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The Influence of Business School’s Ethical Climate on Students’ Unethical Behavior

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  • Thomas Birtch
  • Flora Chiang

Abstract

Business schools play an instrumental role in laying the foundations for ethical behavior and socially responsible actions in the business community. Drawing on social learning and identity theories and using data collected from undergraduate business students (n = 318), we found that ethical climate was a significant predictor of unethical behavior, such that students with positive perceptions about their business school’s ethical climate were more likely to refrain from unethical behaviors. Moreover, we found that high moral and institutional identities strengthened the effect of ethical climate on unethical behavior. In addition to novel theoretical contributions to the business ethics and socio-psychology literature, this study offers practical pathways through which business schools can nurture and instill the values and behaviors that ultimately help shape positive organizational ethics. Directions for future research are provided. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2014

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  • Thomas Birtch & Flora Chiang, 2014. "The Influence of Business School’s Ethical Climate on Students’ Unethical Behavior," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 123(2), pages 283-294, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jbuset:v:123:y:2014:i:2:p:283-294
    DOI: 10.1007/s10551-013-1795-y
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Michael O’Fallon & Kenneth Butterfield, 2011. "Moral Differentiation: Exploring Boundaries of the “Monkey See, Monkey Do” Perspective," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 102(3), pages 379-399, September.
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    Cited by:

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    2. Qi Yang & Yuejuan Hou & Haoran Wei & Tingqiang Chen & Jining Wang, 2022. "Nonlinear Diffusion Evolution Model of Unethical Behavior among Green Food Enterprise," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(23), pages 1-22, December.
    3. Mollie Painter-Morland & Ehsan Sabet & Petra Molthan-Hill & Helen Goworek & Sander Leeuw, 2016. "Beyond the Curriculum: Integrating Sustainability into Business Schools," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 139(4), pages 737-754, December.
    4. Deqiang Deng & Chenchen Ye & Fan Wu & Yijing Guo & Hao Li & Changsheng Wang, 2023. "Effect of organizational ethical self-interest climate on unethical accounting behaviour with two different motivations in China: the moderating effect of Confucian ShiZhong Thinking," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 10(1), pages 1-13, December.
    5. Zhu Yao & Jinlian Luo & Na Fu & Xianchun Zhang & Qunchao Wan, 2022. "Rational Counterattack: The Impact of Workplace Bullying on Unethical Pro-organizational and Pro-family Behaviors," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 181(3), pages 661-682, December.
    6. Yao-Chung Cheng & Fang-Chih Hung & Hung-Ming Hsu, 2021. "The Relationship between Academic Dishonesty, Ethical Attitude and Ethical Climate: The Evidence from Taiwan," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(21), pages 1-16, October.
    7. Bruno Lussier & Nathaniel N. Hartmann & Willy Bolander, 2021. "Curbing the Undesirable Effects of Emotional Exhaustion on Ethical Behaviors and Performance: A Salesperson–Manager Dyadic Approach," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 169(4), pages 747-766, April.

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