The Weekly Leader podcast tackles the MBA oath. In discussing the oath, the Weekly Leader’s commenters praise the Oath’s brevity and argue that its succinctness make it much more powerful than a 60 page code of ethics. They also reference a very relevant talk by “Predictably Irrational” author and behavioral economist Dan Ariely. In a series of experiments, Ariely finds that people who are reminded of ethical guidelines and who adhere to honor codes and cheat less.
“When we remind them about their morality, they cheat less”
Ariely’s talk provides fantastic examples of how oaths can make a difference.