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From Symbolic to Substantive Documents: When Business Codes of Ethics Impact Unethical Behavior in the Workplace

Year: 2009

Type: article

Abstract: textabstractA business code of ethics is widely regarded as an important instrument to curb unethical behavior in the workplace. However, little is empirically known about the factors that determine the impact of a code on unethical behavior. Besides the existence of a code, this study proposes five determining factors: the content of the code, the frequency of communication activities surrounding the code, the quality of the communication activities, and the embedment of the code in the organization by senior as well as local management. The full model explains 30.4% of unethical behavior while the explanatory value of a code alone is very modest.

Source: ERIM Report Series Research in Management

Author: Muel Kaptein

Institution: Erasmus University Rotterdam

Language: English

Topic: Ethics in Business and Education

Subfield: Organizational Behavior and Human Resource Management

Field: Business, Management and Accounting

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Peace, justice, and strong institutions

Open Access status: green

OpenAlex ID: W2127066974

FWCI: 0.596

Cites: 101

Cited by: 4

Related to: 10