·         Where do employees get information when they face a conflict between keeping a competitive edge and maintaining ethical standards?  

Background Information 

Success comes when companies create an innovative and supportive environment for new ideas. Chrysler’s CEO, Robert Eaton, has said, "The only way we can beat the competition is with people." We would add, "And the best way to compete is to train employees with ethics."  

If a company’s goal is to become involved and succeed in the global marketplace, it will hire new employees who are well educated in all aspects of business, especially in business ethics. At the same time, employees who are in the workforce already must continue to learn through professional development opportunities. Ethics is a valuable topic for professional development among business professionals. With a workforce trained and committed to ethics, managers can be assured that ethical behavior and ethical practices will prevail in the workplace. Without training, business employees may engage in unethical business practices – without even knowing it. This chapter is designed to assist in this important training.  

The following presents some background information on ways in which business ethics is taught and learned in two contexts: in formal educational settings, like universities and colleges, and in company-sponsored, on-the-job training programs at work.