Ethical Behavior In Organizations Research Articles

Can we decrease unethical behavior at work? The role of ethical culture, ethical culture strength and collective moral identity

AbstractPast research suggests that ethical culture and moral identity impact ethical behavior in organizations. However, research has yet to consider if collective moral identity interacts with ethical culture to predict ethical behavior and how ethical culture strength has a role in this relationship. The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship of ethical culture, ethical culture strength, and collective moral identity with unit-level observed unethical behavior and unethical pro-organizational behavior while examining their moderating effects. We test our model with 1942 employees from 96 units of ten organizations and within-unit agreement was estimated for all variables. Our findings point out that ethical culture, and ethical culture strength have a strong association on unethical behavior, but that collective moral identity has no association. We discuss implications regarding the influence of collective moral identity on societies where the perception of corruption is high.

Bibliometric Analysis of Ethical Behavior in Education Using VOSviewer

The research theme of ethical behavior, particularly in educational organizations, is of great importance. There have been many publications on ethical behavior, but there has been no research to identify and summarize publications on it comprehensively. This research aims to clarify the history and predict the hotspots of ethical behavior themes in the future. This research method uses bibliographical analysis using the VOSviewer application. Data was sourced from the Scopus database between 1982 and 2021, downloaded into Excel 2016, and processed by VOSviewer. Bibliometric maps are formed by VOSviewer software automatically.Results of the research, which began with a search on the article title through the keyword "ethic* behav*," obtained 957 documents. After being limited by publication between 1983 and 2021, 590 papers were accepted. Then it was restricted again based on articles, reviews, and English obtained from as many as 399 documents. The United States, United Kingdom, and Canada are the most productive countries writing this theme. Department of Management, Haworth College of Business, Western Michigan University, United States; School of Management, the University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, United States; andDepartment of Basic Psychology and Methodology, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain; they are the most prolific Institutions with this theme. The Journal of Business Ethics, Ethics and Behavior, and Science and Engineering Ethics are the journals that expose ethical behavior the most. Meanwhile, the most prolific authors are Deshpande S.P, Joseph J, Cronan T.P, Leonard N.K., Al Habusi H., and Gino F. Conclusion of the research with the theme of ethical behavior is generally associated with behavior in business, the prerequisite occurrence of ethical behavior in organizations, and variables that can improve and shape ethical behavior. In line with the development of societal progress, ethical behavior research requires more intensive attention, especially in education organizations, because the quality and sustainability of human life, business, and education lie in the quality of ethical behavior.

Ethics in competency models: A framework towards developing ethical behaviour in organisations

Competency models describe desired behaviours, skills, and attributes to facilitate organisational goals' achievement. The primary focus of a competency model is to align individual behaviours to organisationally expected behaviours. Given that employees’ ethical behaviour has become the sine qua non for organisations, it is surprising to see the absence of ethical competency in organisations’ competency models. Based on two separate studies with the heads of HR in Indian and South-East Asian organisations, the present study identified three core reasons for the absence of ethics in competency models (i.e., ideation, conceptualisation, and implementation challenges). Also, the study proposes a framework for fostering ethical behaviour amongst employees. Implications of the research for theory and practice are discussed.

How environmental reputation and ethical behavior impact the relationship between environmental regulatory enforcement and environmental performance

AbstractThe paper investigates the nature of the relationship between environmental regulation enforcement (ERE) and environmental performance of small and medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs). Drawing upon the institutional theory and a sample of 229 SMEs, the results indicate an inverted U‐shaped relationship between ERE and environmental performance. In addition, we theorized and found that environmental reputation moderates the U‐shaped relationship between ERE and environmental performance, such that the relationship is positive when environmental reputation is high. Moreover, the results show that organizational ethical behavior (OEB) conditions the U‐shaped relationship, such that the relationship is positive when OEB is high. In the absence of moderators, returns to environmental performance from increasing environmental regulation were observed to reach harmful levels. The theoretical and practical implications of the findings are discussed.

Whistleblowers or Offenders? A Judicial Approach to Whistleblowing – The LuxLeaks Case

The aim of this article is to study the role of judges and their impact on the retaliation processes initiated by organisations against whistleblowers. More specifically, we question the normative logics used by judges to validate or invalidate such processes. To this end, we cross-check and analyse judicial data from the LuxLeaks case (2010–2018). Our results firstly enable us to establish a relationship between, on the one hand, the interpretative power of judges and their profile and, on the other, the attitude that judges may have at the end of the retaliation process towards whistleblowers, that is, retaliatory actors or protective actors. Our results also explain the normative dynamics that permeate the judicial retaliation process. They show that judges can challenge existing legal norms, clarify and operationalise others, and create new norms regulating ethical behaviour in organisations.

An empirical investigation of the professional identification of sales managers and their ethical intentions

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to show how senior management can create work environments conducive to ethical behavior in organizations through the use of sales managers’ professionalism and professional identification. The study also aims to demonstrate the influence of professional identification in occupations other than those requiring certification.Design/methodology/approachThis study conceptualizes and tests a model using data collected from a survey panel of 350 sales managers. To test the hypotheses, this study makes use of covariance structured analysis.FindingsThe results demonstrate the importance of developing sales managers’ professionalism as an antecedent to professional identification. The findings also show professional identification positively affects professional ethical values, work-related norms and occupational commitment. This study finds that work-related norms moderate the relationship between professional ethical values and ethical intentions and directly and positively influence ethical intentions.Research limitations/implicationsThis study used a panel sampling technique and these findings cannot be generalized to other populations. This study recommends that this study is replicated not only with sales managers but also with other categories of marketers. This study also highlights that more work using methods such as longitudinal panel data and experimentation is required to validate the current findings.Practical implicationsThe findings are of particular interest to senior managers and managers of professional associations, as well as other sales practitioners. Because ethical intentions are affected by work-related norms and from an interaction between work-related norms and professional ethical values, senior managers need to ensure both the work activities in which their staff are involved and the professional ethical values of their employees contribute to appropriate ethical intentions.Originality/valueThis study introduces professional identification into the sales ethics literature and theorize relationships among the professionalism of sales managers and their professional identification, work-related norms, professional ethical values, occupational commitment and ethical intentions. This study empirically measures the professionalism of sales managers.

Impact of Ethical Behavior on Financial Performance of Firms Listed on Ghana Stock Exchange.

The focus of this study was to assess the effect of organizational ethical behavior on the financial performance of firms in Ghana. Researchers have expressed concerns about the ethical behavior of firms in Ghana with regards to its effect on financial performance. The findings of this study will add to the literature, from which those in the field of academia can continually refer. The return on assets, as an indicator for the financial performance of firms, was adopted as the dependent variable. Independent variables were good ethical behavior (GEB), corruption reduction (C), and nepotism reduction (N). A cross-sectional survey design was followed for primary data and firms’ financial records were sources of secondary data. Thirty (30) corporate firms registered on the stock market were selected for the study. A multiple regression analysis was conducted and findings presented in Tables and Figures. Results showed that firms’ adherence to ethical principles of conducting business stand the chance of increasing their financial performance up to 45.0, 38.4, and 43.7 % by unit increases in GEB, and decreases in C, and N respectively. All independent variables had positive correlations with the financial performance of firms studied (GEB, 0.349; C, -0.503; N, -0.680). On firms’ financial performance, the ROA of firms, according to findings is positively and strongly correlated to their adherence to ethical business standards. Based on these findings, the study recommends that corporate firms pay more attention to practices that enhance good ethical behavior through the implementation of ethics policies, and reduce or eradicate nepotism to increase their chances of performing better financially. In addition, firms should ensure gender equality and equity, employee training on ethical standards of work, and encouragement of ethical leadership. Keywords : Ethical behavior, Financial Performance, Organization, Listed companies. DOI: 10.7176/EJBM/13-14-10 Publication date: July 31 st 2021

Code of ethics and conduct in the light of corporate governance: the stakeholders' perspective

Purpose: To evaluate the theme "Code of Ethics and Conduct" in private or public organizations, considering the relationship between ethical issues and good practices in Corporate Governance, measures that subsidize the planning and strengthening of ethical cultures in the interpersonal context.Design / methodology / approach: The descriptive survey relied on the application of questionnaires and obtained 184 responses from organizations of various types. The study was carried out using codes of conduct made available by companies on their websites, characterized as primary sources. The data collected were worked in the SPSS, tabulated and presented as results in the form of tables or graphs, with appropriate analyses.Findings: The results show the adoption of good practices of integrity, especially on the Code of Ethics and Conduct. The adoption of an ethical code can be considered a way to formalize, encourage and guide responsible behavior among employees and organizations. Seen from the outside, it contributes to creating and maintaining a good corporate reputation and stakeholder trust. In this sense, the reasons behind the creation of a code have been stated in the Shareholders' Theory, the Legitimacy Theory and the Stakeholder Theory.Originality / value: The Code of Ethics and Conduct arises as an instrument to guide ethical behavior in organizations. Therefore, it is the declaration of the set of rights, duties, business conduct towards stakeholders, reflecting the culture and set of norms that enrich the company's decision-making processes and guide its behavior.

Conexões entre o julgamento moral e determinantes biológicos do comportamento na governança corporativa

O presente artigo analisa os comportamentos antissociais ou antiéticos no contexto da Governança Corporativa, pautado pela necessidade de se acompanhar com instrumentos próprios seus efeitos, à luz dos avanços neste campo de conhecimento. Ao preconizar a sua validação adequada, postula-se a necessidade de considerar os diferentes aspectos do comportamento humano quanto aos processos de julgamento. Neste sentido, objetiva-se identificar as conexões teóricas entre o julgamento moral e o comportamento ético organizacional, notando-se uma lacuna em relação às normativas existentes. A metodologia do estudo é descritiva de natureza exploratória, utilizando a abordagem mista – qualitativa e quantitativa, iniciando-se com uma pesquisa bibliométrica para identificação de estudos anteriores e da revisão da literatura pertinente ao julgamento moral à luz do comportamento organizacional. Identifica-se na literatura que o julgamento moral do indivíduo é influenciado por fatores genéticos, socioambientais e biossociais, que influenciam o comportamento por meio do julgamento moral. Foram coletados dados utilizando uma escala validada de mensuração desenvolvida por outros autores e adaptada ao contexto local. Não foi possível concluir a respeito das possíveis diferenças de julgamento moral utilitarista no comportamento de profissionais da área comercial. Já em relação à idade, foi confirmada uma tendência ao comportamento deontológico para a amostra de maior idade e uma tendência utilitarista para a amostra masculino. A partir destas evidências, sugerem-se novas hipóteses que são relevantes para o desenvolvimento da teoria neste campo de conhecimento, além de evidenciar a necessidade por parte da Governança Corporativa em criar os seus próprios métodos de validação e políticas adequadas.

Leader Goal Orientation and Ethical Leadership: A Socio-Cognitive Approach of the Impact of Leader Goal-Oriented Behavior on Employee Unethical Behavior

Ethical leadership is an important construct in the literature on behavioral ethics in organizations, given its link with employee attitudes and behaviors. What remains unclear, however, is what leader characteristics are associated directly with ethical leader perceptions and indirectly with employee unethical behavior. In this paper, we use a socio-cognitive lens to integrate goal orientation theory with the literature on ethical behavior in organizations. Specifically, we propose that certain patterns of managers’ goal-oriented behavior provide signals and cues to employees about their managers’ ethical leadership, which then relates to employee displays of more unethical behavior. Using a sample of 265 manager–employee dyads, our findings largely support our claims. We found that leader performance-avoid goal orientation was negatively related to perceptions of ethical leadership and positively related to employee unethical behavior. Moderated mediation tests indicated that the positive indirect effect of leader performance-avoid goal orientation on employee unethical behavior through perceptions of ethical leadership was attenuated by higher levels of leader learning goal orientation. Taken together, these findings suggest that when leaders emphasize avoiding failure while downplaying the importance of personal learning and development, employees perceive them as less ethical and are more willing to engage in ethical misconduct. We discuss implications of our findings for both theory and practice.

Brazilian Jeitinho and Moral Identity: Impact on Ethical Behaviour at Work

Brazilian Jeitinho is a social mechanism used by Brazilians to deal with bureaucracy and is closely related to corruption. Jeitinho is also present in the workplace and could affect ethical behaviour. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of jeitinho and its interaction with moral identity on ethical behaviour in organizations. We hypothesized that Brazilian jeitinho would be negatively associated with ethical behaviour and, in a context where jeitinho is endorsed, people high in moral identity would act more ethically than those with low. The sample comprised 293 employees from various Brazilian organizations. Participants completed two measures of ethical behaviour, a moral identity scale and a Brazilian jeitinho scale. The results supported the hypothesis that moral identity is positively related to ethical behaviour and that jeitinho has negative influence on ethical behaviour. If an individual perceives jeitinho as a good mechanism, but has a high internalization of moral identity, it could reduce the negative effect of jeitinho on ethical behaviour at work.

Management accountants and ethical dilemmas: How to promote ethical intention?

Multiple incidents of misconduct have strengthened the need to foster ethical behavior in organizations. Unfortunately, the reasons why some people tend to ignore ethical considerations are largely unclear. In particular, comprehensive analyses in the context of management accounting are still rare. As a distinctive characteristic, our study therefore aims at generating more knowledge about the driving factors in ethical decision-making processes of professional management accountants and thus complements findings of experimental studies in other fields. Based on survey data from 90 international management accountants, we find evidence that the ethical environment strongly affects management accountants’ tendency not to engage in ethically questionable behavior. In detail, our results support the notion that the connection between ethical awareness and the intention to engage in ethically questionable behavior is rather indirect and also mediated by the level of ethical experience, i.e., individuals’ exposure to ethical role models in organizations. In sum, our research study helps to disentangle the ethical decision-making process of professional management accountants and illustrates that ethical environments are necessary to enforce adequate ethical behavior.

The Ethical Content of the Control System and the Importance of Peer Managers Being Good Apples

The importance of ethical behavior in organizations is undeniable. This study examines how management control systems can facilitate ethical behaviors and an ethical work climate. We examine the intensity of use of an ethical control system and, hence, our focus is on the system’s content. We conceptualize an ethical control system as one that communicates ethical values and motivates employees to act accordingly. Using data from a sample of German managers the results show that the intensity of use of an ethical control system imposed on department managers decreases their engagement in counterproductive behaviors, which in turn, enhances the ethical work climate of the department. These results are consistent with social learning theory. We also examine a contextual factor, peer manager behavior, and find that this effect is amplified when peers are “good apples,” that is, when they act in ways that exhibit less focus on themselves (i.e., less self-interested behavior). In addition, when peers are “good apples,” a more self-focused ethical work climate results in decreased relative performance. Thus, this study demonstrates that including ethical content in the management control system matters, but so does the existence of “good apple” peer managers.

Strategies for Promoting Ethical Behavior in Organizations

In recent years, research on the psychology of unethical behavior has flourished. We have made notable strides in understanding why people engage in unethical acts. At the same time, ethics researc...

Ethical Behavior through the Lens of Spirituality at Work: A Review Agenda

Workplace spirituality has now become an integral part of behavioral practices. Over the last decade, researchers have been taking interest in understanding workplace spirituality in organizations. The frequent discussion about spirituality at the workplace has also fortified the perception of ethical behavior among individuals. Ethical behavior among employees has been widely advanced by the spiritual values, which affect the work environments and organizational culture at large. This study reflects upon the relationship and interconnectedness between spirituality and ethical behavior in organizations. It also aims at suggesting ways as to how spirituality can be a driving factor for ethical behavior among individuals in organizations. Extensive literature review on the study has been conducted to gain insights on workplace spirituality and ethics. The study inferred that integrating various factors like leadership, culture, organizational citizenship behavior in the work environment might augment spirituality and ethical behavior at workplace.

Implementation of Islamic Business Ethics Values based on IFSB 09: BMT La Tansa Ponorogo Experience

The importance of ethics in the business world is of high priority and global importance. New trends and problems arise every day which is a major challenge for any organization. Today, the need for ethical behavior in organizations has become important. Just as, if a dishonest business practice, only thinking about the maximum profit and harming the other will bring an institution will no longer be trusted and gradually lost. So the purpose of this research is the implementation of Islamic business ethics based on IFSB standard 09. It is proven from the overall result of interview analysis, observation, and transcript of interview result. BMT La Tansa Ponorogo has a series of activities within the scope of strengthening and cultivation of values that serve as the foundation of all operational activities. These values include Sincerity, Simplicity, Independence, Islamic Prayer, and Freedom. In conducting business and activities, business actors have understood and implemented Islamic principles or values based on Al Qur’an and Hadith. Implementation of this Islamic business ethics that includes aspects of honesty and fairness, prudential aspects, aspects of ability, information aspects for customers, aspects of information about customers, solutive aspects of conflict of interest, and aspects of Shari’a compliance.

Muslims’ View of God as a Predictor of Ethical Behaviour in Organisations: Scale Development and Validation

While there is a widespread acceptance of the link between religiosity and ethics, there is less certainty how this influence occurs exactly, necessitating further research into these issues. A main roadblock to our understanding of this influence from an Islamic perspective is the absence of a validated measurement tool. The purpose of this study therefore is to develop a Scale of Muslims’ Views of Allah (SMVA). This article discusses how the SMVA was developed through the following five steps: (1) establishment of content and face validity; (2) application of a cognitive interviewing technique to pretest the SMVA with sixteen participants; (3) pilot testing of the SMVA with twelve participants; (4) administration of the SMVA online to marketing and management professionals (n = 472) via a multi-stage cluster sampling process to verify the scale’s reliability and validity; and (5) testing criterion-related validity. The results showed that the newly constructed 13-item scale had adequate psychometric properties. Finally, the implications for organisations, limitations and future research are discussed.

Hubungan antara Love of Money, Machiavellian dengan Persepsi Etis: Analisis Berdasarkan Perspektif Gender

Ethical behavior is important since help educators and researchers understand future managers and executives’ ethical behavior in organization. The research investigates the relationship between gender, love of money, machiavellian and ethic behavior. Data collected from 102 student of departemen of accounting. Result of the whole sample revealed that Machiavellian has significant effect on ethic behavior and there’s different perception on ethic behavior based from gender.

Individual Flourishing and Spiritual Leadership: An Approach to Ethical Leadership

Unethical organizational practices persist, despite regulations to curb such practices. Individuals, organizations, and the economy are interdependent. Unethical transgressions begin with the individual, but affect all. Spiritual leadership is proposed as a leadership model that can contribute to ethical business practices. There is a social and economic benefit to fostering spiritually oriented practices and disciplines. In the current article, the role of individual ethical actions within organizations is examined, and how spiritual leadership, particularly at the individual level, contributes to ethical organizational behavior.

Emotional Intelligence and the Ethic of Care

THE ABILITY TO TEACH INDIVIDUALS in organizational and workplace settings to make ethical decisions has become a significant problem for 21st-century companies (Ferrell, Fraedrich, and Ferrell, 2015). Enron, WorldCom, the housing crisis, and Bernie Madoffhave become unwelcome additions to our daily lexicon. Increasing public outrage has been aimed at both the business community and the business of higher education following the barrage of highly publicized scandals since 2000. A recent National Business Ethics Survey reported that 45% of employees have observed at least one unethical act of workplace misconduct in their organization. It may be argued that ethics has reached the status of an organizational crisis. For perhaps the first time ever, organizations realize that they must be responsible for the ethical instruction of their employees, and they can no longer simply rely on hiring bright and capable people and hoping that they would behave ethically when the situation calls for it (Ferrell et al., 2015). However, this realization creates a problem in many organizations.The problem is the inherent difficulty associated with teaching correct ethical and moral behavior inside workplace and organizational settings. This article includes a review of that specific business problem in light of two unique but connected ideas. The first unique idea is the concept of viewing ethical decisionmaking through a specific framework, the Ethic of Care (E°C). The second unique idea is the concept that leader emotional intelligence (EI) relates to the ability to introduce the E°C as a framework for fostering and encouraging ethical behavior in organizations. In connection with the business problem and the unique ideas, three specific propositions are presented in this paper. In addition to these three propositions, the article includes a discussion of ethics in business, applying ethics, ethics and EI, and the E°C and EI. First, a brief review of the relevant literature is presented.Literature reviewEthics in businessVelasquez (2006) notes that business ethics is applied ethics and that it is the application or understanding of what is good and right to that group of institutions, technologies, transactions, activities, and various pursuits that we refer to as a business. Any discussion of business ethics, therefore, begins by providing a framework of basic principles for understanding what is meant by the terms good and right and only then can one proceed to discuss the various implications these practices have for our business world (Velasquez, 2006). Schlegelmilch (2010) discusses the evolution of applied ethics to specific business disciplines. He also identifies 18 different areas where ethical issues can affect a business environment. Although not all of these areas will be considered here, it may be beneficial to list all 18 areas in order to provide a full framework for the discussion of ethics and business. These areas include: product-related issues, price-related issues, distribution, the promotion of products or services, sales and sales people, codes and ethical norms, consumers and consumer protections, issues specifically related to vulnerable consumer populations, international or crosscultural issues, consumer research and privacy, consumer education, issues related to environmentally sound or green initiatives, social marketing or social media, law or law enforcement, internet-related issues, religious issues, and the review of scholarly literature (Schlegelmilch, 2010). While writing a literature review for a specific business discipline, Schlegelmilch's work highlights the continuum of ethical issues in business over a period from the 1960s to 2000s. Other authors also addressed the issues of ethics in business.Ferrell and Gresham (1985) described the challenge of applying ethics to business when they stated that most people would agree that a set of moral principles or values should govern the actions of business, and most would agree that their decisions should be made in accordance with accepted principles of right and wrong. …