Perceptions of Retail Supervisors' Ethical Behavior and Front-line Managers' Organizational Commitment

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between front-line managers' perceptions of their supervisors' ethical behavior and front-line managers' organizational commitment, and the relationship between front-line managers' perceptions of their supervisors' view of ethical dilemmas, front-line managers' own view of ethical dilemmas and perceptions of their supervisors' ethical behavior. Respondents were 99 front-line managers working in a large suburban mall. Multiple regression was used for data analysis. Results revealed a significant relationship between the front-line managers' perceptions of their supervisor's ethical behavior and the front-line managers' organizational commitment. Other relationships were not found to be significant. The results suggest that front line managers' perceptions of their supervisors' ethical behavior may be influential in subordinates' organizational commitment. Those supervisors perceived as less ethical may experience less organizational commitment from subordinates.