| Author: | Li, Man Hong |
| Title: | The effect of calculative orientation towards ethical behavior, ethical leadership and team ethical climate on employee's work behavior : a combinational perspective |
| Advisors: | Chiu, Warren (MM) |
| Degree: | D.B.A. |
| Year: | 2014 |
| Subject: | Management. Leadership -- Moral and ethical aspects. Organizational behavior -- Moral and ethical aspects. Hong Kong Polytechnic University -- Dissertations |
| Department: | Faculty of Business |
| Pages: | x (incomplete), 184 leaves : illustrations ; 30 cm |
| Language: | English |
| Abstract: | A research on employee ethical behavior was conducted in the Hong Kong and China branches of a multi-national logistics firm, involving 72 team leaders and their 254 direct reports. Results show that calculative orientation, employees' sensitivity towards rewards or punishment is negatively related to ethical behavior. This study shows that ethical leadership is crucial for employees' ethical behavior performance. These leaders inspire employees who are low in calculative orientation to perform ethical acts. However, for employees high in such an orientation, it requires the joint effect of both ethical leadership and team ethical climate to motivate them to perform ethical acts as predicted by the combinational perspective. The application of the combination perspective in business ethics is supported as employees demonstrate the highest level of ethical behavior when both ethical leadership and ethical climate are high rather than either of them is high. Exercising the right kind of leadership and climate jointly at the team level can most effectively enhance employees' ethical work behavior. Therefore to encourage employees to engage in ethical behavior, managers should set and enforce clear ethical guidelines to promote team ethical climate as well as to serve as ethical role models for their employees to follow. In short, the study shows that for all team members, especially those high in calculative orientation towards ethical behavior, to perform ethical work behavior, the mere presence of ethical leaders is insufficient and it requires the effects of both ethical leadership and team ethical climate. |
| Rights: | All rights reserved |
| Access: | restricted access |
Files in This Item:
| File | Description | Size | Format | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| b28256645.pdf | For All Users (off-campus access for PolyU Staff & Students only) | 2.54 MB | Adobe PDF | View/Open |
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