Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Managerial and Other White-Collar Employees’ Perceptions of Ethical Issues in their Workplaces

  • Published:
Journal of Business Ethics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Understanding what types of issues working adults perceive as ethical in their workplaces will allow better teaching of business ethics. This study reports findings of a thematic analysis of 764 ethical challenges described by working adults in a part-time MBA program and combines its findings with the other published studies on perceptions of ethical issues in the workplace. The results indicate that most people are assured about what they describe as ethical transgressions although experts might disagree. It also highlights certain issues and contexts as being more frequently perceived than others. Ideas for future research in this area are also explored.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • J. S. Adams C. Harris S. S. Carley (1998) ArticleTitle‘Challenges in Teaching Business Ethics: Using Role Set Analysis of Early Career Dilemmas’ Journal of Business Ethics 17 IssueID12 1325–1355 Occurrence Handle10.1023/A:1005784303157

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • R. E. Boyatzis (1998) Transforming Qualitative Information Sage Publications Thousand Oaks, CA

    Google Scholar 

  • D. Collins (2000) ArticleTitle‘The Quest to Improve the Human Condition: The first 1500 Articles Published in Journal of Business Ethics’ Journal of Business Ethics 26 IssueID1 1–73 Occurrence Handle10.1023/A:1006358104098

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • J.M. Dukerich M.J. Waller E. George G. Huber (2000) ArticleTitle‘Moral Intensity and Managerial Problem Solving’ Journal of Business Ethics 24 IssueID1 29–38 Occurrence Handle10.1023/A:1006030109047

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ford, R. C. and W. D. Richardson, (1994) ‘Ethical Decision-Making: A Review of the Empirical Literature’, Journal of Business Ethics 205–221.

  • J. Ghorpade (1991) ArticleTitle‘Ethics in MBA Programs: The Rhetoric, the Reality, and a Plan of Action’ Journal of Business Ethics 10 IssueID12 891–905 Occurrence Handle10.1007/BF00383795

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • D. A. Giolia E. Pitre (2001) ArticleTitle‘Multiparadigm Perspectives on Theory Building’ Academy of Management Review 15 IssueID4 584–602

    Google Scholar 

  • T. M. Jones (1991) ArticleTitle‘Ethical Decision Making by Individuals in Organizations: An Issue-Contingent Model’ Academy of Management Review 16 IssueID2 366–395

    Google Scholar 

  • M. Knowles (1973) The Adult Learner: A Neglected Species Gulf Publishing Houston, TX

    Google Scholar 

  • T.L. Loe L. Ferrell P. Mansfield (2000) ArticleTitle‘A Review of Empirical Studies Assessing Ethical Decision Making in Business’ Journal of Business Ethics 25 IssueID3 185–204 Occurrence Handle10.1023/A:1006083612239

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • B. Marshall P. Dewe (1997) ArticleTitle‘An Investigation of the Components of Moral Intensity’ Journal of Business Ethics 16 IssueID6 521–530 Occurrence Handle10.1023/A:1017929418329

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • J.A. Waters F. Bird P.D. Chant (1986) ArticleTitle‘Everyday Moral Issues Experienced by Managers’ Journal of Business Ethics 5 373–384 Occurrence Handle10.1007/BF00382782

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of St. Thomas, MH 343, 1000 LaSalle Ave, Minneapolis, MN, 55403, U.S.A.

    Sally J. Power

  2. University of St. Thomas, TMH 343, 1000 LaSalle Ave., Minneapolis, MN, 55403, U.S.A.

    Lorman L. Lundsten

Authors
  1. Sally J. Power
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Lorman L. Lundsten
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sally J. Power.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Power, S.J., Lundsten, L.L. Managerial and Other White-Collar Employees’ Perceptions of Ethical Issues in their Workplaces. J Bus Ethics 60, 185–193 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-005-1177-1

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-005-1177-1

Keywords

Search

Navigation