Ethical decision making in a business setting perceptions of employees /
An exploratory-descriptive study design was used to Development". investigate employee ethical decision-making practices in daily work activities and employee perceptions of company ethical guidelines and training. A purposive sample of 2 1 non-supervisory and management personnel was selected...
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| Format: | Thesis Book |
| Language: | English |
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[Place of publication not identified] :
[publisher not identified] ;
1998.
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| Online Access: | http://proxy.library.tamu.edu/login?url=http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?did=732816691&sid=1&Fmt=2&clientId=2945&RQT=309&VName=PQD |
| Summary: | An exploratory-descriptive study design was used to Development". investigate employee ethical decision-making practices in daily work activities and employee perceptions of company ethical guidelines and training. A purposive sample of 2 1 non-supervisory and management personnel was selected from a mid-size heavy-equipment firm in the southwestern U.S. Formal interviews were conducted using eight workplace ethical scenarios. Respondents were also asked their perceptions about the company's ethics training. Grounded theory methodology, developed by Glaser and Strauss (1 967), was used to code the data and identify the central themes that emerged from narrative accounts. A review of literature revealed that the number of studies of employee ethics in business was quite limited. Results indicated that individuals develop their ethical values through family life, school, religion, and other social influences. Respondents generally subscribed to an actdeontological approach mitigated by consideration of circumstances and consequence's. About one-third of the lower-level employees also were influenced by an ethic of care. Results support the contention that no universal ethical decision-making method exists for individuals to follow. The ethicalness of employees was perceived to be influenced by ethical philosophy and behavior of immediate supervisor', quality of interpersonal relationship with immediate superior; interpersonal tactics; individual levels of development; organizational ethical philosophy; and role perceptions. The results of this inquiry are significant for creating future ethics training courses. Management is clearly pivotal in influencing an organization's ethical climate. Ethical maturity of managers may be tied to the extent of ethical training they receive. Employees can continue to develop ethical perception through training programs, which should focus on ethics awareness by stating the organization's expectations of employee behavior. Employees will commit to an ethics awareness program only in so far as they see managers implement it. Consistent and integrative management behavior is provide consistent ethical leadership,' as managers lead, employees will follow. |
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| Item Description: | Vita. |
| Physical Description: | x, 230 leaves ; 28 cm. Issued also on microfiche from University Microfilm Inc. |
| Bibliography: | Includes bibliographical references: pages 167-105. |