International Forum 

Vol. 16, No. 1

April 2013

ISSN:0119-2000

Avoiding Ethical Pitfalls: A Cross-Case Study of the Global Financial Crisis and the Seventh-day Adventist Church
 

Abstract. Some researchers argue that the financial crisis in Europe
and the United States (US) was triggered by ethical pitfalls, and that
this crisis is now globally affecting developing countries. The
purpose of this paper is twofold. First, to explore whether the ethical
pitfalls that caused the Global Financial Crisis (GFC) in the US and
Europe are seen also in the Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) Church.
Second, to create an opportunity for a renewed sense of responsibility
to abide by policies and codes of conduct, and create an opportunity
to rethink the corporate governance structure of the SDA Church.
From the qualitative approach of a cross-case study, data was
collected from leaders of the SDA Church using a focus group
interview. Triangulation of data was done through email-interviews
and document analysis. This study reached two major conclusions.
First, similar ethical pitfalls occur in the GFC in the US and Europe
and the SDA Church. Second, the ethical pitfalls can be avoided by a
virtuous personal example and spirituality as starting points. The
paper ends with recommendations for future research.

 

Keywords: Global financial crisis, corporate governance, qualitative study, developing countries, business ethics

 

Carlos Ernesto Biaggi, PhD Student
Business Department
Adventist International Institute of Advanced Studies
Silang, Cavite, Philippines

  

 

 

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