How Consumers Perceive the Ethical Conduct of Businesses and their Managers

Abstract

Over the last twenty years, corporate responsibility and ethical standards have been under fire. We have seen the Enrons and Worldcoms lose their standing in the corporate world because of unethical behavior by their managers. This research will evaluate why it is important for all organizations to be ethical in all of their dealings and what needs to be done in the future to ensure that a viable organization will survive for the future in the global economy. This research is a case study based on a literature review of what constitutes corporate social responsibility and how the public views organizations and their management as it pertains to ethical standards. A survey asking consumers in Hawaii how they perceive organizations and how they perceive the ethical behavior of an organization and its leaders was conducted, as well.