Considering the business in business ethics: An exploratory study of the influence of organizational size and structure on individual ethical predispositions

    Authors

    M. Schminke

    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

    WOS:000167929300005

    ISSN

    0167-4544

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