Ethics and Executive Coaching: An Agency Theory Approach

Francis T. Hannafey, Lawrence A. Vitulano

Journal of Business Ethics · 2013 · Volume 115 · Issue 3

Abstract

In recent years executive coaching has become an important management development practice in many organizations. Executive coaching is a partnership between a management level client and a coach hired by an organization to assist the executive in becoming a more effective and successful manager. While executive coaching has become a frequent and important practice in organizations, there has been relatively little serious consideration of the complex ethical issues that arise for persons and organizations. This study proposes that executive coaching involves an agency relation with specific moral duties that go beyond the usual standards of professional ethics. Agency theory, and in particular a focused understanding of the agency relationship, can provide a needed ethical grounding and basis for moral thinking about executive coaching.

Keywords

Agency theory, Coaching, Executive coaching, Management consulting, Management development, Organizational ethics

Enable JavaScript for citation tools and additional paper interactions.