The Moral Maze
Tue, 05 Jul 2016 10:02:00 BST
Dean of the Business School, Professor Chris Cowton, has featured in a well known national radio programme as an expert on business ethics.
The Moral Maze is a live discussion programme on BBC Radio 4 usually chaired by veteran broadcaster Michael Buerk. Four regular panellists discuss moral and ethical issues raised by a recent news story. The chair introduces the topic, then a series of expert 'witnesses' are questioned by the panellists, who then discuss what each witness has said.
Professor Chris Cowton was invited to be a witness on an episode entitled "The Morality of Business" on 8th June 2016. The programme was prompted by the collapse of BHS with the loss of 11,000 jobs and a large hole in its pension fund, and by admissions by Sports Direct owner Mike Ashley. Ashley had earlier told MPs that workers at its Derbyshire warehouse were paid below the minimum wage, and that the company policy of fining staff for being late was indeed unacceptable. Professor Cowton was subject to a wide range of questions from panellists Giles Fraser and Matthew Taylor. "It was a really interesting, not to say somewhat manic, experience," commented Chris. "I was aware of the recent news and general issues, but until the panellists spoke, I had no real idea of what they were going to ask me on live, national radio. It was a little daunting, but I enjoyed it. I just hope something of what I said made sense to the listeners."
The programme can be listened to here. Professor Cowton appears about 17 minutes in.
