5th Annual Business Ethics Essay Contest
 

For the past five years, the College of Business Administration (COBA) has held a Business Ethics Essay Contest for MBA students. The purpose of the contest is to give students a chance to investigate real world business issues and challenges, inspire solutions to these problems and highlight COBA’s outstanding graduate students within the community. 
 

This year’s essay topic was: “What are the objectives of business? What role does ethics play in achieving these objectives? In your opinion, how important is a corporation’s reputation to corporate economic health?” The completed essays are reviewed by three judges.  This year the judges included, Alan Balfour, Chairman of the Department of Management, Sharon Hanna-West, Exide Distinguished Lecturer of Ethics and Sustainability, and George Seegers, USF Executive in Residence and former President and Chief Operating Officer of Citigroup Florida. 
 

Students who participate in the contest receive widespread recognition within the community. The first place winner receives $500, the second place winner receives $300, and third place winner receives $150.  Not only do the winners add to their wallets and resume, but they also have their picture taken with Dean Anderson and displayed in the Graduate Business Association lounge. 
 

The benefits are outstanding, but the competition is fierce. “It’s not an easy assignment,” Hanna-West assures.  Ed Quigley, MBA class of 2007 was this year’s first place winner. He confirms the challenge: “At first I thought writing a 6-8 page essay would be a fairly easy task.  I was wrong.  Developing logical, rational, well-developed arguments to support my major points was a more demanding and time consuming process than I initially envisioned.  Ironically, this process was what I found to be the most beneficial aspect of participating in the contest.” Although it isn’t necessarily easy, the contest is enjoyable because it offers a chance to write about issues in which you are passionate. 
 

The essay challenge not only enables participants to research and learn more about important business issues, but it also instills confidence. Quigley describes how he has benefited from the contest, “Writing the essay forced me to carefully and logically evaluate and refine my views regarding the objective of business and the role of ethics.  This helped further develop my own philosophy of business ethics. I think that given the current business climate, being fortunate enough to win the contest objectively demonstrates my commitment to ethical behavior to current and future employers, colleagues, and customers.” 
 

“It’s a great opportunity to consider business ethics in great detail in an environment with little risk.  The contest allows you to consider the ethical implications of business decisions without external factors influencing your judgment.”

Overall, this competition is an excellent and rewarding experience for business students.  Quigley recommends it to other students without reservation. “It’s a great opportunity to consider business ethics in great detail in an environment with little risk.  The contest allows you to consider the ethical implications of business decisions without external factors influencing your judgment.”
 

Left to Right:  Ed Quigley (1st), Beverly Douglas (3rd)

Dean Robert Anderson, Dr. Sharon Hanna-West, Bill Linton (2nd).