Title
Considering the business in business ethics: An exploratory study of the influence of organizational size and structure on individual ethical predispositions
Abbreviated Journal Title
J. Bus. Ethics
Keywords
centralization; ethics; formalism; formalization; mechanistic; organic; size; structure; utilitarianism; DECISION-MAKING; REAL OPTIONS; FUTURE-DIRECTIONS; PERFORMANCE; INNOVATION; FRAMEWORKS; STRATEGY; CONTEXT; MODEL; INVESTMENTS; Business; Ethics
Abstract
This paper explores the relationship between organizational size, structure and the strength of organization members' ethical predispositions. It is hypothesized that individuals in smaller, more flexible, organic organizations will display stronger ethical predispositions. Survey results from 209 individuals across eleven organizations indicate that contrary to expectations, larger, more rigid, mechanistic structures were associated with higher levels of ethical formalism and utilitarianism. Implications of these findings are discussed.
Journal Title
Journal of Business Ethics
Volume
30
Issue/Number
4
Publication Date
1-1-2001
Document Type
Article
Language
English
First Page
375
Last Page
390
WOS Identifier
ISSN
0167-4544
Recommended Citation
"Considering the business in business ethics: An exploratory study of the influence of organizational size and structure on individual ethical predispositions" (2001). Faculty Bibliography 2000s. 8203.
https://stars.library.ucf.edu/facultybib2000/8203