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The Moderating Role of Perceived Organisational Support in Breaking the Silence of Public Accountants

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  • Philmore Alleyne

    (University of the West Indies)

  • Mohammad Hudaib

    (University of Glasgow)

  • Roszaini Haniffa

    (Heriot-Watt University)

Abstract

This paper reports the results of a survey with public accountants in Barbados on their intention to report a superior’s unethical behaviour. Specifically, it investigates to what extent perceived organisational support (POS) in audit organisations would moderate Barbadian public accountants’ intentions to blow the whistle internally and externally. Results indicate that internal whistle-blowing intentions are significantly influenced by all five individual antecedents (attitudes, perceived behavioural control, independence commitment, personal responsibility for reporting and personal cost of reporting), and the influence of the antecedents is intensified when the level of POS is high. However, further results indicate that external whistle-blowing intentions are significantly influenced by only three individual-level antecedents viz. attitudes, perceived behavioural control and personal cost of reporting, and their influence is intensified when the level of POS is low. The results suggest that POS is an important mechanism for controlling behaviour.

Suggested Citation

  • Philmore Alleyne & Mohammad Hudaib & Roszaini Haniffa, 2018. "The Moderating Role of Perceived Organisational Support in Breaking the Silence of Public Accountants," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 147(3), pages 509-527, February.
  • Handle: RePEc:kap:jbuset:v:147:y:2018:i:3:d:10.1007_s10551-015-2946-0
    DOI: 10.1007/s10551-015-2946-0
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    5. Alleyne, Philmore & Haniffa, Roszaini & Hudaib, Mohammad, 2019. "Does group cohesion moderate auditors’ whistleblowing intentions?," Journal of International Accounting, Auditing and Taxation, Elsevier, vol. 34(C), pages 69-90.
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