business ethics the law of rules - harvard university.pdf

Business Ethics The Law of Rules Michael L. Michael Senior Fellow, Mossavar-Rahmani Center for Business and Government John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University March 2006 ⎪Working Paper No. 19 A Working Paper of the: Corporate Social Responsibility Initiative A Cooperative Project among: The Mossavar-Rahmani Center for Business and Government The Center for Public Leadership The Hauser Center for Nonprofit Organizations The Joan Shorenstein Center on the Press, Politics and Public Policy Citation This paper may be cited as: Michael, Michael L. 2006. “Business Ethics: The Law of Rules.” Corporate Social Responsibility Initiative Working Paper No. 19. Cambridge, MA: John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University. Comments may be directed to the author. A version of this paper is forthcoming in 16-4 Business Ethics Quarterly (Oct. 2006). Corporate Social Responsibility Initiative The Corporate Social Responsibility Initiative at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government is a multi-disciplinary and multi-stakeholder program that seeks to study and enhance the public contributions of private enterprise. It explores the intersection of corporate responsibility, corporate governance and strategy, public policy, and the media. It bridges theory and practice, builds leadership skills, and supports constructive dialogue and collaboration among different sectors. It was founded in 2004 with the support of Walter H. Shorenstein, Chevron Corporation, The Coca-Cola Company, and General Motors. The views expressed in this paper are those of the author and do not imply endorsement by the Corporate Social Responsibility Initiative, the John F. Kennedy School of Government, or Harva