Ethics In Hospitality
International Journal of Business and Management; Vol. 9, No. 3; 2014
ISSN 1833-3850
E-ISSN 1833-8119
Published by Canadian Center of Science and Education
Ethics in the Hospitality Industry: Review and Research Agenda
Mouna Knani1
1
Faculty of Business Administration, Laval University, Canada
Correspondence: Mouna Knani, Faculty of Business Administration, Laval University, Quebec, QC, G1V 0A6,
Canada. E-mail: mouna.knani.1@ulaval.ca
Received: October 9, 2013
Accepted: January 6, 2014
Online Published: February 21, 2014
doi:10.5539/ijbm.v9n3p1
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.5539/ijbm.v9n3p1
Abstract
Practitioners in the hospitality sector rate ethics as one of the most important issues faced by the industry. Many scholars argue that the hospitality sector is open to frequent unethical practices. Managers and employees, due to intensive face-to-face interactions with clients, confront many ethical dilemmas in their day-to-day operations.
Previous research confirms that a positive ethical climate nurtures a healthy organization by increasing manager and employee job satisfaction, enhancing customer experience, and increasing the organization’s profit. Despite its crucial role, studies on ethics in the hospitality industry are limited compared to those undertaken in the more general business area. This manuscript reviews the literature on ethical perceptions and practices among hospitality managers, employees and students (future professionals), and proposes a research agenda. This critic review intends to increase awareness and knowledge on the importance of this issue and give some orientations for scholars towards several important topics for future research in the area of hospitality ethics.
Keywords: ethical perceptions and practices, hospitality industry, research agenda
1. Introduction
Ethics are one of the most critical issues in business and, specifically, in human resources management. Previous research shows that employees’ perception of their
ISSN 1833-3850
E-ISSN 1833-8119
Published by Canadian Center of Science and Education
Ethics in the Hospitality Industry: Review and Research Agenda
Mouna Knani1
1
Faculty of Business Administration, Laval University, Canada
Correspondence: Mouna Knani, Faculty of Business Administration, Laval University, Quebec, QC, G1V 0A6,
Canada. E-mail: mouna.knani.1@ulaval.ca
Received: October 9, 2013
Accepted: January 6, 2014
Online Published: February 21, 2014
doi:10.5539/ijbm.v9n3p1
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.5539/ijbm.v9n3p1
Abstract
Practitioners in the hospitality sector rate ethics as one of the most important issues faced by the industry. Many scholars argue that the hospitality sector is open to frequent unethical practices. Managers and employees, due to intensive face-to-face interactions with clients, confront many ethical dilemmas in their day-to-day operations.
Previous research confirms that a positive ethical climate nurtures a healthy organization by increasing manager and employee job satisfaction, enhancing customer experience, and increasing the organization’s profit. Despite its crucial role, studies on ethics in the hospitality industry are limited compared to those undertaken in the more general business area. This manuscript reviews the literature on ethical perceptions and practices among hospitality managers, employees and students (future professionals), and proposes a research agenda. This critic review intends to increase awareness and knowledge on the importance of this issue and give some orientations for scholars towards several important topics for future research in the area of hospitality ethics.
Keywords: ethical perceptions and practices, hospitality industry, research agenda
1. Introduction
Ethics are one of the most critical issues in business and, specifically, in human resources management. Previous research shows that employees’ perception of their