Between Business Utilitarianism and Environmental Responsibility:Eco-Moral Analysis of Decision Making Process Among Mba Students in Tau

The incline in environmental awareness in Israel over the last few years brought to the surface questions regarding the nature of businesses-environment interaction. During the last century, our planet experienced several major environmental disasters which were caused by unaware, or irresponsible, industrial activities. After human society has turned its back on nature, and the delicate balance between the two was undermined, it was civil society’s call for action which brought the social and ecological systems back together. In present social-economic-political reality, the most influencing sector on the environment is the business sector. This sector is the main consumer of planet's natural recourses (in order to create its products), as well as its sink services (in order to absorb waste and pollution). On the other hand, environmental call is almost never heard from this sector.

 

One of the main characteristics of the business sector is the fact that almost all business/industrial organizations are of hierarchic structure, which means that the decision making power is concentrated at the vertex of the organization pyramid, that is, in the hands of the managerial layer. Being a member of this group is considered prestigious, and is being studied at the academy in various learning programs. The key program for management studies is an M.B.A. program. Working under the assumption that managers acquire their professional skills during their academic experiences, this paper examines whether environmental considerations are taken as part of the decision-making process among M.B.A. students.