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Theorising the Ethical Organization

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  • Collier, Jane

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to create a framework which can serve as a guide to the understanding of organizational ethicality. This is done by linking ethical and organizational theory. Organizational ethicality is about “being” as well as “doing”: relevant ethical theory is therefore both substantive (agent-centred, concerned with the “good”) as well as procedural (act-centred, concerned with the “right” in the sense of the moral or just thing to do). The ethical theories of Alasdair MacIntyre and Jurgen Habermas, as representatives of these two traditions, are mapped onto a framework which characterises organizations as assemblages of practices supported by a climate embedded within an organizational culture. Organizational practice is articulated and given meaning within a discourse of “sensemaking” in which narrative creates space-time links between people and events. Within that same communicative climate practices are evaluated and decisions taken. This theoretical framework is specified in such a way as to highlight the parallels with the ethical theories of MacIntyre, who uses notions of practice, tradition and the narrative unity of moral experience to create an ethical theory of the “good,” and Habermas, who spells out the process of moral argumentation by which consensus on the “just” or “right” is reached. Some possibilities for further research are suggested at the end of the paper.

Suggested Citation

  • Collier, Jane, 1998. "Theorising the Ethical Organization," Business Ethics Quarterly, Cambridge University Press, vol. 8(4), pages 621-654, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:cup:buetqu:v:8:y:1998:i:04:p:621-654_00
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    Cited by:

    1. Michelle Greenwood & Harry Buren III, 2010. "Trust and Stakeholder Theory: Trustworthiness in the Organisation–Stakeholder Relationship," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 95(3), pages 425-438, September.
    2. Kevin J. Shanahan & Christopher D. Hopkins, 2019. "Level of Agreement Between Sales Managers and Salespeople on the Need for Internal Virtue Ethics and a Direct Path from Satisfaction with Manager to Turnover Intent," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 159(3), pages 837-848, October.
    3. Kathryn L. Heinze & Sara B. Soderstrom, 2024. "Practicing Dialogue: How an Organization can Facilitate Diverse Collaborative Action," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 189(3), pages 453-478, January.
    4. Mark Edwards & Nin Kirkham, 2014. "Situating ‘Giving Voice to Values’: A Metatheoretical Evaluation of a New Approach to Business Ethics," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 121(3), pages 477-495, May.
    5. Daryl Koehn, 2024. "Narrative Business Ethics Versus Narratives Within Business Ethics: Problems and Possibilities From an Aristotelian Virtue Ethics Perspective," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 189(4), pages 763-779, February.
    6. Minna-Maaria Hiekkataipale & Anna-Maija Lämsä, 2017. "What Should a Manager Like Me Do in a Situation Like This? Strategies for Handling Ethical Problems from the Viewpoint of the Logic of Appropriateness," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 145(3), pages 457-479, October.
    7. Minna-Maaria Hiekkataipale & Anna-Maija Lämsä, 2019. "(A)moral Agents in Organisations? The Significance of Ethical Organisation Culture for Middle Managers’ Exercise of Moral Agency in Ethical Problems," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 155(1), pages 147-161, March.
    8. Daniela Pianezzi & Hanne Nørreklit & Lino Cinquini, 2020. "Academia After Virtue? An Inquiry into the Moral Character(s) of Academics," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 167(3), pages 571-588, December.
    9. Devine, Anthony & Jabbar, Abdul & Kimmitt, Jonathan & Apostolidis, Chrysostomos, 2021. "Conceptualising a social business blockchain: The coexistence of social and economic logics," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 172(C).
    10. Elina Riivari & Anna-Maija Lämsä, 2019. "Organizational Ethical Virtues of Innovativeness," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 155(1), pages 223-240, March.
    11. Elina Riivari & Anna-Maija Lämsä, 2014. "Does it Pay to Be Ethical? Examining the Relationship Between Organisations’ Ethical Culture and Innovativeness," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 124(1), pages 1-17, September.

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