An Examination of the Relationship Between Ethical Work Climate and Moral Awareness

Craig V. VanSandt, Jon M. Shepard, Stephen M. Zappe

Journal of Business Ethics · 2006 · Volume 68 · Issue 4

Abstract

This paper draws from the fields of history, sociology, psychology, moral philosophy, and organizational theory to establish a theoretical connection between a social/organizational influence (ethical work climate) and an individual cognitive element of moral behavior (moral awareness). The research was designed to help to fill a gap in the existing literature by providing empirical evidence of the connection between organizational influences and individual moral awareness and subsequent ethical choices, which has heretofore largely been merely assumed. Results of the study provide evidence that ethical work climate (EWC) is a primary predictor of individual moral awareness, and that the influence of social factors often overrides the effects of individual differences in a work group setting. Implications for future research are provided.

Keywords

ethical work climate, moral awareness

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