http://www.ajobe.org/currentissue.asp Afr J Bus Ethics 2009 - 4(2) African Journal of Business Ethics Medknow Publications1817-7417 Mollie Painter-Morland Laura J Spence Article African Journal of Business Ethics 2009 4(2):1-6African Journal of Business Ethics http://www.ajobe.org/text.asp?2009/4/2/1/63196 http://www.ajobe.org/text.asp?2009/4/2/1/6319642 1 6 http://www.ajobe.org/text.asp?2009/4/2/1/63196 Mollie Painter-Morland, Laura J Spence

African Journal of Business Ethics 2009 4(2):1-6

]]> Thu,13 May 2010http://www.ajobe.org/text.asp?2009/4/2/1/63196 Mollie Painter-Morland Kris Dobie Article African Journal of Business Ethics 2009 4(2):7-19African Journal of Business Ethics http://www.ajobe.org/text.asp?2009/4/2/7/63197 http://www.ajobe.org/text.asp?2009/4/2/7/6319742 7 19 http://www.ajobe.org/text.asp?2009/4/2/7/63197 Mollie Painter-Morland, Kris Dobie

African Journal of Business Ethics 2009 4(2):7-19

In this paper, we explore the role ethics plays in African SMEs. We looked specifically at the role that relationships between SMEs and their stakeholders play in enabling or foreclosing the possibility of ethical business practices. We argue that certain relationships, such as those between SMEs, suppliers, employees and local communities, can be described as enabling. Other relationships, such as those with corrupt governments, are contaminating. What seems to be needed is to expand on and strengthen certain constraining relationships, such as those that exist between peers within a certain industry, professional associations, and civil society.]]> Thu,13 May 2010http://www.ajobe.org/text.asp?2009/4/2/7/63197 Laura J Spence Francesco Perrini Article African Journal of Business Ethics 2009 4(2):20-31African Journal of Business Ethics http://www.ajobe.org/text.asp?2009/4/2/20/63198 http://www.ajobe.org/text.asp?2009/4/2/20/6319842 20 31 http://www.ajobe.org/text.asp?2009/4/2/20/63198 Laura J Spence, Francesco Perrini

African Journal of Business Ethics 2009 4(2):20-31

In this paper we outline the status quo of ethics and social responsibility in small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) in the European Union (EU). Social issues and SMEs is an established topic of research and subject of policy-making in Europe, and thus in this paper we are able to draw on existing activities to summarise what we know about the topic. We describe the important position given to SMEs and entrepreneurship as drivers of the economy through job creation, social inclusion and issues such as employee health and welfare. We note that the ethics/social responsibility practices and strategies of SMEs tend to be greater than expected, but are informal and local community-based rather than replicating large firm approaches. To demonstrate the variety within Europe, we provide some nation-specific perspectives on social responsibility and SMEs with a closer look at Denmark, Italy, the UK and central and eastern Europe and the Baltic States.]]> Thu,13 May 2010http://www.ajobe.org/text.asp?2009/4/2/20/63198 Vasanthi Srinivasan Article African Journal of Business Ethics 2009 4(2):32-36African Journal of Business Ethics http://www.ajobe.org/text.asp?2009/4/2/32/63199 http://www.ajobe.org/text.asp?2009/4/2/32/6319942 32 36 http://www.ajobe.org/text.asp?2009/4/2/32/63199 Vasanthi Srinivasan

African Journal of Business Ethics 2009 4(2):32-36

The extant literature on CSR and ethics suggests that there is a need for a greater understanding about SMEs. The role of SMEs in the economic growth and development of emerging countries like India is significant. Given the geographical diversity of India and its high reliance on agriculture, MSMEs (medium, small and micro enterprises) are the lifeline of economic development and growth in future. However, the current state of knowledge and practice in the field of CSR and ethics in SMEs in the Indian context is limited. This paper attempts to outline the state of the SME sector in India, Ethics and CSR practices in MSMEs, and identify the knowledge gaps in the field of CSR and ethics in SMEs in India.]]> Thu,13 May 2010http://www.ajobe.org/text.asp?2009/4/2/32/63199 Maria Cecilia Coutinho de Arruda Article African Journal of Business Ethics 2009 4(2):37-47African Journal of Business Ethics http://www.ajobe.org/text.asp?2009/4/2/37/63200 http://www.ajobe.org/text.asp?2009/4/2/37/6320042 37 47 http://www.ajobe.org/text.asp?2009/4/2/37/63200 Maria Cecilia Coutinho de Arruda

African Journal of Business Ethics 2009 4(2):37-47

Considering the lack of substantive scientific or theoretical studies about ethics in small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) in Latin America, this paper examines the context of an existent paradox, based upon the perspective of experts and academicians of Latin America and the Caribbean. These countries live different realities, due to their respective European cultural influences, as well as to racial and economic issues. Such facts impact the size and characteristics of their industries. On the other hand, the SMEs face more similarities in the region, so they will be treated as a group in the discussion of ethics and corporate social responsibility (CSR) in Latin American SMEs. As this topic has not been sufficiently investigated in this geographic area, the objective of this exploratory study is to offer a contribution for future research. It raises the main dilemmas and intends to explain how legislation and common practices enable and perhaps lead SMEs to choose unethical strategies to survive and compete in the market. These enterprises are growing in number and in job creation, but do not participate in the Gross National Product in the same proportion. Informality, tax evasion and corruption are gradually caused or erode morality in business, but can contribute to corporate social responsibility in the region. The paper tries to show positive and negative aspects of apparently unethical practices and discusses challenging ways to solve complex problems that are common in most Latin America.]]> Thu,13 May 2010http://www.ajobe.org/text.asp?2009/4/2/37/63200 Eva Collins Carolyn Dickie Paull Weber Article African Journal of Business Ethics 2009 4(2):48-55African Journal of Business Ethics http://www.ajobe.org/text.asp?2009/4/2/48/63201 http://www.ajobe.org/text.asp?2009/4/2/48/6320142 48 55 http://www.ajobe.org/text.asp?2009/4/2/48/63201 Eva Collins, Carolyn Dickie, Paull Weber

African Journal of Business Ethics 2009 4(2):48-55

There is a dearth of research on ethics and sustainability related to SMEs in New Zealand and Australia. This paper begins by giving a definition of SMEs in New Zealand and Australia, which both differ somewhat from international definitions. The role of SMEs in New Zealand and Australian society is discussed and a description of one study in each country covering SMEs and sustainability is presented. Both studies found that owner-managers undertake a number of triple bottom line activities, without overtly identifying these actions as sustainable practice. At the same time, both studies showed that an over-riding focus on the financial bottom-line may be a significant barrier to SMEs adopting further sustainability practices. The paper concludes with a call for additional research in the area of ethical and sustainable business practice in SMEs in Australia and New Zealand, identifying some promising areas of future investigation.]]> Thu,13 May 2010http://www.ajobe.org/text.asp?2009/4/2/48/63201 Melissa S Baucus Philip L Cochran Article African Journal of Business Ethics 2009 4(2):56-68African Journal of Business Ethics http://www.ajobe.org/text.asp?2009/4/2/56/63202 http://www.ajobe.org/text.asp?2009/4/2/56/6320242 56 68 http://www.ajobe.org/text.asp?2009/4/2/56/63202 Melissa S Baucus, Philip L Cochran

African Journal of Business Ethics 2009 4(2):56-68

Scholars recognise that entrepreneurs may encounter different ethical issues and pressures than managers in larger corporations. This has fostered empirical research aimed at assessing ethics in entrepreneurial settings in the United States. Our emphasis on empirical research with little attention paid to purely conceptual papers allows us to highlight the narrow definition of entrepreneurship used in the US and how US researchers distinguish between entrepreneurship and other types of small businesses. This differs greatly from many other countries, especially those in which researchers equate entrepreneurship with the study of small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs). Researchers in the US often distinguish ethics from corporate social responsibility (CSR), corporate social performance (CSP), stakeholder theory and stakeholder management with different theoretical models proposed in each of these areas. After discussing these various definitional issues, we review the empirical research on ethics in entrepreneurial firms, discussing what the results tell us, identifying gaps in prior research and concluding with recommendations for future research that draws more heavily on theoretical frameworks in the field of ethics.]]> Thu,13 May 2010http://www.ajobe.org/text.asp?2009/4/2/56/63202