Best Business Web Sites: Business Ethics
Sponsored by the BRASS Education Committee
Business Ethics & Corporate Social Responsibility
by John Eric Juricek
University of Southern California
juricek@usc.edu
STARTING POINT
International Business Ethics Institute (IBEI): Business Ethics Primer
http://www.businessâÂÂethics.org/primer.asp
An excellent introduction to business ethics and corporate responsibility, this primer defines key terms and concepts and provides helpful background information. The Institute promotes business ethics and
corporate responsibility through educational resources and activities such as the Roundtable Discussion Series and the International Business Ethics Review. See also their helpful link for “Resources.”
COMPANY RANKINGS AND ANALYSIS
“100 Best Corporate Citizens 2009”
http://www.thecro.com/100best09
This annual list is edited by Corporate Responsibility Officer magazine and ranks companies based on how well they perform in eight categories. The scores draw on both financial information and measures
of corporate social performance. The financial component is based upon annualized 3âÂÂyear shareholder return. Environmental, social and governance performance ratings are based upon KLD’s SOCRATES database of US company analysis.
“2009 World’s Most Ethical Companies”
http://ethisphere.com/rankingsâÂÂandâÂÂratings/
This ranking is produced by the Ethisphere Institute, an international thinkâÂÂtank dedicated to the creation, advancement and sharing of best practices in business ethics, corporate social responsibility,
antiâÂÂcorruption and sustainability. The Institute’s associated membership group, the Ethisphere Council, is a forum for business ethics that includes over 200 leading corporations, universities and institutions.
Business & Human Rights Resource Centre
http://www.businessâÂÂhumanrights.org/
An independent, international nonprofit organization which features information on over 4,000 companies, more than 180 countries, and hundreds of issues and topics. The website provides links to
thousands of publications, reports, and guides, including reports of corporate misconduct as well as extensive lists of related sites.
CorpWatch
http://www.corpwatch.org/
A nonprofit research group which provides critical commentary and investigative reporting on companies and industries around the world. They seek to “expose multinational corporations that
profit from war, fraud, environmental, human rights and other abuses, and to provide critical information to foster a more informed public and an effective democracy.”
RESEARCH AND ADVOCACY ORGANIZATIONS
Ethics Resource Center (ERC)
http://www.ethics.org/
An 87âÂÂyear old nonprofit, nonpartisan research organization dedicated to independent research that advances high ethical standards and practices in public and private institutions, ERC is the home of the
biennial National Business Ethics Survey, the most exacting longitudinal research effort examining organizational ethics from the employee perspective.
Eldis: Corporate Responsibility Resource Guide
http://www.eldis.org/csr/index.htm
Eldis provides news, reports and information on international development issues and maintains an excellent resource guide on corporate responsibility. Eldis, formerly the Electronic Development and
Environment Information System, is one of a family of knowledge services from the Institute of Development Studies, Sussex (UK).
Institute for Global Ethics
http://www.globalethics.org
The Institute promotes ethical behavior and integrity in schools, corporations and governments through research and programming. It includes the Center for Corporate Ethics which provides consulting
services to businesses including “ethical fitness” training.
Business for Social Responsibility (BSR)
http://www.bsr.org/
BSR is an international organization which works with its global network of more than 250 member companies to develop sustainable business strategies and solutions through consulting, research, and
crossâÂÂsector collaboration. See their links for “Research” and “Resources.”
ETHICAL INVESTING
Social Investment Forum
http://www.socialinvest.org/
An association dedicated to advancing the practice and growth of socially responsible investing. Forum members provide portfolio selection analysis, shareholder advocacy and community investing. The link
for “Research & Tools” provides excellent overviews, fact sheets and research reports.
SCHOLARLY AND ACADEMIC ORGANIZATIONS
BELL: The Business Ethics Links Library
http://libnet.colorado.edu/Bell/
A rich site from the University of Colorado with a searchable database and links to codes of ethics for U.S. companies and trade and professional associations, ethics sites at universities, industry information
and company promotion of social responsibility covering such topics as arts assistance, environmental clean up, charitable giving and community programming.
Society for Business Ethics
http://www.societyforbusinessethics.org/
An international organization of scholars and others interested in business ethics, the Society provides a forum for those interested in research, teaching, or the practical application of ethical principles and
concepts to the management of businesses. The Society also publishes the scholarly journal Business Ethics Quarterly and provides lists of experts and job openings.
CasePlace
http://www.caseplace.org/
A resource for case studies, syllabi and innovative teaching materials on business and sustainability— from corporate governance to sustainable development, CasePlace is an initiative of the Aspen
Institute’s Center for Business Education which also sponsors the Beyond Grey Pinstripes report on MBA programs.
INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
International Labour Organization Business and Social Initiatives Database
http://www.ilo.org/dyn/basi/VpiSearch.Main
This searchable database is available through the Multinational Enterprises unit of the International Labour Organization and provides links and documents relating to ethical issues in the areas of labor,
employment and corporate social responsibility around the world.
United Nations Global Compact
http://www.unglobalcompact.org/
A strategic policy initiative for businesses that are committed to aligning their operations and strategies with ten universally accepted principles in the areas of human rights, labor, environment and anticorruption.The ten principles are derived from The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Labour Organization's Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work, the Rio
Declaration on Environment and Development and the United Nations Convention Against Corruption.
List originally compiled by Judith Faust, California State University, Hayward.
Previously maintained by Irene Weiner, Baker University, Baldwin City, Kansas.
Sponsored by the BRASS Education Committee
