IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/bit/bsrysr/v11y2020i1p31-43n3.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Do Business Ethics and Ethical Decision Making Still Matter: Perspective of Different Generational Cohorts

Author

Listed:
  • Klopotan Igor

    (Polytechnic of Međimurje in Čakovec, Croatia University North, Croatia)

  • Aleksić Ana

    (University of Zagreb, Faculty of Economics and Business)

  • Vinković Nikolina

    (University North,Koprivnica, Croatia)

Abstract

Background: Research in business ethics shows that individual differences can influence one’s ethical behaviour. In addition, variability in attitudes towards ethical issues among different generations is emphasized. Still, results are inconclusive and call for an additional examination of possible generational differences with regard to ethics and ethical values.Objectives: Our objective is to test if the perception of the importance of business ethics, attitudes towards ethical issues and aspects influencing ethical behaviour, differ among the four generations currently present in the workforce.Methods/Approach: Theoretical implications are empirically tested on a sample of 107 individuals, members of Baby Boomers, Generation X, Millennials and Generation Z.Results: In general, the results indicate that there are little or no generational differences related to the analysed aspects of business ethics. The significant difference is present only in the importance given to factors that influence ethical decision-making: (i) formal rules and procedures, (ii) performance management system and (iii) job pressures, between the members of Generation Z and older generations.Conclusions: In spite of employee diversity, ethics continues to present an important aspect of the business environment. Thus, organizations need to be oriented towards creating ethical leaders and a positive ethical climate that ensures that ethical values and behaviours are present throughout the organization.

Suggested Citation

  • Klopotan Igor & Aleksić Ana & Vinković Nikolina, 2020. "Do Business Ethics and Ethical Decision Making Still Matter: Perspective of Different Generational Cohorts," Business Systems Research, Sciendo, vol. 11(1), pages 31-43, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:bit:bsrysr:v:11:y:2020:i:1:p:31-43:n:3
    DOI: 10.2478/bsrj-2020-0003
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://doi.org/10.2478/bsrj-2020-0003
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.2478/bsrj-2020-0003?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Mayowa T. Babalola & Jeroen Stouten & Jeroen Camps & Martin Euwema, 2019. "When Do Ethical Leaders Become Less Effective? The Moderating Role of Perceived Leader Ethical Conviction on Employee Discretionary Reactions to Ethical Leadership," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 154(1), pages 85-102, January.
    2. David Boyd, 2010. "Ethical Determinants for Generations X and Y," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 93(3), pages 465-469, May.
    3. Virginia W. Gerde & Christopher Michaelson, 2019. "Special Issue: Global Perspectives on Business Ethics from the 40th Anniversary Conference of the Hoffman Center for Business Ethics at Bentley University, 2016," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 155(4), pages 913-916, April.
    4. Georges Enderle, 2018. "How Can Business Ethics Strengthen the Social Cohesion of a Society?," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 150(3), pages 619-629, July.
    5. Ferrell, O.C. & Harrison, Dana E. & Ferrell, Linda & Hair, Joe F., 2019. "Business ethics, corporate social responsibility, and brand attitudes: An exploratory study," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 95(C), pages 491-501.
    6. Michelle Greenwood & R. Edward Freeman, 2018. "Deepening Ethical Analysis in Business Ethics," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 147(1), pages 1-4, January.
    7. Costanza, David P. & Finkelstein, Lisa M., 2015. "Generationally Based Differences in the Workplace: Is There a There There?," Industrial and Organizational Psychology, Cambridge University Press, vol. 8(3), pages 308-323, September.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Zhen Li & Yitong Sun & Jinhao Liu & Yi Li & Zhifang Zhou, 2024. "Corporate violations and bank debt cost: The insurance effect of corporate social responsibility," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 31(5), pages 4487-4503, September.
    2. Gwarlann Kerviler & Nico Heuvinck & Elodie Gentina, 2022. "“Make an Effort and Show Me the Love!” Effects of Indexical and Iconic Authenticity on Perceived Brand Ethicality," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 179(1), pages 89-110, August.
    3. Jozef Cossey & Adrien Billiet & Frédéric Dufays & Johan Bruneel, 2025. "How Do Institutional Prescriptions (Fail to) Address Governance Challenges Under Institutional Hybridity? The Case of Governance Code Creation for Cooperative Enterprises," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 196(2), pages 451-470, January.
    4. Tarcia Camily Cavalcante Quezado & Nuno Fortes & William Quezado Figueiredo Cavalcante, 2022. "The Influence of Corporate Social Responsibility and Business Ethics on Brand Fidelity: The Importance of Brand Love and Brand Attitude," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-20, March.
    5. Jesús J. Cambra‐Fierro & J. Alfredo Flores‐Hernández & Lourdes Pérez & Guadalupe Valera‐Blanes, 2020. "CSR and branding in emerging economies: The effect of incomes and education," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 27(6), pages 2765-2776, November.
    6. Castaldo, Sandro & Ciacci, Andrea & Penco, Lara, 2023. "Perceived corporate social responsibility and job satisfaction in grocery retail: A comparison between low- and high-productivity stores," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 74(C).
    7. Douglas Cumming & Jun Hu & Huiying Wu, 2024. "Leaving a Legacy for my Children: The One-Child Policy Reform and Engagement in CSR Among Family Firms in China," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 193(3), pages 611-632, September.
    8. Dirk Ulrich Gilbert & Stephanie Schrage & Michael Behnam, 2024. "Advancing the Moral legitimacy of digital platforms as gatekeepers: a critical analysis from a political corporate social responsibility perspective," Journal of Business Economics, Springer, vol. 94(7), pages 1115-1145, October.
    9. Muhammad Arshad & Ghulam Abid & Francoise Venezia Contreras Torres, 2021. "Impact of prosocial motivation on organizational citizenship behavior: the mediating role of ethical leadership and leader–member exchange," Quality & Quantity: International Journal of Methodology, Springer, vol. 55(1), pages 133-150, February.
    10. Tony Dobbins & Peter Prowse, 2024. "Moral Economy and the Ethics of the Real Living Wage in UK Football Clubs," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 195(2), pages 299-314, November.
    11. Xin Xu & Feng Xiong & Zhe An, 2023. "Using Machine Learning to Predict Corporate Fraud: Evidence Based on the GONE Framework," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 186(1), pages 137-158, August.
    12. Rojas-de-Gracia, María-Mercedes & Casado-Molina, Ana-María & Alarcón-Urbistondo, Pilar, 2021. "Relationship between reputational aspects of companies and their share price in the online environment," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 64(C).
    13. Gustavo Adolfo García & Diego René Gonzales Miranda & Oscar Gallo & Juan Pablo Roman Calderon, 2020. "Millennials and the gender wage gap: Do millennial women face a glass ceiling?," Documentos de Trabajo de Valor Público 18409, Universidad EAFIT.
    14. Ogunbiyi, James O. & Adeleke, Folake & Oladimeji, Dare, 2024. "Ethical Delimitation of Client Satisfaction, Client Sophistication and Client Influence in Property Valuation Practice in Nigeria," OSF Preprints 8k43a, Center for Open Science.
    15. Szypulewska-Porczyńska Alina & Zduńska-Leseux Edyta & Horodecka Anna, 2024. "The common good from an economic perspective: Insights from EU policies during the COVID-19," International Journal of Management and Economics, Warsaw School of Economics, Collegium of World Economy, vol. 60(2), pages 123-131.
    16. Jose Ribamar Siqueira Junior & Enrique Horst & German Molina & Laura H. Gunn & Felipe Reinoso-Carvalho & Burcu Sezen & Nathalie Peña-García, 2023. "Branding in the eye of the storm: the impact of brand ethical behavior on brand commitment during the COVID-19 crisis in a South American country," Journal of Marketing Analytics, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 11(1), pages 95-115, March.
    17. Nazli Mohammad & Yvonne Stedham, 2021. "Relationship between Cultural Values, Sense of Community and Trust and the Effect of Trust in Workplace," Working Papers hal-03257439, HAL.
    18. Muazza Muazza & Akhmad Habibi & Amirul Mukminin, 2023. "The Socially Responsible Human Resources Management and Its Impacts on the Organizational Legitimacy: The Case of Indonesian Employees," Economic Studies journal, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences - Economic Research Institute, issue 3, pages 162-177.
    19. Juliana Toro-Arias & Pablo Ruiz-Palomino & María Pilar Rodríguez-Córdoba, 2022. "Measuring Ethical Organizational Culture: Validation of the Spanish Version of the Shortened Corporate Ethical Virtues Model," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 176(3), pages 551-574, March.
    20. Liu, Pei & Mu, Yuting & Li, Xin, 2025. "How does perceived overqualification beget workplace incivility? A moderated mediation model based on Kahn’s framework," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 186(C).

    More about this item

    Keywords

    business ethics; ethical decision making; generations;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • M1 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Business Administration
    • M14 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Business Administration - - - Corporate Culture; Diversity; Social Responsibility

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:bit:bsrysr:v:11:y:2020:i:1:p:31-43:n:3. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Peter Golla (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.sciendo.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.