Recently, in Time Magazine, there was an article about The Future of Work. In it was an section about Training Managers to Behave by starting in business school.  A small business school out side of Phoenix, Thunderbird School of Global Management, has taken the tact of an Oath of Honor upon graduation. With the assumption that many of today’s financial problems and the Wall Street collapse occurred from Manager and CEOs that were taking less than ethical actions to drive profits, Thunderbird is looking to rethink how they send business school graduates into the world.
Their Oath is:
As a Thunderbird and a global citizen, I promise, I will strive to act with honesty and integrity. I will respect the rights and dignity of all people. I will strive to create sustainable prosperity worldwide. I will oppose all forms of corruption and exploitation. And I will take responsibility for my actions. As I hold true to these principles, it is my hope that I may enjoy an honorable reputation and peace of conscience.
The article inferrs that business schools are focused on getting the highest paying jobs for their graduates and that this needs to change. Apparently, not all their students like it and some have refused to sign or recite this oath at graduation. Makes you wonder if when you’re hiring from business school, or any school, if it’s worth asking about the school’s oath and whether the student participated or not.  The oath certainly isn’t required and not part of their professional, student record, but, would you hire someone who refused to take an ethical oath?
Also see the Thunderbird website.
