I use the text now in 4 classes at three colleges with excellent results. The students love this book.
I do not know of another text that comes close to it . . .This book is one of the best on the market!
I already utilize the text and my students like it… It has a fairly nice balance between the complexity of the topic and readability and understandability.
For my needs, leadership and ethics, this book delivers in ways that allow me to be an effective instructor on this topic.
The best quality of this text is its emphasis on the leader—casting light or shadow. This theme/metaphor challenges the reader to take stock of him/herself with respect to the metaphor and encourages changes, if necessary, to be a ‘light caster.’
I believe Meeting the Challenges of Ethical Leadership has been a very good basis text for the ethics courses I have taught over the last ten years.
An "ends justifies the meanness" table of leaders and tactics (e.g., media mogul Ted Turner fired his own son) helps introduce the section probing the shadow side of leadership. With case studies and a boxed feature titled "Leadership ethics at the movies," Johnson (communication, interdisciplinary leadership studies, George Fox U., Newberg, OR) provides a provocative analysis of looking inward at leader's character and combating evil; ethical standards, strategies, and theories; and shaping ethical group and organizational contexts. An instructor's manual is available. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
"Excellent material that is appropriate to the time of 2009. "
"Johnson’s revised and expanded edition of this popular and user-friendly textbook continues with the central themes and cases of the first edition, but provides new and relevant examples, original cases studies rooted in recent historical events, and an innovative focus on assessment that should prove helpful to both students and instructors. For readers familiar with the First Edition, this Second Edition is worth the additional investment. Every chapter has at least one new case study and previously cited 126 Book reviews cases have been updated. The relevance and utility of these cases cannot be overstated for they bring a practicality to the text that will make for lively discussion in the classroom.
Journal of Moral Education - Dr Ronald J. Nuzzi
Meeting the Ethical Challenges of Leadership provides a multi-dimensional, evidence-based, approach to ethics leadership illuminating alternative perspectives and providing insights into various worldviews within the context of Parker Palmer’s metaphor. Each chapter applies various evidence-based frameworks for evaluating, interpreting, understanding, communicating and connecting with a diverse learners and knowers. The text aids in providing the context for cultivating ethics leadership and scholarship as a lifelong learner.”
"I found this book to be a very satisfying intellectual and personal experience. While there are lots of books out there about leadership, there is limited in-depth treatment of the ethical dimensions of leadership. I will recommend it to others."
"A practical guide to taking ethical theory and applying that theory to personal and organizational character to make ethics foundational to decision making."
"It is comprehensive and readable. It has many case studies and illustrations of the ideas shared. I have used it for 10 years. It is the best overall book on ethics for leaders."
This is a powerful and complete text that covers the ethical challenges of leadership, and the best ways for leaders to deal with these challenges. This is a must-have text for any course that includes ethics and leadership.
Comprehensive and a must read.
This text is current and cutting edge – a solid read that could spur students to voluntarily further their knowledge on the ethical challenges we face in the broad field of business.
Craig Johnson's book is timely, thought provoking, user friendly, and provides information that is practical for today's professional administrator in training or for those already in the field.
Dr. La Vonne Williams-Fedynich
"The book succeeds on many levels in providing a values orientation to the topic of leadership. The light and shadow metaphor works especially well. I’m also impressed with the rich use of very contemporary examples. I plan to use the book in my introductory leadership class."
"The author is a noted scholar and the references are appropriate and timely . . . the book is interesting, informative, and a useful contribution to the literature of leadership."
Meeting the Ethical Challenges of Leadership challenges students to address the critical foundation of leadership…their character…and to do so in the context of their organization and a global society.
"This book is well organized and explores many unique and thought provoking aspects of ethical leadership. The notion of leader shadows and topics such as forgiveness make this text an essential tool for sparking lively debate from students on the issues of leadership ethics."
This book provides a unique approach to leadership ethics by contrasting how leaders can use their power and influence for good or evil. It is easy to read and understand. It is relevant for any discussion about leadership. The tools such as case studies and self-assessments are valuable in the classroom.”
"This book examines the common character strengths and weaknesses of leaders that directly impact the ethical nature of their decisions and behavior."
Craig Johnson's book is timely, thought provoking, user friendly, and provides information that is practical for today's professional administrator in training or for those already in the field.
Dr. LaVonne Williams-Fedynich
"Johnson’s revised and expanded edition of this popular and user-friendly textbook continues with the central themes and cases of the first edition, but provides new and relevant examples, original cases studies rooted in recent historical events, and an innovative focus on assessment that should prove helpful to both students and instructors. For readers familiar with the First Edition, this Second Edition is worth the additional investment. Every chapter has at least one new case study and previously cited 126 Book reviews cases have been updated. The relevance and utility of these cases cannot be overstated for they bring a practicality to the text that will make for lively discussion in the classroom. Case studies illuminate ethical principles and lapses in events surrounding Enron, World Com, the World Trade Organization (WTO), Arthur Andersen, sexual abuse perpetrated by clergy, the Air Force Academy, and NASA among others. The cinema also provides a fertile area to tap by way of example, and Johnson mines films such as 'The Insider, The Gathering Storm, Dead Man Walking, The Pianist' and 'Erin Brockovich 'to dramatise salient points. The variety of such broadly chosen examples, derived from current events, should help to make ethics come alive for students in ways that demonstrate the every day importance of ethical leadership. The text is organised into four parts. Part One, ‘The shadow side of leadership’, relies on the Jungian construct of the shadow side of the personality, following the maxim, ‘the brighter the light, the larger the shadow’. Johnson believes that an effective way for leaders to understand how the shadow side might influence their behaviour is to acknowledge existence of shadows forthrightly. Typical shadows cast by leaders include: the abuse of power and privilege; deception; misplaced and broken loyalties; inconsistency and irresponsibility. Any reader with leadership responsibility or even enmeshed in a complex organisation may not be able to resist the temptation to begin self-analysis and organisational scrutiny immediately. Part Two, ‘Looking inward’, the most appealing section for this reviewer, examines why it is that leaders often do more harm than good. The author proffers a variety of views on evil, both personal and systemic, and appeals to a model of forgiveness as a way to break the cycle of institutionalised evil. In response to the many patterns of evil easily discernible in the world, Johnson counsels spirituality and reflection, affirming the value of spiritual disciplines that most readers will find have some resonance with several religious traditions. The interdisciplinary approach here is appealing. Students from a variety of academic backgrounds will find something here that invites further reflection. Part Three, ‘Ethical standards and strategies’, summarises and reviews selections from the knowledge base in ethical theory. Kant, Rawls and Mill are introduced. Discussion of James Mc Gregor Burns, Rost and Greenleaf come in the chapter entitled ‘Normative leadership theories’. This section is unsatisfying in its quick treatment of major ethical treatises. Indeed, the introduction, analysis, comparison and critique of Kant’s categorical imperative are handled in less than two pages and several hundred words. Utilitarianism receives similar treatment. This material might suffice for an introductory course at an early, undergraduate level, but advanced undergraduates and graduate students will arguably require more detail, information and nuance. Part Four, ‘Shaping ethical contexts’, concludes the text with a focus on group dynamics and building an ethical capacity in small groups. The ethical challenges inherent in cultural diversity round out the text, along with an admonition to be wary of ethnocentrism and prejudice. As a classroom text for undergraduate courses in leadership and ethics, it is difficult to find a more comprehensive book that provides both the theoretical background and practical application of ethical theory in one place. Even with the caveat that some Book reviews 127 students will need a stronger intellectual framework, this is a valuable book. Instructors will find the text versatile in this regard, as its organisation allows for either a linear approach from beginning to end or a more creative, theme-based approach. A highly structured table of contents and a detailed subject/author index serve such an end well. A significant contribution to the pedagogy of ethics, this book should continue to enjoy wide usage and popularity. "
Doctor Journal of Moral Education - Ronald J. Nuzzi
"Johnson’s revised and expanded edition of this popular and user-friendly textbook continues with the central themes and cases of the first edition, but provides new and relevant examples, original cases studies rooted in recent historical events, and an innovative focus on assessment that should prove helpful to both students and instructors. For readers familiar with the First Edition, this Second Edition is worth the additional investment. Every chapter has at least one new case study and previously cited 126 Book reviews cases have been updated. The relevance and utility of these cases cannot be overstated for they bring a practicality to the text that will make for lively discussion in the classroom. Case studies illuminate ethical principles and lapses in events surrounding Enron, World Com, the World Trade Organization (WTO), Arthur Andersen, sexual abuse perpetrated by clergy, the Air Force Academy, and NASA among others. The cinema also provides a fertile area to tap by way of example, and Johnson mines films such as 'The Insider, The Gathering Storm, Dead Man Walking, The Pianist' and 'Erin Brockovich 'to dramatise salient points. The variety of such broadly chosen examples, derived from current events, should help to make ethics come alive for students in ways that demonstrate the every day importance of ethical leadership. The text is organised into four parts. Part One, ‘The shadow side of leadership’, relies on the Jungian construct of the shadow side of the personality, following the maxim, ‘the brighter the light, the larger the shadow’. Johnson believes that an effective way for leaders to understand how the shadow side might influence their behaviour is to acknowledge existence of shadows forthrightly. Typical shadows cast by leaders include: the abuse of power and privilege; deception; misplaced and broken loyalties; inconsistency and irresponsibility. Any reader with leadership responsibility or even enmeshed in a complex organisation may not be able to resist the temptation to begin self-analysis and organisational scrutiny immediately. Part Two, ‘Looking inward’, the most appealing section for this reviewer, examines why it is that leaders often do more harm than good. The author proffers a variety of views on evil, both personal and systemic, and appeals to a model of forgiveness as a way to break the cycle of institutionalised evil. In response to the many patterns of evil easily discernible in the world, Johnson counsels spirituality and reflection, affirming the value of spiritual disciplines that most readers will find have some resonance with several religious traditions. The interdisciplinary approach here is appealing. Students from a variety of academic backgrounds will find something here that invites further reflection. Part Three, ‘Ethical standards and strategies’, summarises and reviews selections from the knowledge base in ethical theory. Kant, Rawls and Mill are introduced. Discussion of James Mc Gregor Burns, Rost and Greenleaf come in the chapter entitled ‘Normative leadership theories’. This section is unsatisfying in its quick treatment of major ethical treatises. Indeed, the introduction, analysis, comparison and critique of Kant’s categorical imperative are handled in less than two pages and several hundred words. Utilitarianism receives similar treatment. This material might suffice for an introductory course at an early, undergraduate level, but advanced undergraduates and graduate students will arguably require more detail, information and nuance. Part Four, ‘Shaping ethical contexts’, concludes the text with a focus on group dynamics and building an ethical capacity in small groups. The ethical challenges inherent in cultural diversity round out the text, along with an admonition to be wary of ethnocentrism and prejudice. As a classroom text for undergraduate courses in leadership and ethics, it is difficult to find a more comprehensive book that provides both the theoretical background and practical application of ethical theory in one place. Even with the caveat that some Book reviews 127 students will need a stronger intellectual framework, this is a valuable book. Instructors will find the text versatile in this regard, as its organisation allows for either a linear approach from beginning to end or a more creative, theme-based approach. A highly structured table of contents and a detailed subject/author index serve such an end well. A significant contribution to the pedagogy of ethics, this book should continue to enjoy wide usage and popularity. "— Dr Ronald J. Nuzzi
Journal of Moral Education
