MBA students assist Madison businesses with Torch Award portfolios

November 6, 2008

Every year businesses and charities across the state compete to be the best in terms of ethical practice, service excellence, reputation, honest advertising, peer recognition, management practices and employee training in ethical behavior.

The 2008 Better Business Bureau Torch Awards gives businesses the opportunity to prove that their business meets the highest standards.

With the help of University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Professor K. Praveen Parboteeah and students in his Social Responsibility of Business course, three Madison companies, Alliant Energy, American Family Insurance and Total Administrative Services Corporation, were finalists for the 2008 Torch Award. Students in the course helped prepare and submit Torch Award portfolios for the three companies.

“I was definitely impressed with the practical application of this class assignment,” Jennifer LaBrosse, MBA student, said. “It was the kind of assignment that I expected to have in my MBA program. Professor Praveen Parboteeah gave excellent direction to the application process.”

“It gave students the opportunity to apply concepts from the course to the real world,” Zachary Roberts, MBA student at UW-Whitewater, added. “The experience reinforced my understanding of business ethics as well as my company’s (American Family Insurance) commitment to the highest of ethical standards and practices.  Ultimately, an experience like this adds value to the UW-Whitewater MBA program and the future business leaders participating in the program.”

Entering a company or charity into this competition shows an organization’s customers, vendors and employees that it is committed to honest and ethical business practices. All winners of the Torch Awards must sit out for the next three years to allow other businesses the chance to participate and win this award. However, runners up and honorable mentions are invited to reapply for this award.

For more information please contact K. Praveen Praboteeah at 262-472-3971 or by e-mail at parbotek@uww.edu.