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Deceit, Misuse and Favours: Understanding and Measuring Attitudes to Ethics

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  • Chris Perryer
  • Brenda Scott-Ladd

Abstract

Society is increasing its demands for more ethical behaviour by managers of organizations. However, societal and workplace ethical attitudes are constantly evolving as generational differences and demographic diversity make the workplace more complex. While a number of studies have attempted to classify ethical attitudes into different categories, more work in this area is needed. This paper reports on a study that examined attitudes towards the acceptability of workplace behaviour that might be considered unethical. Graduate business students at an Australian university (n = 234) were asked to indicate the ethicality of 17 different behaviours, drawn from the business ethics literature. Exploratory factor analysis identified distinct factors, consisting of misuse of company resources, self-serving deceit, and the giving or receiving favours for personal gain. The derived factor structure was then tested with confirmatory factor analysis. Descriptive statistics indicated that misuse was considered less unethical than exchanging favours for personal gain. Deceit was considered the most unethical type of behaviour. Implications for managers and directions for further research are discussed. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2014

Suggested Citation

  • Chris Perryer & Brenda Scott-Ladd, 2014. "Deceit, Misuse and Favours: Understanding and Measuring Attitudes to Ethics," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 121(1), pages 123-134, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jbuset:v:121:y:2014:i:1:p:123-134
    DOI: 10.1007/s10551-012-1593-y
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    1. Tabea Franziska Hirth-Goebel & Barbara E. Weißenberger, 2019. "Management accountants and ethical dilemmas: How to promote ethical intention?," Journal of Management Control: Zeitschrift für Planung und Unternehmenssteuerung, Springer, vol. 30(3), pages 287-322, October.
    2. Nicole Celestine & Catherine Leighton & Chris Perryer, 2020. "A Multifocal and Integrative View of the Influencers of Ethical Attitudes Using Qualitative Configurational Analysis," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 162(1), pages 103-122, February.

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