Cameron (2003a,b) also has suggested that business
ethics based upon a virtuous commitment to the
welfare of others can lead to increased productivity,
profit, and quality. Keim and Grant (2003, p. 405)
have called for a virtue-based approach to auditing,
and have observed that trust in accounting and
auditing systems ‘‘develops only through experience
in dealing with that system and through examination
of the outcomes of the system.’’ They emphasize
that reliance upon virtues is critical because
‘‘professionals will be expected to consistently
reach ethical decisions when faced with dilemmas
in financial reporting and auditing.’’ These are
dilemmas that rules-based systems cannot adequately
address.