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Perceptions of the ethicality of favors at work in Asia: An 11-society assessment

Author

Listed:
  • Charlotte Karam
  • David Ralston
  • Carolyn Egri
  • Arif Butt
  • Narasimhan Srinivasan
  • Ping Fu
  • Chay Lee
  • Yong-lin Moon
  • Yongjuan Li
  • Mahfooz Ansari
  • Christine Kuo
  • Vu Hung
  • Andre Pekerti
  • Philip Hallinger
  • Yongqing Fang
  • Ho-Beng Chia

Abstract

We explore macro-level factors that shape perceptions of the ethicality of favors in Asian workplaces using the subordinate influence ethics (SIE) measure. We also expand and use the crossvergence model to examine the cross-level relationship between socio-cultural (i.e., traditional/secular; survival/self-expression; in-group favoritism) and business ideology influences (i.e., human development level, control of corruption) on perceptions of favor-seeking at work. This study examines the perceptions of a total of 4,325 managers and professionals in a diverse set of 11 Asian societies: China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam. Our investigation focuses on both the “softer” (image management) and “harder” (self-serving) sides of subordinate influence attempts to seek favors, as well as the degree of ethical differentiation across these societies. Key results based on hierarchical linear modeling (HLM) suggest that both the World Value Survey’s socio-cultural values as well as in-group favoritism contribute to our understanding of influence behaviors in Asia. Likewise, level of human development and control of corruption also appear to be promising predictors of influence ethics. In sum, our results suggest that widening the scope of the crossvergence conceptualization of socio-cultural and business ideology influences engender a better understanding of differences in attitudes toward subordinate use of favoritism across Asian societies. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media New York 2013

Suggested Citation

  • Charlotte Karam & David Ralston & Carolyn Egri & Arif Butt & Narasimhan Srinivasan & Ping Fu & Chay Lee & Yong-lin Moon & Yongjuan Li & Mahfooz Ansari & Christine Kuo & Vu Hung & Andre Pekerti & Phili, 2013. "Perceptions of the ethicality of favors at work in Asia: An 11-society assessment," Asia Pacific Journal of Management, Springer, vol. 30(2), pages 373-408, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:asiapa:v:30:y:2013:i:2:p:373-408
    DOI: 10.1007/s10490-012-9335-3
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    Cited by:

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    3. David A. Ralston & Carolyn P. Egri & Charlotte M. Karam & Yongjuan Li & Ping Ping Fu, 2018. "Changes in work values across the regions of China," Asia Pacific Journal of Management, Springer, vol. 35(1), pages 145-179, March.
    4. Vojko Potocan & Zlatko Nedelko, 2021. "The Behavior of Organization in Economic Crisis: Integration, Interpretation, and Research Development," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 174(4), pages 805-823, December.
    5. Alain Verbeke & Wenlong Yuan & Liena Kano, 2020. "A values-based analysis of bifurcation bias and its impact on family firm internationalization," Asia Pacific Journal of Management, Springer, vol. 37(2), pages 449-477, June.
    6. Yan Zhu & Li-Yun Sun & Alicia Leung, 2014. "Corporate social responsibility, firm reputation, and firm performance: The role of ethical leadership," Asia Pacific Journal of Management, Springer, vol. 31(4), pages 925-947, December.
    7. Banalieva, Elitsa R. & Karam, Charlotte M. & Ralston, David A. & Elenkov, Detelin & Naoumova, Irina & Dabic, Marina & Potocan, Vojko & Starkus, Arunas & Danis, Wade & Wallace, Alan, 2017. "Communist footprint and subordinate influence behavior in post-communist transition economies," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 52(2), pages 209-229.
    8. Che-Jen Su & Hsin-Hsing Liao & Nicolas Lorgnier & Wen-Shen Yen & Patrick Bouchet & Yuichi Hirooka & Rim Jallouli & Mornay Roberts-Lombard & Yi-Fang Lan, 2019. "Measuring Adolescent Influence Tactics With Parents in Family Vacation Decisions: A Comparable Scale Across 19 Societies," SAGE Open, , vol. 9(1), pages 21582440198, March.
    9. David Ralston & Carolyn Egri & Charlotte Karam & Irina Naoumova & Narasimhan Srinivasan & Tania Casado & Yongjuan Li & Ruth Alas, 2015. "The triple-bottom-line of corporate responsibility: Assessing the attitudes of present and future business professionals across the BRICs," Asia Pacific Journal of Management, Springer, vol. 32(1), pages 145-179, March.

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