Managing Corporate Ethics: Learning from America's Ethical Companies How to Supercharge Business Performance
In this intriguing book, a Harvard Business School professor argues that "ethical standards, set by top management and fostered throughout the organization, can act to supercharge the engine of corporate performance." Aguilar is less concerned with articulating the specifics of what a company's credo should be than with helping put it in place and making sure it sticks--and he provides numerous policies and case studies that illustrate his proposals. He realizes that no single action is the answer: senior management must develop an ethical sensitivity, but strong business leadership is equally important. "Poor operating performance invites cutting close to the line of acceptable behavior." With senior management on board, he then turns to instituting a broad-based business ethics program and finally to attracting and fostering ethical employees. Aguilar's ideas and arguments are praiseworthy and a valuable addition to the growing literature on business ethics. Illustrations not seen by PW.Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.