Home > Centers > Berg Center > Research > Undergrad Research
Undergraduate Research
Purpose
The purpose of the David Berg Center for Ethics and Leadership undergraduate-research fellows program is to engage students in the study of business issues related to leadership and ethics outside the traditional classroom setting.
The applied-research program involves active learning that is supported by collaboration between undergraduate students and the faculty. Each project is required to have a focus on critical issues related to leadership and/or ethics, be sponsored by a faculty member, and be completed in one semester.
Students are required to be active participants in the design and execution of the project and are provided with a stipend from the Berg Center as part of this project. Through this activity, we hope to stimulate interest among undergraduate students, not only to study what others say about ethical leadership in business but also to contribute to the development of new knowledge on how to make organizations more effective through ethical leadership.
Objectives
The main objectives of the Berg Center undergraduate-research fellows program are as follows:
- to engage undergraduate students in the study of issues related to leadership and ethics outside the traditional classroom setting
- to support the ongoing research of faculty in the area of leadership and ethics that can include undergraduate students as junior collaborators
- to increase the availability and application of innovative research on ethics and leadership within the classroom, among the scholarly community, and within business at large
- to develop undergraduate students' competence in and appreciation for the core enterprise at the University of Pittsburgh—scholarship
Expectations
The expectations for undergraduate students and faculty participating in and conducting research projects are as follows:
Students and faculty may agree to one of two types of research arrangements:
- Students may be enlisted by a faculty member to aid in that faculty member's research project; or
- students may have a research project in mind and enlist a faculty member to advise the student on that project.
Students sponsored by the Berg Center who are participating in research projects of either kind should expect to:
- be fully engaged in a specific research project for the equivalent of one academic semester; and
- commit to the number of hours per week agreed upon by the student and faculty member at the beginning of the research arrangement.
Students sponsored by the Berg Center who are participating in faculty research projects should expect to be employed by the faculty member as an integral part of the researcher's team, performing tasks commensurate with the student's education and experience level. Assigned tasks could include data gathering, basic analytical applications, mathematical and statistical calculations, etc.
Faculty working with undergraduate students on either of the two types of research should expect that:
- The undergraduate student will commit to working as agreed upon by the faculty member and the student for the time and effort necessary to fulfill all the requirements of the project.
- Berg-sponsored students will participate in research within the parameters of the highest ethical standards, including considerations of honesty, fairness, and confidentiality in all actions and communications.
Faculty working with students on faculty-directed research projects should also expect the sponsored student to be punctual, ready to work, dependable, and at the appointed place consistently for the duration of the project.
Research Goals
Through this activity, we hope to stimulate interest among undergraduate students not only to study what others say about ethical leadership in business, but also to contribute to the development of new knowledge on how to make organizations more effective through their approach to ethics and leadership. In addition, the collaboration between faculty and students not only facilitates the active learning process but also supports the goals of scholarship and community within the College of Business Administration.
Examples of Previous Projects
Justin Birru (Fall 2003–04)
Birru's project focused on the impact of discrimination in public contracting from an ethical perspective. Birru reviewed a variety of literature on the definitions of firm "capacity" and how that is related to the underutilization of minority- and women-owned business in public contracting opportunities and revenue.
His project led to the current faculty research project being financially supported by the Center on Race and Social Problems.
Neil Karls (Fall 2004–05)
Karls is a Certificate Program in Leadership and Ethics student who examined the idea of an ethics scorecard targeted for small business. He conducted a Web survey of local business owners and reviewed the current best practices in performance management and the use of a balanced scorecard approach.
His findings are being shared with small business owners through collaboration with the Institute for Entrepreneurial Excellence at the Joseph M. Katz Graduate School of Business.
Kobe Pruitt (Summer 2004–05)
Pruitt's project was part of a new partnership created between the Certificate Program in Leadership and Ethics and Highmark Inc. As part of Leadership Highmark, Pruitt worked directly with the director of corporate compliance to design a set of employee focus groups and interviews to explore critical issues of ethics and leadership within the healthcare industry.
Sabrina Duncan (Summer 2004–05)
Like Kobe Pruitt's project, Duncan's project also focused on the issue of leadership and ethics within the healthcare industry. She helped to design a set of employee focus groups and interviews together with Pruitt and the director of corporate compliance within Highmark Inc.
Application
To apply for an undergraduate research fellowship, contact the undergraduate-research director:
Jay Sukits
Phone: 412-648-1709
E-mail: jsukits@katz.pitt.edu