Where Are the Marketing Ethics Courses?

Renato Ganoza (cc)

Many of the challenges facing today’s businesses — such as advertising claims, consumer protection, and product quality — are marketing ethics issues. So why do so few university business programs offer standalone marketing ethics courses? In a study published in the Journal of Marketing Education, authors O. C. Ferrell of the University of New Mexico and Dawn L. Keig of Brenau University examine this problem, offer recommendations and explain why we need to start educating our future business leaders on marketing ethics:

It is important that students understand that marketing ethics is just not philanthropic activities, sustainability, and social responsibility. Although these are important topics, few companies engage in serious misconduct while trying to carry out these activities. On the other hand, marketing ethics and social responsibility are complementary concepts. Marketing ethics relates to decision making consistent with legal compliance, organizational policies, and stakeholder relationships. Social responsibility relates to evaluations about contributions to the economic and social common good of society. Ethics becomes important as it is embedded in daily decisions related directly to functional areas of decision making.

Continue reading “The Marketing Ethics Course: Current State and Future Directions” in the Journal of Marketing Education.