COLE hosts an annual national dissertation proposal competition for Doctorate candidates whose research contributes to the understanding of leadership and ethical issues facing the business community. Candidates in all business disciplines and in those relating to education, social and political sciences are invited to apply. Examples of topics in ethics include, but are not limited to: corporate social responsibility, social entrepreneurship, employee privacy, trust in financial institutions, conflicts of interest, ethics in advertising & marketing, regulation & ethics, intergenerational issues, environmental responsibility, whistle-blowing, auditor independence, ethics & corporate culture, sexual harassment, discrimination, downsizing, insider trading, industrial espionage, trade secrets, and international labor & sweatshops. Examples of topics in leadership include, but are not limited to: institutional leadership, gender & leadership, team leadership, crisis leadership, trust in leadership, leading change, stewardship, mentoring, leader-follower relationships, and leadership style.
Proposals are judged on the contribution that they make to the scholarly understanding of ethical and leadership issues in business as well as on their theoretical and methodological quality. 1-2 winners will receive a $1,000 honorarium.
The 2008 COLE Doctorate Dissertation Proposal Competition
The 2007 COLE Ph.D. Dissertation Proposal Competiton - Award Winners