Abstract
The focus of this research concentrated on ascertaining the presence of ethical climate types and the level of analysis from which ethical decisions were based as perceived by lodging managers. In agreement with Victor and Cullen (1987, 1988), ethical work climates are multidimensional and multi-determined. The results of this study indicated that: (a) benevolence is the predominate dimension of ethical climate present in the lodging organization as perceived by lodging managers, and (b) the local level of analysis (e.g. immediate workplace norms and values) is the predominate determinant of ethical decisions in the organization.
The implication of this study is that the knowledge gained from understanding that ethical decision making in an organization is multidimensional and multi-determined will foster understanding of ethical decision formation in the organizational context.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Borg, W. and M. Gall: 1983, Educational Research: An Introduction (4th ed.) (Von Hoffman Press, New York).
Deal, T. and A. Kennedy: 1982, Corporate Cultures: The Rites and Rituals of Corporate Life (Addison Wesley, Reading).
Enghagen L. and D. Hott: 1992, ‘Student's Perceptions of Ethical Issues in the Hospitality and Tourism Industry’, Hospitality Research Journal 15(2), 41–50.
Forsythe, D.: 1980, ‘A Taxonomy of Ethical Ideologies’, Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 39(1), 175–184.
Forsythe, D.: 1981, ‘Moral Judgment: The Influence of Ethical Ideology’, Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin 7(2), 218–223.
Forsythe, D.: 1985, ‘Individual Differences Information Integration During Moral Judgement’, Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 49(1), 264–272.
Fritzche, D. and H. Becker: 1984, ‘Linking Management Behavior to Ethical Philosophy: An Empirical Investigation’, Journal of Management 1, 166–175.
Haan, N., E Aerts and B. Cooper: 1985, On Moral Grounds (New York University Press, New York).
Hall, S.: 1993, Ethics in Hospitality Management (Educational Institute of the American Hotel and Motel Association, East Lansing).
Hall, S. and L. Enghagen 1991, ‘Ethics in Hospitality — Two Tested, Full Credit Models for Teaching [abstract]’, 1991 Annual CHRIE Conference Proceedings, 252–253.
Harris: 1990, ‘Ethical Values of Individuals at Different Levels in the Organizational Hierarchy of a Single Firm’, Journal of Business Ethics 9, 741–750.
Kohlberg, L.: 1969, ‘Stage and Sequence: The Cognitive Development Approach to Socialization’, in David Goslin (ed.), Handbook of Socialization Theory and Research (Rand McNally, Chicago), pp. 347–480.
Kohlberg, L.: 1984, The Philosophy of Moral Development (Harper and Row, New York).
Kwansa, F. and A. Farrar: 1991, ‘A Conceptual Framework for Developing a Hospitality Educators’ Code of Ethics [abstract]’, Annual CHRIE Proceedings, 49–50.
MacLagan, P.: 1992. Rawls and Rights (University Press of Kansas, Manhattan).
Martin, R.: 1985, ‘The Inadequacy of Deontological Analysis of Peer Relations in Organizations’, Journal of Business Ethics 10, 133–139.
O'Halloran, R.: 1991, ‘Ethics in Business Curricula: A Denver University Model [abstract]’, 1991 Annual CHRIE Conference Proceedings, 188–190.
Reidenbach R. and D. Robin: 1991, ‘A Conceptual Model of Corporate Moral Development’, Journal of Business Ethics 10, 273–284.
Robin D. and R. Reidenbach: 1987, ‘Social Responsibility, Ethics, and Marketing Strategy: Closing the Gap Between Concept and Application’, Journal of Marketing 51, 45–58.
Schein, E.: 1983, ‘The Role of the Founder Creating Organizational Culture’, Organizational Dynamics 1, 13–28.
Schein, E.: 1984, ‘Coming to a New Awareness of Organizational Culture’, Sloan Management Review 25, 3–16.
Schein, E.: 1985, Organizational Culture and Leaders: A Dynamic View (Jossey-Bass, San Francisco).
Schneider, B.: 1975, ‘Organizational Climate: An Essay’, Personnel Psychology 28(4), 447–479.
Schneider, B.: 1983, ‘Work Climates: An Interactionist Perspective’, in N. W. Feimer and E. S. Geller (eds.), Environmental Psychology: Directions and perspectives (Praeger, New York), pp. 106–128.
Tsalikis, J. and D. Fritzche: 1989, ‘Business Ethics: A Literature Review with a Focus on Marketing Ethics’, Journal of Business Ethics 8, 695–643.
Victor, B. and J. Gullen: 1987, ‘A Theory and Measure of Ethical Climate in Organizations’, in W. C. Fredrick and L. Preston (eds.), Research in Corporate Social Performance and Policy (JAI Press, London), pp. 51–71.
Victor, B. and J. Gullen: 1988, ‘The Organizational Bases of Ethical Work Climates’, Administrative Science Quarterly 33, 101–125.
Vitell, S.: 1986, ‘Marketing Ethics: Conceptual and Empirical Foundations of a Positive Theory of Decision Making in Marketing Situations (Doctoral dissertation, Texas Tech University, 1986)’, Dissertation Abstract International 47, 1410A.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Randall S. Upchurch has a rich lodging industry background that encompasses 16 years of practical experience ranging from front office operations to hotel general management. He received his Ph.D. in May of 1993. He is the author of a text entitled “Lodging Marketing.
Sheila K. Ruhland is Assistant Professor of Marketing Education in the College of Education at the University of Missouri — Columbia. Her research interests are in area of workplace ethics, workforce issues, leadership development. She has conducted a seminar on Ethics and has published articles in the Marketing Educators' Journal, and Journal of Vocational Education Research.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Upchurch, R.S., Ruhland, S.K. The organizational bases of ethical work climates in lodging operations as perceived by general managers. J Bus Ethics 15, 1083–1093 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00412049
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00412049