Ryerson MBA

Colin Kee and Matt Lindzon (Vice-President Finance and President respectively) in the 2011-12 MBA Student Association identified the need, established a CSR committee and played critical roles in this initiative. Almost two years after the initial class discussion, 41 incoming students took the CSR Pledge and 54 graduates signed the Ted Rogers School of Management MBA Oath. Here’s how this movement began.

Back in 2009, the graduating class at Harvard University created a voluntary pledge for MBA students and graduates whose purpose was to “create value responsibly and ethically”. Since then, the MBA Oath has accumulated over 6,000 signatures and has been embraced by over 300 institutions world-wide.

Here, at Ryerson, we value business ethics and CSR issues very highly, but felt that we needed something to reflect the Canadian and Ryerson situation as well as a distinction between an oath and a pledge. The MBA CSR Committee came together and created the Ted Rogers School of Management Oath/CSR Pledge duo that was adopted by the incoming class and graduating students. This idea was positively received by the MBA department and fully supported by our Dean’s office. We were delighted to get invited in front of the Ryerson Senate Priorities Committee to present and discuss the implementation of this initiative across all faculties.

The purpose of the CSR Pledge is to create student awareness and a commitment to learning about corporate social responsibility issue and business ethics throughout the Ryerson business education experience. This stems from recognition that the social responsibility dimensions of business affect all Canadians at multiple levels (i.e. individuals, students, consumers, citizens, taxpayers, etc.). The pledge is presented to students during orientation at the beginning of the program, encouraging them to learn about, understand and incorporate socially responsible values in their educational pursuit.

The Ted Rogers School of Management Oath on the other hand, is a commitment to adhering to ethical values in the business world. It is relevant to graduating MBA students as they complete their studies at Ryerson University and enter the business world as the managers of tomorrow. We wanted a product that was timely so the Harvard MBA Oath was adopted for this purpose, but a preamble was added to reflect the Canadian situation and Ryerson’s learning objectives. By signing the oath, Ryerson MBA students are making a commitment in line with the global movement towards responsible business conduct.

Since initiating the Pledge and the Oath, the MBA CSR Committee has received positive feedback from peers, faculty and Ryerson administration. We believe that it truly reflects our values and the commitment of our MBA program here at Ryerson University. We look forward to using the information learned throughout the program from classes and each other, to shape and guide our ethical efforts as managers in the future. We hope to have also inspired MBAs from past classes and from our sister programs at other universities to adopt an ethical framework to their decision-making criteria, thus promoting corporate socially responsible values in their respective organizations.

For more information on this initiative, feel free to contact Andra Popescu

Ryerson University Ted Rogers School of Management Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Oath with Preamble

• Whereas the Supreme Court of Canada has held that directors of public corporations owe a duty to act in the best interests of the corporation, which includes a duty to treat individual stakeholders affected by corporate actions equitably and fairly in keeping with the corporation’s duties as a responsible corporate citizen;
• Whereas the Supreme Court of Canada has held that, in determining whether they are acting with a view to the best interests of a corporation, directors are entitled to consider the interests of communities, the environment, workers and other stakeholders, and not just shareholders where the circumstances warrant;
• Whereas Canadian law embodies the ethical values of honesty and integrity, and the importance of keeping commitments, in all business activity;
• Whereas the objects of the University, as stated in the Ryerson University Act include the advancement of learning, and the intellectual, social, moral development of the University's students and the betterment of society and the advancement of applied knowledge and research in response to existing and emerging societal needs;
• Whereas a stated learning goal of the Ryerson University’s Ted Rogers School of Management is that students will be able to “recognize and analyze ethical problems in order to choose and defend appropriate resolutions”;
• Whereas a failure of a Ryerson TRSM graduate to uphold Canadian law and to meet the values enshrined in this preamble and oath would be damaging to the reputation of the individual student, the business for which the individual operates, the Ryerson Ted Rogers School of Management, its Bachelor of Commerce and MBA/MMSc programs, and Ryerson University as a whole,
  

Therefore a Ryerson TRSM graduate agrees to the following Corporate Social Responsibility Oath, which is aligned with the Harvard MBA Oath. 

The Ryerson University TRSM Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Oath.

As a graduate of the Ted Rogers School of Management Master of Business Administration or Master of Management Science program, in the eyes of my peers and community, I make this Ryerson University TRSM CSR Oath, to help guide my future decisions:

• As a business leader I recognize my role in society my purpose is to lead people and manage resources to create value that no single individual can create alone.
• My decisions affect the well-being of individuals inside and outside my enterprise, today and tomorrow. Therefore, I promise that:
• I will manage my enterprise with loyalty and care, and will not advance my personal interests at the expense of my enterprise or society.
• I will ensure to the best of my abilities that the pursuit of shareholder growth is done in a socially responsible way, taking into account the interests of other stakeholders.
• I will understand and uphold, in letter and spirit, the laws and contracts governing my conduct and that of my enterprise.
• I will refrain from corruption, unfair competition, or business practices harmful to society.
• I will protect the human rights and dignity of all people affected by my enterprise, and I will oppose discrimination and exploitation.
• I will protect the right of future generations to advance their standard of living and enjoy a healthy planet.
• I will report the performance and risks of my enterprise accurately and honestly.
• I will invest in developing myself and others, helping the management profession continue to advance and create sustainable and inclusive prosperity.

 In exercising my professional duties according to these principles, I recognize that my behavior must set an example of integrity, eliciting trust and esteem from those I serve. I will remain accountable to my peers and to society for my actions and for upholding these standards. This oath I make freely, and upon my honour!