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Humanitarian versus organizational morality — A survey of attitudes concerning business ethics among managing directors

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Abstract

This paper presents the results of an empirical study of attitudes towards ethical questions in business life among managing directors. They study covers more than 240 Swedish firms of all sizes, from different lines of business, and it is based on a solid theoretical framework. It should be seen as a part of the author's effort to develop a model explaining ethical organizational behaviour. Among the most important conclusions of the study is the concept of “corporate moral view”. It seems possible to distinguish between “the humanitarian morality” versus “the organizational morality”, depending on who's interests the decision maker prefers to take in a moral dilemma.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Umeå Business School, Department of Business Administration, University of Umeå, Sweden

    Ulrica Nylén

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  1. Ulrica Nylén
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Ulrica Nylén is a Doctoral Candidate in Organizational Theory with a special interest in ethical values and their impact on organizational behavior. She is a member of staff at the Umeå Business School, Sweden, were she is the teaching the subject of Management.

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Nylén, U. Humanitarian versus organizational morality — A survey of attitudes concerning business ethics among managing directors. J Bus Ethics 14, 977–986 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00872113

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