A Longitudinal Investigation of Ethical Decision-Making: A
Contingency Approach
Author
Timothy P. Keane
Saint Louis University
Jeri Mullins Beggs
Illinois State University
Kathy Lund Dean
Idaho State University
14th Annual World Forum
Colleagues in Jesuit Business Education
International Association of Jesuit Business Schools
Business and Education in an Era of Globalization:
The Jesuit Position
July 20-23, 2008
Abstract
A recent survey of MBA students indicated that they believe 93% of managers
place too much emphasis on short term performance measures when making business
decisions, and only 12% of the students surveyed agreed that most companies accurately
report their financial performance.1 Another study involving college students found that a
climate of acceptable behavior significantly affected decision-making outcomes.2
Existing research focused on organizational contingencies and culture as
influencing factors on ethical decision making provides a foundational understanding of
some of the drivers of ethical decision making in business. This research initiative seeks
to extend our understanding of those drivers, while introducing analyses of new data on
less studied factors managers consider when resolving ethical dilemmas in the workplace.
The respondent group will be MBA students from Saint Louis University, Illinois
State University, and Idaho State University. MBAs are particularly attractive as
respondents as their career trajectories are generally hastened as compared with their nonMBA peers, and as such they will be exposed to more decision-making scenarios at a
faster rate.3 Our mixed methodology approach is a panel study to be conducted over ten
years while respondents are moving along in their careers. We will use a pre-tested,
scaled instrument to gather demographics and preliminary attitudinal information about
common organizational contextual issues gathered from the literature, and follow up with
respondent telephone interviews using a pre-tested set of questions for extensive
qualitative data.
Opportunites to explore new influencing factors abound with the research
approach defined above. For example, a recent study had respondents rate the
importance of various workplace contingencies on their ethical decision-making, finding
that religiosity significantly affected the ethical decision-making outcomes.4 Building on
aspects of that research, there might be the opportunity for a comparative analysis
between students receiving their MBA from a private, Jesuit institution versus a public,
state institution.
1
The Aspen Institute Center for Business Education (2008). Where Will They Lead?
http://aspencbe.org/teaching/SA/Student_Attitudes_West.html
2
Weber, J., Kurke, L. B., & Pentico, D. W. (2003). Why do employees steal?: Assessing differences in
ethical and unethical employee behavior using ethical work climates. Business & Society, 42(3), 359-380.
3
Peterson, R. A., & Ferrell, O. C. (Eds.). (2005). Business Ethics: New Challenges for Business Schools
and Corporate Leaders. Armonk, NY: M.E. Sharpe.
4
Conroy, S. J., & Emerson, T. L. N. (2004). Business ethics and religion: Religiosity as a predictor of
ethical awareness among students. Journal of Business Ethics, 50(4), 383-396.