business leaders must win the renewed support of a skeptical public not through manipulation, like another new product or fad, but with foundations of ethical absolutes the world can trust. and, in so doing, they need help. the foundation of this book comes from presentations by a variety of business leaders in fall 2002 at the university of michigan business school (see businessweek, 9/16/02). no other forum has brought together such combined practitioner-academic dialogue in response to the business revelations of 2002, so this book will put a flesh-and-bones richness on the theory-based works that typify the ethics literature. this book will presents the dialogues and dilemmas of top american leaders, including: james a. baker, iii, former secretary of state jeffrey immelt, ceo, general electric joe liemandt, ceo trilogy software (private company) eleanor josaitis, founder, focus: hope (nonprofit) as well as the contributions of academic luminaries including andrew mcgill, c.k. prahalad, and robert quinn. this book candidly highlights the dilemmas business leaders are facing, the decisions some are making, and the reasoning that all must contemplate. readers will follow current leaders as they form their own ethical foundations, integrate them into their business decisions, and ultimately make the tough calls. it reassures readers that the answers are neither easy, nor without consequences. it also offers numerous examples that will help readers think through their own ethical challenges.