Critical thinking in business education: current outlook and future prospects

Abstract

This study investigates all available literature related to critical thinking in business education in a survey of publications in the field produced from 1990-2019. It conducts a thematic analysis of 787 articles found in Web of Science and Google Scholar, including a specific focus on 55 highly-cited articles. The aim is to investigate the importance of critical thinking in business education, how it is conceptualised in business education research, the business contexts in which critical thinking is situated, and the key and more marginal themes related to critical thinking outlined in the business and business education literature. The paper outlines six key areas and topics associated with those areas. It suggests future directions for further scholarly work in the area of critical thinking in business education.

Ethical behavior perceptions in Russia: Do ethics‐related programs and individual characteristics matter?

“…These findings are consistent with suggestion by Ludlum and Moskaloinov (2005) that most students felt that ethical behavior depends on cultural diversity. Finally, our findings are consistent with conclusions by Calma and Davies (2020) ethics‐related programs' components “do not compete with each other; quite the opposite, their power to enhance employee ethical behavior will be activated in cases where they are aligned into an integrated whole” (p. 161).…”

“…During this class, the teacher should identify students' sensitivity to ethical issues and attitudes concerning ethical standards. According to Calma and Davies (2020), “some of the practice‐based examples that foster critical thinking in business education that we have seen include: simulating how managers analyze problems, determining how managerial decision‐making processes influence team members, and working out how various sources of information are used to inform commercial decisions” (p. 12). The business ethics class should increase familiarity with the concepts and theories of ethics and increase understanding of the ethical standards.…”

“…The business ethics class should increase familiarity with the concepts and theories of ethics and increase understanding of the ethical standards. Many researchers (Calma & Davies, 2020; Doyle, 2019; Ermasova et al., 2017; Green, 2019; Hummel et al., 2018; Maclagan & Campbell, 2011; McEwen, 1994; McWilliams & Nahavandi, 2006; Mendes, 2019; Root, 2018) suggest using critical thinking as best way for students to learn to navigate ethical issues in increasingly complex business environments. Gröschl and Gabaldon (2018) highlight “that complex and pressing global socio‐economic and environmental challenges will depend heavily on current and future graduates of our business schools and on the business education that they receive” (p. 193).…”

“…Many authors reveal that ethical behavior perceptions are not universally shared around the world (Ardichvili et al., 2009, 2010, 2012; Bailey & Spicer, 2007; Cavico & Mujtaba, 2009; Danon‐Leva et al., 2010; Ermasova et al., 2017; Farazmand, 2017; Ford & Richardson, 1994; Jaffe et al., 2018; Jaffe & Tsimerman, 2005; McCarthy & Puffer, 2008, 2013; Morgan & Neal, 2011; Robertson et al., 2003, 2008). There are extensive studies on ethical behavior and different types of ethical organizational interventions (Burns, 2012; Calma & Davies, 2020; Carlson & Burke, 1998; Cannon, 2001; Ermasova et al., 2017; Ermasova, 2021; Jazani & Ayoobzadeh, 2012; Majluf & Navarrete, 2011; Nguyen et al, 2014; Wang & Calvano, 2015). Christie et al.…”

“…Calma and Davies (2020) found that there is a growing interest in business ethics due to pressure for businesses to engage in fair and transparent practices and “a greater sense of responsibility and accountability to customers, stakeholders and the society” (p. 8). Many scholars (Calabretta et al., 2011; Ermasova, 2021; Linuesa‐Langreo et al., 2019; Ma et al., 2012; Robertson et al., 2008; Uysal, 2010; Wang et al., 2018; Wood, 2017; Xiao & Ma, 2015) proved the differences in the ethical attitudes of people from different cultures.…”