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/case-study/)
- [under pressure](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/under-pressure/)
- [Bharathy Premachandra](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/bharathy-premachandra/)
- [Pat Harned](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/pat-harned/)
- [Ethics Compliance Initaitive](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/ethics-compliance-initaitive/)
- [Costco](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/costco/)
- [Company Snapshot](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/company-snapshot/)
- [Case Studies](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/case-studies/)
- [Jessica Guo](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/jessica-guo/)
- [Jim Sinegal](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/jim-sinegal/)
- [Ethics & Compliance Initiative](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/ethics-compliance-initiative/)
- [Patagonia](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/patagonia/)
- [Yvon Chouinard](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/yvon-chouinard/)
- [Container Store](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/container-store/)
- [Bill Rhodes](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/bill-rhodes/)
- [Ellen Alemany](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/ellen-alemany/)
- [Rob Cox](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/rob-cox/)
- [Mira Dewji](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/mira-dewji/)
- [global ethics summit](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/global-ethics-summit/)
- [Bear Stearns](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/bear-stearns/)
- [Wall Street Journal](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/wall-street-journal/)
- [Luigi Zingales](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/luigi-zingales/)
- [Jason Zweig](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/jason-zweig/)
- [Mike Silva](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/mike-silva/)
- [DLA Piper](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/dla-piper/)
- [Thomson Reuters Accelus](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/thomson-reuters-accelus/)
- [OECD](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/oecd/)
- [middle management](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/middle-management/)
- [RANE](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/rane/)
- [Serina Vash](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/serina-vash/)
- [Podcast](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/podcast/)
- [one sheets](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/one-sheets/)
- [Bank Culture](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/bank-culture/)
- [Laura Smart](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/laura-smart/)
- [FCA UK](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/fca-uk/)
- [Financial Conduct Authority](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/financial-conduct-authority/)
- [Insight](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/insight/)
- [The Behavioral Science and Policy Association](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/the-behavioral-science-and-policy-association/)
- [Tannenbaum](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/tannenbaum/)
- [BSPA](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/bspa/)
- [Behavioral Science and Policy](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/behavioral-science-and-policy/)
- [short term thinking](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/short-term-thinking/)
- [Bloomberg](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/bloomberg/)
- [Jamie Dimon](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/jamie-dimon/)
- [Warren Buffett](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/warren-buffett/)
- [Carsten Tams](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/carsten-tams/)
- [Forbes](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/forbes/)
- [corporate culture; governance;](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/corporate-culture-governance/)
- [corporate culture; governance; ethics; well-being](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/corporate-culture-governance-ethics-well-being/)
- [law; ethics; corporate culture; leadership](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/law-ethics-corporate-culture-leadership/)
- [corporate culture; ethics; personality and personnel; teaching ethics](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/corporate-culture-ethics-personality-and-personnel-teaching-ethics/)
- [ethics; personality and personnel; training](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/ethics-personality-and-personnel-training/)
- [ethics; corporate culture; corporate governance; teaching ethics; leadership](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/ethics-corporate-culture-corporate-governance-teaching-ethics-leadership/)
- [cheating and honesty; compliance and ethics programs; corporate culture; decision making](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/cheating-and-honesty-compliance-and-ethics-programs-corporate-culture-decision-making/)
- [culture; behavioral science;](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/culture-behavioral-science/)
- [decision making; personality and personnel; ethics; conflicts of interest](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/decision-making-personality-and-personnel-ethics-conflicts-of-interest/)
- [accounting; cheating and honesty; compliance and ethics programs; corporate culture](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/accounting-cheating-and-honesty-compliance-and-ethics-programs-corporate-culture/)
- [compliance and ethics programs; corporate governance; decision making; law](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/compliance-and-ethics-programs-corporate-governance-decision-making-law/)
- [Niki den Nieuwenboer](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/niki-den-nieuwenboer/)
- [behavioral scientist](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/behavioral-scientist/)
- [employee surveillance](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/employee-surveillance/)
- [Wall Street](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/wall-street/)
- [Henry Engler](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/henry-engler/)
- [socialism](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/socialism/)
- [centrism](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/centrism/)
- [lying](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/lying/)
- [performance management](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/performance-management/)
- [strategic clarity](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/strategic-clarity/)
- [evolutionary psychology](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/evolutionary-psychology/)
- [mark van vugt](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/mark-van-vugt/)
- [mismatch](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/mismatch/)
- [worker autonomy](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/worker-autonomy/)
- [college admissions scandal](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/college-admissions-scandal/)
- [scientists](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/scientists/)
- [stress](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/stress/)
- [anxiety](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/anxiety/)
- [depression](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/depression/)
- [meditation](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/meditation/)
- [creativity](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/creativity/)
- [corporate governance](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/corporate-governance/)
- [World Economic Forum](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/world-economic-forum/)
- [COVID-19](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/covid-19/)
- [Just Capital](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/just-capital/)
- [working from home](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/working-from-home/)
- [remote work](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/remote-work/)
- [Damon Silvers](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/damon-silvers/)
- [meaningful work](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/meaningful-work/)
- [philosophy](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/philosophy/)
- [Jack Dorsey](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/jack-dorsey/)
- [Andrew Taggart](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/andrew-taggart/)
- [total work](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/total-work/)
- [salon](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/salon/)
- [David Sloan wilson](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/david-sloan-wilson/)
- [Erika Cheung](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/erika-cheung/)
- [Toby Shannan](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/toby-shannan/)
- [compliance and ethics programs](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/compliance-and-ethics-programs/)
- [shareholder primacy](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/shareholder-primacy/)
- [ccoperation](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/ccoperation/)
- [Andrew Cuomo](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/andrew-cuomo/)
- [role-modeling](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/role-modeling/)
- [moral distress](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/moral-distress/)
- [well-being](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/well-being/)
- [behavioral contagion](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/behavioral-contagion/)
- [women](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/women/)
- [household labor](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/household-labor/)
- [childcare](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/childcare/)
- [race](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/race/)
- [uncertainty](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/uncertainty/)
- [victim anonymity](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/victim-anonymity/)
- [cultural psychology](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/cultural-psychology/)
- [J.S. Nelson](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/j-s-nelson/)
- [cultural evolution](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/cultural-evolution/)
- [conspiracy thinking](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/conspiracy-thinking/)
- [business roundtable](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/business-roundtable/)
- [stakeholder capitalism](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/stakeholder-capitalism/)
- [Donald Trump](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/donald-trump/)
- [Michele Wucker](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/michele-wucker/)
- [Breaking the Fever](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/breaking-the-fever/)
- [nba](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/nba/)
- [agency](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/agency/)
- [climate change](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/climate-change/)
- [employee activism](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/employee-activism/)
- [social media](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/social-media/)
- [time poverty](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/time-poverty/)
- [Charles Darwin](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/charles-darwin/)
- [democracy](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/democracy/)
- [ESG](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/esg/)
- [polarization](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/polarization/)
- [gender diversity](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/gender-diversity/)
- [diversity](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/diversity/)
- [insurance sector](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/insurance-sector/)
- [mental health](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/mental-health/)
- [Uber](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/uber/)
- [opiod crisis](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/opiod-crisis/)
- [Saudi Arabia](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/saudi-arabia/)
- [loyalty](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/loyalty/)
- [call-out culture](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/call-out-culture/)
- [moral hazard](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/moral-hazard/)
- [pirates](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/pirates/)
- [human capital](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/human-capital/)
- [collaboration](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/collaboration/)
- [employee engagement](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/employee-engagement/)
- [Rene Girard](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/rene-girard/)
- [mimetic desire](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/mimetic-desire/)
- [wealth inequality](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/wealth-inequality/)
- [courage](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/courage/)
- [moral exemplar](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/moral-exemplar/)
- [national action plan](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/national-action-plan/)
- [human resources](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/human-resources/)
- [soviet russia](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/soviet-russia/)
- [moral licensing](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/moral-licensing/)
- [Recruit Holdings](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/recruit-holdings/)
- [collective intelligence](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/collective-intelligence/)
- [Generation Z](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/generation-z/)
- [Deloitte](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/deloitte/)
- [interruptions](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/interruptions/)
- [bullshit](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/bullshit/)
- [The Troubles](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/the-troubles/)
- [New York Fed](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/new-york-fed/)
- [strategic instincts](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/strategic-instincts/)
- [George Washington](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/george-washington/)
- [envy](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/envy/)
- [scapegoat](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/scapegoat/)
- [refugees](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/refugees/)
- [R. Kelly](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/r-kelly/)
- [caste](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/caste/)
- [habitus](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/habitus/)
- [Pierre Bourdieu](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/pierre-bourdieu/)
- [alcohol](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/alcohol/)
- [citizenship](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/citizenship/)
- [living wage](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/living-wage/)
- [Peter Thiel](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/peter-thiel/)
- [ethiopia](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/ethiopia/)
- [belonging](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/belonging/)
- [space](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/space/)
- [succession](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/succession/)
- [sacred values](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/sacred-values/)
- [black lives matter](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/black-lives-matter/)
- [end of year letter](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/end-of-year-letter/)
- [analytic cognition](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/analytic-cognition/)
- [holistic cognition](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/holistic-cognition/)
- [thinking style](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/thinking-style/)
- [Zoom fatigue](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/zoom-fatigue/)
- [virtual reality](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/virtual-reality/)
- [union](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/union/)
- [labor movement](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/labor-movement/)
- [moral autonomy](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/moral-autonomy/)
- [shopify](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/shopify/)
- [Coca Cola](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/coca-cola/)
- [olympics](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/olympics/)
- [social status](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/social-status/)
- [Netflix](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/netflix/)
- [yuval noah harari](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/yuval-noah-harari/)
- [shipping](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/shipping/)
- [knowledge management](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/knowledge-management/)
- [Tesla](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/tesla/)
- [Levi's](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/levis/)
- [misinformation](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/misinformation/)
- [vladimir putin](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/vladimir-putin/)
- [Kim Stanley Robinson](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/kim-stanley-robinson/)
- [Unilever](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/unilever/)
- [debate](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/debate/)
- [Robby Soave](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/robby-soave/)
- [Ukraine](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/ukraine/)
- [volodymyr zelenskyy](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/volodymyr-zelenskyy/)
- [prison](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/prison/)
- [brilliance](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/brilliance/)
- [competition](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/competition/)
- [jj abrams](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/jj-abrams/)
- [disagreement](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/disagreement/)
- [conflict](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/conflict/)
- [corporate personhood](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/corporate-personhood/)
- [Nina Strohminger](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/nina-strohminger/)
- [world cup](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/world-cup/)
- [qatar](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/qatar/)
- [migrant workers](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/migrant-workers/)
- [elon musk](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/elon-musk/)
- [CEO compensation](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/ceo-compensation/)
- [severance](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/severance/)
- [personal identity](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/personal-identity/)
- [community](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/community/)
- [free expression](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/free-expression/)
- [Hollywood](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/hollywood/)
- [Sony](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/sony/)
- [Spider-Man](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/spider-man/)
- [geopolitics](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/geopolitics/)
- [performance reviews](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/performance-reviews/)
- [police culture](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/police-culture/)
- [statelessness](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/statelessness/)
- [partner-choice theory](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/partner-choice-theory/)
- [signaling theory](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/signaling-theory/)
- [game theory](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/game-theory/)
- [evolution](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/evolution/)
- [blood donation](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/blood-donation/)
- [YouTube](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/youtube/)
- [content moderation](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/content-moderation/)
- [storytelling](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/storytelling/)
- [Xinjiang](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/xinjiang/)
- [Uyghurs](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/uyghurs/)
- [workers' rights](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/workers-rights/)
- [International Labor Organization](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/international-labor-organization/)
- [net zero](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/net-zero/)
- [moral injury](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/moral-injury/)
- [trauma](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/trauma/)
- [russia](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/russia/)
- [oligarchs](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/oligarchs/)
- [corporate tax](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/corporate-tax/)
- [cash bail](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/cash-bail/)
- [capital markets](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/capital-markets/)
- [climate finance](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/climate-finance/)
- [procrastination](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/procrastination/)
- [The Economist](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/the-economist/)
- [cybersecurity](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/cybersecurity/)
- [Twitter](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/twitter/)
- [labor rights](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/labor-rights/)
- [fashion week](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/fashion-week/)
- [Alex Honnold](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/alex-honnold/)
- [long now](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/long-now/)
- [solidarity](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/solidarity/)
- [bystander effect](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/bystander-effect/)
- [bank robbery](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/bank-robbery/)
- [cop 27](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/cop-27/)
- [burnout](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/burnout/)
- [sexual harassment](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/sexual-harassment/)
- [power](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/power/)
- [FTX](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/ftx/)
- [effective altruism](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/effective-altruism/)
- [sam bankman-fried](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/sam-bankman-fried/)
- [World Cup 2022](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/world-cup-2022/)
- [hybrid teams](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/hybrid-teams/)
- [slack](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/slack/)
- [global recession](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/global-recession/)
- [north korea](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/north-korea/)
- [Washington post](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/washington-post/)
- [nuclear war](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/nuclear-war/)
- [solar energy](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/solar-energy/)
- [Hugo Mercier](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/hugo-mercier/)
- [Joseph Goebbels](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/joseph-goebbels/)
- [narrative](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/narrative/)
- [layoffs](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/layoffs/)
- [tech](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/tech/)
- [TikTok](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/tiktok/)
- [elections](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/elections/)
- [role design](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/role-design/)
- [Tim Ferriss](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/tim-ferriss/)
- [data science](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/data-science/)
- [fossil fuels](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/fossil-fuels/)
- [disruption](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/disruption/)
- [ritual](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/ritual/)
- [strike](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/strike/)
- [estonia](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/estonia/)
- [Tristan Harris](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/tristan-harris/)
- [Your Undivided Attention](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/your-undivided-attention/)
- [The Office](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/the-office/)
- [Congo](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/congo/)
- [cobalt](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/cobalt/)
- [electric cars](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/electric-cars/)
- [dark triad](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/dark-triad/)
- [quiet quitting](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/quiet-quitting/)
- [Yo-Yo Ma](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/yo-yo-ma/)
- [asylum](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/asylum/)
- [woke capitalism](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/woke-capitalism/)
- [cohesion](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/cohesion/)
- [Rana Plaza collapse](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/rana-plaza-collapse/)
- [criminal governance](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/criminal-governance/)
- [planned obsolescence](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/planned-obsolescence/)
- [greenwashing](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/greenwashing/)
- [empathetic leadership](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/empathetic-leadership/)
- [Adam Smith](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/adam-smith/)
- [Chobani](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/chobani/)
- [DEI](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/dei/)
- [affirmative action](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/affirmative-action/)
- [values](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/values/)
- [activism](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/activism/)
- [American flag](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/american-flag/)
- [patriotism](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/patriotism/)
- [CSO](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/cso/)
- [salesforce](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/salesforce/)
- [political polarization](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/political-polarization/)
- [positive psychology](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/positive-psychology/)
- [positive organizational psychology](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/positive-organizational-psychology/)
- [psychological safety](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/psychological-safety/)
- [ETHICAL SYSTEMS UPDATES](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/ethical-systems-updates/)
- [ICGE](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/icge/)
- [Speaker Series](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/tag/speaker-series/)

## Stats Types

- [view](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/wpa-stats-type/view/)
- [Safari](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/wpa-stats-type/safari/)
- [Macintosh](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/wpa-stats-type/macintosh/)
- [unknown](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/wpa-stats-type/unknown/)
- [iPhone](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/wpa-stats-type/iphone/)
- [Chrome](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/wpa-stats-type/chrome/)
- [Linux](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/wpa-stats-type/linux/)
- [Windows](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/wpa-stats-type/windows/)
- [Android](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/wpa-stats-type/android/)
- [Opera](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/wpa-stats-type/opera/)
- [Firefox](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/wpa-stats-type/firefox/)
- [Samsung Browser](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/wpa-stats-type/samsung-browser/)
- [Android Browser](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/wpa-stats-type/android-browser/)
- [FreeBSD](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/wpa-stats-type/freebsd/)
- [Amazon Silk](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/wpa-stats-type/amazon-silk/)
- [Fire OS](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/wpa-stats-type/fire-os/)
- [Microsoft Edge](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/wpa-stats-type/microsoft-edge/)
- [iPad](https://www.ethicalsystems.org/wpa-stats-type/ipad/)