Article

Universities’ Perceptions and Applications of Business Ethics: Research on the Black Sea Universities Network

Abstract

The main purpose of this research is to examine the business-ethics perceptions of universities belonging
to the Black Sea Universities Network by considering them as organizations and to define the activities,
principles, and codes they adopt or don’t adopt in the field. The population of the research consists of nine
universities registered in the network. Data from online interviews with seven of the universities’ secretarygenerals and assistant secretary-generals and documents provided from these universities’ official web sites have been used as the dataset. The semi-structured interview method has been followed in collecting the interview data. The interview form consists of 10 open-ended questions and is supported by probing questions; the form has not been strictly adhered to during the interviews. The interview data have been analyzed using qualitative content analysis following a deductive approach. The predetermined categories of ethical perceptions, activities and practices of universities on business ethics, and the principles and codes of business ethics were searched in the data. As a result of content analysis, universities have been identified as having inadequate ethical perceptions, four universities to have organized ethical committees, and three universities to have issued directives on business ethics.

Keywords

Perception of business ethics in universities Business ethics Content analysis Document analysis Black Sea Universities Network