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Markkula Center for Applied Ethics

Business Ethics

The Markkula Center for Applied Ethics explores ethical issues in global business, leadership, executive compensation, ESG (environment, social, governance) and DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion), and other areas of business ethics.

What Is Business Ethics?

by Ann Skeet, senior director, leadership ethics at the Markkula Center for Applied Ethics at Santa Clara University.

Business ethics is the application of moral reasoning to matters that arise in corporate life.  Ethics is about the conditions that support human flourishing; business ethics considers how humans flourish both in business settings and as a result of actions that organizations take.

In the study of ethics, context matters.  Ethical business behavior is considered in the context in which companies operate, both within their industries, their countries, and globally.

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Institute for Technology, Ethics, and Culture

The mission of the Institute for Technology, Ethics, and Culture (ITEC) is to “convene a collaborative and creative space for interfaith, cross-cultural, and cross-functional thought leaders to harness good will, to improve our world and to allow the human spirit to flourish through digital and smart technologies.”

Access ITEC Resources

Business Ethics Resources
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Navigate here to Business Ethics Articles

Articles on corporate governance, organizational ethics, creating an ethical culture, leadership, and global business ethics.


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Navigate here to Business Ethics Cases

Ethics case studies on bribery, sourcing, intellectual property, downsizing, and other topics in business ethics, corporate governance, and ethical leadership.


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Navigate here to Business Ethics Resources

Resources on business ethics including material on corporate governance, global business ethics, and leadership.


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Navigate here to Business Ethics Videos

Webinar recordings and interviews with Silicon Valley executives covering topics from corporate governance to why good people do bad things.


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Business Ethics Internships

Santa Clara University students are placed in Ethics and Compliance or ESG positions at major companies in Silicon Valley such as Intel, Adobe, Cadence, KLA, and Marvell.

Learn About the Business Ethics Internship

Resources for Managing Corporate Culture

A collection of resources sharing research and practical approaches to addressing the ethical challenges inherent in creating healthy, anti-racist, inclusive organizations.  We help managers understand what they need to do to create the kind of culture built on values, void of toxicity, and viable for the diversity represented in today's workforce.

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Teaching Note: Interview of Theranos Whistleblower, Tyler Shultz

This teaching module for business ethics, leadership, and management courses includes two videos, homework assignments, and class discussion, all designed to spark conversation about ethical issues associated with whistleblowers and corporate governance.

Download the Theranos Teaching Note

Benison: The Practice of Ethical Leadership
Voting for Human Flourishing. Voting for Ethics book jacket. American Leadership Forum Silicon Valley

Increasingly, people’s identities are wrapped up with their politics, reinforcing the sense that we are part of tribes that cannot find common ground. Ethics can be that common ground.

A phone with several AI apps installed. Photo by Solen Feyissa/Pexels.

The headlines this election cycle have been dominated by unprecedented events, it’s no wonder other important political developments have been drowned out, including the steady drip of artificial intelligence-enhanced attempts to influence voters.

A ramp worker walks near one of two CFM International LEAP-1B engines on a Boeing 737-9 Max airplane Monday, March 1, 2021, at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport in Seattle. Photo by Ted S. Warren_AP Photo.

Stockholders pay the price when executives and directors choose profits over ethics.

President Joe Biden smiles during his first official press conference Thursday, March 25, 2021, in the East Room of the White House. (Official White House Photo by Adam Schultz)

Is it ethical for President Biden to stay in the race, given the concerns his performance sparked in the recent debate? In this case, matters of ethics and strategy are intertwined.

Trends in Business Ethics

Ethics and compliance are different things, says Ann Skeet, senior director, leadership ethics. Analyzing trends in business ethics, Skeet points to a new interest in human rights concerns, a growth in representation of diverse stakeholders, and new metrics, such as ESG, which measures a business' environment, sustainability, and governance practices.

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Workplace Diversity Dialogues

Diversity and inclusion problems in Silicon Valley organizations are solvable if the issues are considered as ethical dilemmas. Find resources, articles, videos, and blog posts about diversity and inclusion here.

Explore Diversity and Inclusion Resources

Leadership and Business Ethics Council

As ethical issues in business and leadership are increasingly relevant to today’s climate this team of professionals from public, private, and nonprofit sectors collaborates with the Ethics Center to identify and prioritize complex issues.

Meet the Leadership and Business Ethics Council

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An Industry Leader in Ethics Consultation

For more than 35 years, the Ethics Center has helped individuals and organizations make better decisions and includes offering fee-for-service options for organizations that want a customized approach to building training programs, case studies, and other materials.

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