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Moral Schemas and Corruption in Ugandan Public Procurement

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  • Joseph Ntayi
  • Pascal Ngoboka
  • Cornelia Kakooza

Abstract

This study investigates the relationship between moral schemas and corruption in public procurement. It adopts a moral schema framework to examine procurement-induced corruption from Uganda. Experiences, attitudes, and values of respondents are used to construct future behavior of public procurement staff. The schema framework was built around the premise that procurement-related corruption is a function of the social framework and human nature paradox, constructing logical justification for the acts of corruption. The study uses data from 474 public procurement staff to demonstrate that social identity, ethical egoistic, legislative, amoral, and religious moral schemas account for 78.51% of the variance in moral schema of respondents. All these schemas were found to be significant predictors, accounting for 73.3% of public procurement corruption. The paper urges managers of procuring and disposing entities to utilize moral scripts in reducing corruption. Managers are encouraged to engage in morally responsible behaviors to promote ethics and value-for-money transactions. The paper provides an alternative framework for examining corruption in sub-Saharan Africa where explicit elaboration of insights on corruption is still lacking. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2013

Suggested Citation

  • Joseph Ntayi & Pascal Ngoboka & Cornelia Kakooza, 2013. "Moral Schemas and Corruption in Ugandan Public Procurement," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 112(3), pages 417-436, February.
  • Handle: RePEc:kap:jbuset:v:112:y:2013:i:3:p:417-436
    DOI: 10.1007/s10551-012-1269-7
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    4. Kumar, Satish & Sahoo, Saumyaranjan & Lim, Weng Marc & Dana, Léo-Paul, 2022. "Religion as a social shaping force in entrepreneurship and business: Insights from a technology-empowered systematic literature review," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 175(C).
    5. Debmalya Mukherjee & Saumyaranjan Sahoo & Satish Kumar, 2023. "Two Decades of International Business and International Management Scholarship on Africa: A Review and Future Directions," Management International Review, Springer, vol. 63(6), pages 863-909, December.

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