Why doesn't this surprise me a single bit

http://biz.yahoo.com/weekend/mbacheat_1.html

Hmm...Not sure about the accuracy of that pool of 5.3k MBA students. I have many MBA (undergoing or graduated) friends who definitely don't resort to cheating during exams, as for assignments, plagiarism is quite normal, especially if you need to struggle between project deadlines, family commitments + assignment timelines. We're afterall humans, and the advent of internet has just made it easier to "cheat". Does this mean I'm advocate cheating? Definitely no. It's also common for some IT professionals to use Test King as a means to clear their IT certifications, now I'm wondering what is the percentage if someone were to conduct such a study

microlau:

Hmm...Not sure about the accuracy of that pool of 5.3k MBA students.

Not to mention that the survey is targetted at students. Imagine yourself during those studying years, and have to answer questionnaires like this anonymously:

1. If cheat can land you on a multi billion dollar project, will you cheat?

a. Definitely.

b. No way.

c. Probably, if nobody knows.

(okay, i'm exagerating the question ):

perhaps i should expand more to explain what I am hitting at.

It is not so much the student population per se that I am viewing here, but rather the ultimate goal of the course they are pursuing. MBA is a broad coverage about business, and business is in general, if not focused into a particular area of expertise, only surfaces about making money. Somehow, when the intent is simply to make money, without a tighter vision and goal to drive towards, the looser the constraints one operates in.

I state this not by empirical studies but only by personal witness, reinforced by stories of friends and ex-colleagues, and probably lamented on a daily basis by people the world over. When people are concerned about making the statistics and figures look nice against their name, "something" gives way. Of course, this is not to state people who choose other professions are absolute nobles and saints. But, based on personal experience, the article lends undeniable weight.