Ethical Behaviour
BUSM 3115 ETHICS and GOVERNANCE
Research Essay: Are the actions of people in the workplace a consequence of individual or
Organisational characteristics? What would promote ethical behaviour at work?
1. Introduction
The aim of this research essay is to discuss on what type of characteristics drive and influence people’s actions ethically at work. Ethics is an important value everyone should have, whether at work or in life. In an organisation, workplace behaviour ethics should be a core value. Being ethical is essential to fixing problems and improving processes. This is crucial in establishing baseline measures and increasing efficiencies. This leads to strong and stable working relationships with people. Unethical behaviour, on the other hand, can cause mistrust and unhappiness within and outside the organisation. Jones (1991) tells us that one requires moral awareness to interpret a moral issue and recognise that a decision or action has consequences for other human beings and that one has some choice in dealing with the issue. 2. Individual Characteristics
Firstly, we shall explore the individual characteristics that determine the actions people take at work. According to Crane & Matten (2008), some of the individual influences on ethical decision making are age, gender, education level, personal values, moral imagination and psychological factors. One of the psychological factors is the cognitive moral development of the individual which introduces us to Kohlberg (1969)’s stages of cognitive moral development theory (CMD).
Kohlberg’s theory is widely recognised as the leading theory in the field of moral development, focuses on how people resolve ethical dilemmas and how they determine what is right. Pre-conventional level individuals tend to be self-centred, looking after only their own interests and only concerned to avoid punishment. Conventional individuals focus their decisions on what is morally right which either helps oneself
Research Essay: Are the actions of people in the workplace a consequence of individual or
Organisational characteristics? What would promote ethical behaviour at work?
1. Introduction
The aim of this research essay is to discuss on what type of characteristics drive and influence people’s actions ethically at work. Ethics is an important value everyone should have, whether at work or in life. In an organisation, workplace behaviour ethics should be a core value. Being ethical is essential to fixing problems and improving processes. This is crucial in establishing baseline measures and increasing efficiencies. This leads to strong and stable working relationships with people. Unethical behaviour, on the other hand, can cause mistrust and unhappiness within and outside the organisation. Jones (1991) tells us that one requires moral awareness to interpret a moral issue and recognise that a decision or action has consequences for other human beings and that one has some choice in dealing with the issue. 2. Individual Characteristics
Firstly, we shall explore the individual characteristics that determine the actions people take at work. According to Crane & Matten (2008), some of the individual influences on ethical decision making are age, gender, education level, personal values, moral imagination and psychological factors. One of the psychological factors is the cognitive moral development of the individual which introduces us to Kohlberg (1969)’s stages of cognitive moral development theory (CMD).
Kohlberg’s theory is widely recognised as the leading theory in the field of moral development, focuses on how people resolve ethical dilemmas and how they determine what is right. Pre-conventional level individuals tend to be self-centred, looking after only their own interests and only concerned to avoid punishment. Conventional individuals focus their decisions on what is morally right which either helps oneself