Abstract
Mary Gentile’s Giving Voice
to Values presents an approach to ethics training based on the idea that most people would like to provide input in times of ethical
conflict using their own values. She maintains that people recognize the lapses in organizational ethical judgment and behavior,
but they do not have the courage to step up and voice their values to prevent the misconduct. Gentile has developed a successful
initiative and following based on encouraging students and employees to learn how to engage in communication or action to
express their values within an organization’s formal and informal value system. The purpose of this analysis is to examine
the Giving Voice to Values approach to empowering the individual to take action to deal with lapses in organizational ethics.
We examine the role of Giving Voice to Values in business ethics education, considerations for implementing GVV, and recommendations
for business educators and corporate ethics officers. We conclude that while GVV is an effective tool, it is not a comprehensive
or holistic approach to ethics education and organizational ethics programs.
to Values presents an approach to ethics training based on the idea that most people would like to provide input in times of ethical
conflict using their own values. She maintains that people recognize the lapses in organizational ethical judgment and behavior,
but they do not have the courage to step up and voice their values to prevent the misconduct. Gentile has developed a successful
initiative and following based on encouraging students and employees to learn how to engage in communication or action to
express their values within an organization’s formal and informal value system. The purpose of this analysis is to examine
the Giving Voice to Values approach to empowering the individual to take action to deal with lapses in organizational ethics.
We examine the role of Giving Voice to Values in business ethics education, considerations for implementing GVV, and recommendations
for business educators and corporate ethics officers. We conclude that while GVV is an effective tool, it is not a comprehensive
or holistic approach to ethics education and organizational ethics programs.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Pages 1-19
- DOI 10.1007/s10805-012-9168-1
- Authors
- Tracy L. Gonzalez-Padron, Marketing & International Business, University of Colorado-Colorado Springs, Colorado Springs, CO, USA
- O. C. Ferrell, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA
- Linda Ferrell, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA
- Ian A. Smith, Loyola University New Orleans, New Orleans, LA, USA
- Journal Journal of Academic Ethics
- Online ISSN 1572-8544
- Print ISSN 1570-1727