W1 - Kish-Gephart et al Bad apples, bad cases

Question 1

Unethical intention

Answer 1

Expression of one’s willigness or commitment to engage in unethical behavior

Question 2

Unethical behavior

Answer 2

Any action that violates widely accepted societal moral norms

Question 3

Bad apple argument

Answer 3

Unethical behavior at work is the result of a few unsavory individuals

Question 4

Bad barrels argument

Answer 4

Unethical chocies may reflect ‘bad barrels’ or characteristics of one’s more general organizational environment

Question 5

Cognitive moral development

Answer 5

• Stage 5: individuals cognitively process ethical dilemmas by using sophisticated reasoning
• Stage 4: focus on maintaining order and obeying laws
• Stage 3: desire to meet expectations of peers and significant others
• Stage 2: acting in their self-interest
• Stage 1: decisions based on obedience and avoiding punishment

Question 6

Moral philosophies

Answer 6

Measures of moral philosophy assess individuals’ beliefs or preferences about how they make ethical decisions, based on specific frameworks.

Question 7

Classifications of moral philosophies

Answer 7

1. Idealism: one’s concern for the welfare of others
   - Highly idealistic: Believe it’s possible to avoid harming others in any situation.
   - Non-idealistic: Believe harming others can sometimes lead to a greater good.
2. Relativism: how you think moral rules change depending on the situation
   - Low on relativism: Believe in universal moral rules that apply to all situations.
   - High on relativism: Believe moral decisions depend on the context of the situation.

Question 8

Moral issue characteristics

Answer 8

1. Magnitude of consequences
2. Social consensus
3. Probability of effect
4. Temporal immediacy
5. Proximity
6. Concentration of effect

Question 9

Ethical climate

Answer 9

Group of prescriptive climates reflecting the organizational procedures, policies and practices with moral consequences

Question 10

Ethical criteria

Answer 10

Egoism: Focus on self-interest.
Benevolence: Concern for others’ well-being.
Principles: Adherence to moral rules and standards.

Question 11

Codes of conduct

Answer 11

Formal guidelines set by organizations to define ethical standards

Question 12

Results from paper

Answer 12

• Reducing unethical behavior: ethical climates, strong code enforcement
• Bad apples vs bad barrels: individual traits vs organizational environment
• Moral intensity and perception: influece on moral perception on decision
• Predictors: climate, culture, and code enforcement

Question 13

Organization environment and unethical choices

Answer 13

Ethical climate: Benevolent and principled climates reduce unethical behavior, while egoistic climates foster it.

Ethical culture: A strong ethical culture helps reduce unethical choices.

Codes of conduct: The mere existence of a code has little impact, but proper enforcement is crucial for reducing unethical behavior.

Enforcement: Strong enforcement of codes is more impactful than just having a code.