IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/kap/jbuset/v155y2019i1d10.1007_s10551-017-3525-3.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

How Virtuous Global Firms Say They Are: A Content Analysis of Ethical Values

Author

Listed:
  • Rosa Chun

    (UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School)

Abstract

This study compares the different emphases on virtuous characters presented in their values, across global firms considering country and industry of origin. It presents a content analysis of the 122 codes of conduct statements from Fortune Global 500 firms, drawn from four sectors and using correspondence analysis. American firms tend to emphasize courage, while European firms emphasize integrity and empathy, surprisingly with Asian firms being closer to European ones. Retailers and pharmaceutical firms emphasize empathy, while banks and petroleum emphasize courage. This study extends the newly emerging strategic paradigm of organizational virtue, by introducing an empirical study of ethical values. Implications for multinational companies are then discussed.

Suggested Citation

  • Rosa Chun, 2019. "How Virtuous Global Firms Say They Are: A Content Analysis of Ethical Values," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 155(1), pages 57-73, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jbuset:v:155:y:2019:i:1:d:10.1007_s10551-017-3525-3
    DOI: 10.1007/s10551-017-3525-3
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s10551-017-3525-3
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s10551-017-3525-3?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
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Green, Robert T, et al, 1983. "Societal Development and Family Purchasing Roles: A Cross-National Study," Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Consumer Research Inc., vol. 9(4), pages 436-442, March.
    2. Isabelle Maignan & David A Ralston, 2002. "Corporate Social Responsibility in Europe and the U.S.: Insights from Businesses' Self-presentations," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 33(3), pages 497-514, September.
    3. Bryan W Husted, 1999. "Wealth, Culture, and Corruption," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 30(2), pages 339-359, June.
    4. Hosmer, LaRue Tone, 1994. "Why Be Moral? A Different Rationale for Managers," Business Ethics Quarterly, Cambridge University Press, vol. 4(2), pages 191-204, April.
    5. Heather Canary & Marianne Jennings, 2008. "Principles and Influence in Codes of Ethics: A Centering Resonance Analysis Comparing Pre- and Post-Sarbanes-Oxley Codes of Ethics," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 80(2), pages 263-278, June.
    6. Maureen Taylor & Aimei Yang, 2015. "Have Global Ethical Values Emerged in the Public Relations Industry? Evidence from National and International Professional Public Relations Associations," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 130(3), pages 543-555, September.
    7. K. Praveen Parboteeah & John B. Cullen, 2003. "Social Institutions and Work Centrality: Explorations Beyond National Culture," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 14(2), pages 137-148, April.
    8. Tony Simons, 2002. "Behavioral Integrity: The Perceived Alignment Between Managers' Words and Deeds as a Research Focus," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 13(1), pages 18-35, February.
    9. Geert Demuijnck, 2015. "Universal Values and Virtues in Management Versus Cross-Cultural Moral Relativism: An Educational Strategy to Clear the Ground for Business Ethics," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 128(4), pages 817-835, June.
    10. Eugene W. Anderson & Claes Fornell & Roland T. Rust, 1997. "Customer Satisfaction, Productivity, and Profitability: Differences Between Goods and Services," Marketing Science, INFORMS, vol. 16(2), pages 129-145.
    11. Christopher J. Robertson & William F. Crittenden, 2003. "Mapping moral philosophies: strategic implications for multinational firms," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 24(4), pages 385-392, April.
    12. Bodo B Schlegelmilch & Diana C Robertson, 1995. "The influence of Country and Industry on Ethical Perceptions of Senior Executives in the U.S. and Europe," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 26(4), pages 859-881, December.
    13. Daryl Koehn, 2013. "East Meets West: Toward a Universal Ethic of Virtue for Global Business," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 116(4), pages 703-715, September.
    14. Solomon, Robert C., 1992. "Corporate Roles, Personal Virtues: An Aristotelean Approach to Business Ethics," Business Ethics Quarterly, Cambridge University Press, vol. 2(3), pages 317-339, July.
    15. Graafland, J.J., 2004. "Collusion, reputation damage and interest in code of conduct: The case of a Dutch construction company," MPRA Paper 20281, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    16. Matt Statler & David Oliver, 2016. "The Moral of the Story: Re-framing Ethical Codes of Conduct as Narrative Processes," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 136(1), pages 89-100, June.
    17. Beneish, Messod D. & Chatov, Robert, 1993. "Corporate codes of conduct: Economic determinants and legal implications for independent auditors," Journal of Accounting and Public Policy, Elsevier, vol. 12(1), pages 3-35.
    18. David Bright & Bradley Winn & Jason Kanov, 2014. "Reconsidering Virtue: Differences of Perspective in Virtue Ethics and the Positive Social Sciences," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 119(4), pages 445-460, February.
    19. Bert Scholtens & Lammertjan Dam, 2007. "Cultural Values and International Differences in Business Ethics," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 75(3), pages 273-284, October.
    20. Hosmer, Larue Tone, 2000. "It’s Time for Empirical Research in Business Ethics," Business Ethics Quarterly, Cambridge University Press, vol. 10(1), pages 233-242, January.
    21. Dyck, Bruno & Kleysen, Rob, 2001. "Aristotle’s Virtues and Management Thought: An Empirical Exploration of an Integrative Pedagogy," Business Ethics Quarterly, Cambridge University Press, vol. 11(4), pages 561-574, October.
    22. Catherine C Langlois & Bodo B Shlegemilch, 1990. "Do Corporate Codes of Ethics Reflect National Character? Evidence from Europe and the United States," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 21(4), pages 519-539, December.
    23. Adelina Broadbridge, 1999. "A Profile of Female Retail Managers: Some Insights," The Service Industries Journal, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 19(3), pages 135-161, July.
    24. Lori Holder-Webb & Jeffrey Cohen, 2012. "The Cut and Paste Society: Isomorphism in Codes of Ethics," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 107(4), pages 485-509, June.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Helen LaVan & Lori S. Cook & Ivana Zilic, 2021. "An analysis of the ethical frameworks and financial outcomes of corporate social responsibility and business press reporting of US pharmaceutical companies," International Journal of Business Governance and Ethics, Inderscience Enterprises Ltd, vol. 15(3), pages 326-355.
    2. Sarah Vandenbroucke & Jaroslaw Kantorowicz & Yvonne Erkens, 2024. "Decoding supplier codes of conduct with content and text as data approaches," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 31(1), pages 472-492, January.
    3. Barbara Orser & Susan Coleman & Yanhong Li, 2020. "Progress or pinkwashing: who benefits from digital women-focused capital funds?," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 55(2), pages 363-387, August.
    4. Matthew A. Douglas & Diane A. Mollenkopf & Vincent E. Castillo & John E. Bell & Emily C. Dickey, 2022. "Journeys, Not Destinations: Theorizing a Process View of Supply Chain Integrity," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 181(1), pages 195-220, November.
    5. Katia Furlotti & Tatiana Mazza, 2020. "Code of ethics and workers' communication policies: The role of corporate governance," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 27(6), pages 3060-3072, November.

    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. Bruce W. Stening & Daniel W. Skubik, 2007. "Do international management researchers need a code of ethics?," Management International Review, Springer, vol. 47(1), pages 103-126, February.
    2. Marina Balboa & Germán López-Espinosa & Antonio Rubia, 2012. "Non-linear Dynamics in Discretionary Accruals: An Analysis of Bank Loan-Loss Provisions," Faculty Working Papers 07/12, School of Economics and Business Administration, University of Navarra.
    3. Bert Scholtens & Riikka Sievänen, 2013. "Drivers of Socially Responsible Investing: A Case Study of Four Nordic Countries," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 115(3), pages 605-616, July.
    4. Forsyth, Donelson R. & O'Boyle Jr., Ernest H., 2011. "Rules, standards, and ethics: Relativism predicts cross-national differences in the codification of moral standards," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 20(3), pages 353-361, June.
    5. Kevin Morrell & Stephen Brammer, 2016. "Governance and Virtue: The Case of Public Order Policing," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 136(2), pages 385-398, June.
    6. Andreas Rasche & Frank Bakker & Jeremy Moon, 2013. "Complete and Partial Organizing for Corporate Social Responsibility," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 115(4), pages 651-663, July.
    7. Bert Scholtens & Lammertjan Dam, 2007. "Cultural Values and International Differences in Business Ethics," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 75(3), pages 273-284, October.
    8. Michael S. McLeod & G. Tyge Payne & Robert E. Evert, 2016. "Organizational Ethics Research: A Systematic Review of Methods and Analytical Techniques," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 134(3), pages 429-443, March.
    9. Barkemeyer, Ralf & Preuss, Lutz & Ohana, Marc, 2018. "Developing country firms and the challenge of corruption: Do company commitments mirror the quality of national-level institutions?," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 90(C), pages 26-39.
    10. Leonidou, Constantinos N. & Leonidou, Leonidas C. & Coudounaris, Dafnis N. & Hultman, Magnus, 2013. "Value differences as determinants of importers’ perceptions of exporters’ unethical behavior: The impact on relationship quality and performance," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 22(1), pages 156-173.
    11. Christopher J. Robertson & David A. Ralston & William F. Crittenden, 2012. "The relationship between cultural values and moral philosophy: a generational subculture theory approach," AMS Review, Springer;Academy of Marketing Science, vol. 2(2), pages 99-107, December.
    12. Maira Babri & Bruce Davidson & Sven Helin, 2021. "An Updated Inquiry into the Study of Corporate Codes of Ethics: 2005–2016," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 168(1), pages 71-108, January.
    13. Rafael Morales-Sánchez & Carmen Cabello-Medina, 2013. "The Role of Four Universal Moral Competencies in Ethical Decision-Making," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 116(4), pages 717-734, September.
    14. Watson, Sharon & Weaver, Gary R., 2003. "How internationalization affects corporate ethics: formal structures and informal management behavior," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 9(1), pages 75-93.
    15. Jana Kozáková & Mária Urbánová & Radovan Savov, 2021. "Factors Influencing the Extent of the Ethical Codes: Evidence from Slovakia," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 14(1), pages 1-18, January.
    16. Hood, Jacqueline N. & Logsdon, Jeanne M., 2002. "Business ethics in the NAFTA countries: A cross-cultural comparison," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 55(11), pages 883-890, November.
    17. Virginia Bodolica & Martin Spraggon, 2015. "An Examination into the Disclosure, Structure, and Contents of Ethical Codes in Publicly Listed Acquiring Firms," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 126(3), pages 459-472, February.
    18. Saurabh Ahluwalia & O. C. Ferrell & Linda Ferrell & Terri L. Rittenburg, 2018. "Sarbanes–Oxley Section 406 Code of Ethics for Senior Financial Officers and Firm Behavior," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 151(3), pages 693-705, September.
    19. Ivan Bozhikin & Nikolay Dentchev, 2018. "Discovering a Wilderness of Regulatory Mechanisms for Corporate Social Responsibility: Literature Review," Economic Alternatives, University of National and World Economy, Sofia, Bulgaria, issue 2, pages 145-174, June.
    20. Vitolla, Filippo & Raimo, Nicola & Rubino, Michele & Garegnani, Giovanni Maria, 2021. "Do cultural differences impact ethical issues? Exploring the relationship between national culture and quality of code of ethics," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 27(1).

    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:kap:jbuset:v:155:y:2019:i:1:d:10.1007_s10551-017-3525-3. 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: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.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.