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When Organizational Identification Elicits Moral Decision-Making: A Matter of the Right Climate

Author

Listed:
  • Suzanne Gils

    (Maastricht University)

  • Michael A. Hogg

    (Claremont Graduate University)

  • Niels Quaquebeke

    (Kühne Logistics University)

  • Daan Knippenberg

    (Erasmus University)

Abstract

To advance current knowledge on ethical decision-making in organizations, we integrate two perspectives that have thus far developed independently: the organizational identification perspective and the ethical climate perspective. We illustrate the interaction between these perspectives in two studies (Study 1, N = 144, US sample; and Study 2, N = 356, UK sample), in which we presented participants with moral business dilemmas. Specifically, we found that organizational identification increased moral decision-making only when the organization’s climate was perceived to be ethical. In addition, we disentangle this effect in Study 2 from participants’ moral identity. We argue that the interactive influence of organizational identification and ethical climate, rather than the independent influence of either of these perspectives, is crucial for understanding moral decision-making in organizations.

Suggested Citation

  • Suzanne Gils & Michael A. Hogg & Niels Quaquebeke & Daan Knippenberg, 2017. "When Organizational Identification Elicits Moral Decision-Making: A Matter of the Right Climate," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 142(1), pages 155-168, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jbuset:v:142:y:2017:i:1:d:10.1007_s10551-015-2784-0
    DOI: 10.1007/s10551-015-2784-0
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    Cited by:

    1. Dianru Zhang & Chi Zhang & Li Wang, 2023. "Preventing Moral Crisis and Promoting Sustainable Development in Enterprises: A Study of Managers’ Moral Decision-Making," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(15), pages 1-18, July.
    2. Gazi Islam, 2020. "Psychology and Business Ethics: A Multi-level Research Agenda," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 165(1), pages 1-13, August.
    3. Maureen L. Ambrose & Darryl B. Rice & David M. Mayer, 2021. "Justice Climate and Workgroup Outcomes: The Role of Coworker Fair Behavior and Workgroup Structure," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 172(1), pages 79-99, August.

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