Teaching the Common Good in Business Ethics: A Case Study Approach

• Published in: Journal of business ethics Vol. 147; no. 4; pp. 693 - 704
• Main Author: Ryan, Mark R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer 01-02-2018; Springer Netherlands; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Business and Management; Business education; Business Ethics; Case studies; Catholics; Classrooms; Common good; Education; Ethics; Management; Philosophy; Public good; Quality of Life Research; SPECIAL SECTION ARTICLES; Students; Studies; Teaching; Teaching methods; Catholic social teaching; Pope Francis; The common good; Narrative; The Timken Company; Case study instruction; Business ethics
• ISSN: 0167-4544; 1573-0697
• DOI: 10.1007/s10551-016-3303-7

This paper addresses the instructional challenges of teaching business ethics in a way shaped by Catholic Social Teaching (CST). Focusing on the concept of the Common Good in CST, I describe my use of a case narrative in classroom instruction to help students understand the concept of the Common Good and to perceive the variety of ways businesses can serve or undermine the Common Good in a small city. Through these pedagogical explorations, I illustrate the distinctive vision of business ethics that flows from CST.