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Transition Ethics: A Comparison of Ukrainian and United States Business Professionals

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Abstract

This article compares the ethical attitudes of Ukrainian business professionals with those of United States business professionals. A widely used survey instrument consisting of 16 hypothetical situations involving ethical dilemmas was employed to gather information on ethical attitudes in the two countries. On 13 of 16 vignettes, Ukrainian respondents demonstrated less stringent ethical attitudes than did their United States counterparts. Possible reasons for these differences are discussed, with primary emphasis on the transition from one economic system to another that is underway in Ukraine. Comments from Ukrainian respondents are presented so as to give an indication of the thought processes behind the questionnaire responses.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Head of Psychology and Pedagogics Chair, National Technical University of Ukraine, 37, Peremoga Ave, 252056, Kyiv, Ukraine

    Olena Vynoslavska

  2. Department of Economics, Baylor University, P.O. Box 98003, Waco, TX, 76798-8003, U.S.A.

    Joseph A. McKinney

  3. Department of Marketing, Baylor University, P.O. Box 98007, Waco, TX, 76798-8007, U.S.A.

    Carlos W. Moore

  4. Baylor University, P.O. Box 98006, Waco, TX, 76798-8006, U.S.A.

    Justin G. Longenecker

Authors
  1. Olena Vynoslavska
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  2. Joseph A. McKinney
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  3. Carlos W. Moore
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  4. Justin G. Longenecker
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Joseph A. McKinney.

Additional information

Olena Vynoslavska is Head of Psychology and Pedagogics Chair at the National Technical University of Ukraine, Kyiv. She has been a research scholar under the sponsorship of the International Research and Educational Exchange program of the United States Department of State at Baylor University. Her research has included international comparative studies of entrepreneurship and management techniques.

Joseph A. McKinney is Ben H. Williams Professor of International Economics at Baylor University. He was previously on the faculty of the University of Virginia, and has served as visiting professor or research scholar to universities in Japan, France, the United Kingdom and Canada. His research interests include business ethics, international trade policy, and regional economic integration.

Carlos W. Moore is the Edwin W. Streetman Professor of Marketing at Baylor University, where he has been on the faculty for more than 30 years. His research interests include business ethics, marketing and advertising evaluation, and small business strategies. He has done consulting on bank marketing and new product development.

Justin G. Longenecker is Emeritus Professor of Management at Baylor University. His research interests include business ethics, entrepreneurship, and family business. He is co-author of the leading text on small business management, and is the author of scholarly articles on various aspects of business management.

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Vynoslavska, O., McKinney, J.A., Moore, C.W. et al. Transition Ethics: A Comparison of Ukrainian and United States Business Professionals. J Bus Ethics 61, 283–299 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-005-1128-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-005-1128-x

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