Brian J. Farrell, Deirdre M. Cobbin and Helen M. Farrell
The paper investigates the effectiveness of codes of ethics to influence the behaviour of employees. Vignettes are not part of the methodology as the core data come from the…
Abstract
The paper investigates the effectiveness of codes of ethics to influence the behaviour of employees. Vignettes are not part of the methodology as the core data come from the direct observations of behaviours reported by 25 top managers and 545 employees from eight large Australian enterprises. One aim of the research is to measure the consistency of the observed behavioural patterns among employees and to investigate the possible association of high consistency with particular ethics strategies. The research models are based on medians and tallies of percentage frequencies of behavioural patterns. Two matters of importance are concluded from the investigation. First, there is no discernible association between the consistency ratings of the enterprises and their particular strategies in ethics. Second, the analysis suggests that the strongest ethical culture affecting behaviour in the respondents comes from an external, shared source.
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Brian J. Farrell and Deirdre M. Cobbin
Focuses on the status of ethics in the larger and more significant Australian business corporations, using a survey instrument. The findings cover the origins of Australian…
Abstract
Focuses on the status of ethics in the larger and more significant Australian business corporations, using a survey instrument. The findings cover the origins of Australian enterprise codes, their implementation, the use of comprehensive strategies to support them, the sanctions imposed for their breach and the level of ongoing review and reporting. Uses these as criteria of “mainstreaming” ‐ the establishment of a company’s ethics function as a major and central focus of management activities, systems and procedures. Suggests that the extent of “proprietary interest” afforded addressees of codes is an element of code effectiveness and ethics mainstreaming.
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Brian J. Farrell, Deirdre M. Cobbin and Helen M. Farrell
Presents a literature review of reported findings on the analyses of the contents of codes of ethics in corporations and the various strategies, processes, procedures and…
Abstract
Presents a literature review of reported findings on the analyses of the contents of codes of ethics in corporations and the various strategies, processes, procedures and resources that accompany and support them. The starting point is the seminal paper by Cressy and Moore. In the literature a distinction is drawn between inspirational and prescriptive code types, and this classification becomes a focal point on what is the appropriate subject matter for a code of ethics. The issue remains an unresolved feature of research articles. For some researchers a document that prescribes behaviours is not a code of ethics because it precludes empowerment of addressees to make the ethical decisions. Others consider prescriptive documents to be “best practice” for codes of ethics. The latter authors propose the perspective that the only satisfactory contents for codes are clear and precise behavioural dictates that lend themselves to a supporting disciplinary function. In practice the managers of corporations continue to publish the types of code they favour.
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Brian J. Farrell and Deirdre M. Cobbin
Points out that the trend in the USA and the UK to adopt business codes of ethics has been followed in recent years by Australian business organizations. Presents findings from…
Abstract
Points out that the trend in the USA and the UK to adopt business codes of ethics has been followed in recent years by Australian business organizations. Presents findings from two studies which involved the top 500 Australian enterprises. The first examined the likelihood of code adoption in relation to such variables as organization type, size, income and major activities. The second was concerned with the actual nature of the content to determine whether codes were designed to deal with ethical issues, corporate values and ethical decision skills rather than with management policies and legal issues; and whether a code was in fact a code of ethics as opposed to rules on business etiquette and behaviour.