Case In Point: Lessons for the Proactive Manager
Volume 18 Issue 01 | January 2026
During our winter break I came across a concept that I read about a few years ago but hadn’t thought about lately. The Shopping Cart Theory began anonymously on an internet message board sometime in 2020. It posits that whether a person returns their shopping cart or doesn’t is the ultimate litmus test of their capacity for self-governance and determines whether they are a “good” or “bad” member of society. It is not illegal to leave a shopping cart somewhere else, nor will returning it be rewarded (Aldi’s quarter return excepting). Returning a shopping cart is the right thing to do for the good of society – maintaining a clear and orderly parking lot – but it is not enforced or monitored. Not returning their cart suggests that a person won’t do the right thing unless threatened with consequences.
This theory has been extrapolated to make commentary on society as a whole and the necessity of having people who will do the right thing because it’s the right thing regardless of external factors. It causes us to examine our own motivations. Do we do right because it is right or because we are required to?
There are holes that have been poked in this argument, with good reason. There are people who may not be able to return their carts – those with disabilities, emergencies, or who don’t want to leave children unattended, etc. But I believe there is good in a message that we should do the right thing simply because it’s the right thing. That message will always have a place. Certainly, our campus compliance and ethics programs will be better with that mentality.
As we begin our 18th year of publication, we will continue our tradition of looking back at what occurred during the prior year. Overall, here is how our categories broke down with respect to articles linked in 2025:
· Information Security & Technology: 14% (11% in 2024)
· Fraud & Ethics: 10% (11% in 2024)
· Compliance & Legal: 37% (40% in 2024)
· Campus Life & Safety: 39% (38% in 2024)
Next month we will begin looking for trends in these categories and make some predictions for 2026. Until then, we invite you to review the news stories from January with a view toward proactive risk management. As always, we welcome your feedback.
Kevin Robinson
Vice President
Institutional Compliance & Security
