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

The stages people go through as they develop ethical reasoning

• 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 (bad case)

Answer 8

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

Question 9

Which locus of control is most likely to drive unethical behavior?

Answer 9

External locus of control

Question 10

Ethical climate

Answer 10

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

Question 11

Ethical criteria

Answer 11

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

Question 12

Codes of conduct

Answer 12

Formal guidelines set by organizations to define ethical standards

Question 13

Results from paper

Answer 13

• Reducing unethical behavior:
  strong ethical climates, strong code enforcement, high job satisfaction, social consensus and proximity, highlithing moral intensity
• Increasing unethical behavior: machiavellianism, external locus of control, men, situations perceived as ‘bad cases’, egoistic climates, self-interest