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An Examination of the Relationship Between Ethical Work Climate and Moral Awareness

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  • Craig VanSandt
  • Jon Shepard
  • Stephen Zappe

Abstract

This paper draws from the fields of history, sociology, psychology, moral philosophy, and organizational theory to establish a theoretical connection between a social/organizational influence (ethical work climate) and an individual cognitive element of moral behavior (moral awareness). The research was designed to help to fill a gap in the existing literature by providing empirical evidence of the connection between organizational influences and individual moral awareness and subsequent ethical choices, which has heretofore largely been merely assumed. Results of the study provide evidence that ethical work climate (EWC) is a primary predictor of individual moral awareness, and that the influence of social factors often overrides the effects of individual differences in a work group setting. Implications for future research are provided. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media, Inc. 2006

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  • Craig VanSandt & Jon Shepard & Stephen Zappe, 2006. "An Examination of the Relationship Between Ethical Work Climate and Moral Awareness," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 68(4), pages 409-432, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jbuset:v:68:y:2006:i:4:p:409-432
    DOI: 10.1007/s10551-006-9030-8
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    11. K. Parboteeah & Hsien Chen & Ying-Tzu Lin & I-Heng Chen & Amber Lee & Anyi Chung, 2010. "Establishing Organizational Ethical Climates: How Do Managerial Practices Work?," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 97(4), pages 599-611, December.
    12. Shinaj Valangattil Shamsudheen & Aishath Muneeza, 2022. "Depicting ethical dilemma in Islamic financial institutions; addressing the gender heterogeneity," Eurasian Economic Review, Springer;Eurasia Business and Economics Society, vol. 12(1), pages 29-54, March.
    13. Agnihotri, Arpita & Bhattacharya, Saurabh & Gupta, Suraksha, 2023. "Do morally disengaged employees withdraw from customer-oriented citizenship behavior in response to customers’ uncivil behavior?," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 165(C).
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    15. Mustafa Fedai Cavus & Mehmet Bicer, 2016. "Relationship between Organizational Ethical Climate and Innovative Behavior: An Example from Turkey," International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, Human Resource Management Academic Research Society, International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, vol. 6(10), pages 117-127, October.
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    18. John Pearce, 2013. "Using Social Identity Theory to Predict Managers’ Emphases on Ethical and Legal Values in Judging Business Issues," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 112(3), pages 497-514, February.
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    21. Sora Lee & Jaewon Yoo, 2021. "What Makes Employees Behave Innovatively? Empirical Evidence from South Korea," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(24), pages 1-17, December.

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