Ethics advocates select winners of College of Management’s third annual Ethics Competition

April 19, 2007 - The use of radio frequency ID systems (RFID) is growing rapidly in the retail industry. It also is presenting ethical dilemmas for companies implementing the systems, ranging from data security issues to assuring equal access to the systems regardless of the size of the company.

Students competing in the College of Management's Third Annual Ethics Competition on April 18 had a chance to discuss the issues in depth with industry practitioners, but not until they first completed their case presentations for judging.

Five teams of undergraduate students presented their responses to the challenge of how to assure "Business Ethics Excellence for RFID [in the retail industry]." The first place prize went to the team comprised of Josh Absher, Lesley Lumbu, Eileen Collins and Kim Strikol [left to right in photo 1 below] received first place for their presentation. They shared the $500 prize award for first place.

Second place went to the team represented at the competition by London White. He presented a summary of the work completed for the competition with his team members, and will be sharing his cash award with his teammates. They are sharing the $350 in prize award. [photo two below]

Third place went to the team comprised of Matt Gardner, Dale Chen, and Andre Little, and they are sharing a $150 prize award. [photo three below]

Two teams received certificates of recognition. Their members are: Rohn Knowles, Jennifer Borowoski, Erin Kusmez, William Baskervill, William Witt and Ryan Morris. [photo four below]

The team presentations were judged by:

• David Hasler, senior director of merchandising finance for Wal-Mart, who flew in from Bentonville, Ark., to participate;
• Rob Thompson, public interest advocate with the North Carolina Public Interest Research Group, Raleigh;
• Jacob Blass, president of Ethical Advocate, a Chapel Hill-based firm that provides a method for companies’ employees and stakeholders to anonymously report any form of malfeance in te company as well as a system for companies to use in analyzing their exposure to risk; and
• Greg Young, associate professor of business management and faculty advisor for the Ethics Society, which presents the annual competition. [not in photo]
   

The compettion was sponsored by the BB&T Leadership Development Fund.

When asked why he participated as judge, Blass said, “The benefit is in understanding how the values and ethics that (employees) bring to the workplace profoundly influence the workplace, its culture and what it accomplishes. If there’s any way that my presence is able to assist students in functioning not only excellently but also ethically, then it’s certainly a very valuable use of time.”

Hasler said that RFID "is a new technology that could take off very quickly. It has the potential to do so many things that its important to define the ethical use now. Then, when we get to those crossroads, we already know what to do."

In judging the student presentations, he said, "I was looking for an understanding of the technology and a comprehension of the many ethical questions it can generate. Most importantly, I wanted to see if the students had viable ideas to mitigate the many ethical concerns."

He added that "It is important to note that these kinds of activities - ethics case competition, entrepreneurship case competition - are very important to preparing student for the real world."

The competition was sponsored this year by the BB&T Leadership Development Fund.

Student photos

Members of the first place team are Josh Absher, Lesley Lumbu, Eileen Collins and Kim Strikol.

London White presented his team's case and earned second place. Also on his team are Patrick Barbeau and Grayson Hawkins.

Members of the team earning third place are Matt Gardner, Dale Chen, and Andre Little.

 

 

 

 

 

Receiving certificates of participation are Rohn Knowles, Jennifer Borowoski, Erin Kusmez, William Baskervill, William Witt and Ryan Morris.