Business Students and Ethics: A Cross-cultural Study between the U.S. and Vietnam

摘要

As global trade expands and includes new entrants, such as Vietnam, businesses must learn about values in other cultures. Responses by American and Vietnamese business students to 30 statements regarding ethics were analyzed using a 5-point Likert scale; 22 resulted in significant differences. Overall, U.S. students held higher ethical attitudes toward business than those in Vietnam. Many differences reflected major differences between the two cultures (e.g., emphasis on the group in Vietnam versus the individual in the U.S.). Areas of agreement included valuing honesty, integrity, and morality that exceeds merely making money and complying with laws. The study should interest those doing business with Vietnam, whose Communist government is encouraging some capitalist-style growth.