Bad apples, bad cases, and bad barrels: Meta-analytic evidence about sources of unethical decisions at work.
Abstract
As corporate scandals proliferate, practitioners and researchers alike need a cumulative, quantitative understanding of the antecedents associated with unethical decisions in organizations. In this meta-analysis, the authors draw from over 30 years of research and multiple literatures to examine individual ("bad apple"), moral issue ("bad case"), and organizational environment ("bad barrel") antecedents of unethical choice. Findings provide empirical support for several foundational theories and paint a clearer picture of relationships characterized by mixed results. Structural equation modeling revealed the complexity (multidetermined nature) of unethical choice, as well as a need for research that simultaneously examines different sets of antecedents. Moderator analyses unexpectedly uncovered better prediction of unethical behavior than of intention for several variables. This suggests a need to more strongly consider a new "ethical impulse" perspective in addition to the traditional "ethical calculus" perspective. Results serve as a data-based foundation and guide for future theoretical and empirical development in the domain of behavioral ethics.
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An effect of codes on unethical behaviour is only found when codes and their underlying principles are embedded in organisational culture and actively enforced.
“rather, an effect is only found when codes (and their underlying principles) are embedded in organisational culture and actively enforced.”
From Principles alone cannot guarantee ethical AI (2019) · cites this paper as [29]
The mere existence of a code has no discernible effect on unethical behaviour.
“A recent meta-analysis of evidence on the impact of codes on professional behaviour found that the mere existence of a code has no discernible effect on unethical behaviour;”
From Principles alone cannot guarantee ethical AI (2019) · cites this paper as [29]
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- Authors
- Kish-Gephart, J. J., Harrison, D. A., & Treviño, L. K.
- Affiliations
- Pennsylvania State University (US)
- Venue
- Journal of Applied Psychology
- Published
- 2010-01
- Volume
- 95
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 1-31
- ISSN
- 0021-9010 (ISSN-L)
- 1939-1854
- OpenAlex
- W2140777058
- Cited by
- 1,690
- References
- 11
- Citations by year
- 2026: 93 · 2025: 116 · 2024: 136 · 2023: 132 · 2022: 118 · 2021: 149 · 2020: 145 · 2019: 132 · 2018: 108 · 2017: 90 · 2016: 106 · 2015: 83 · 2014: 93 · 2013: 82 · 2012: 49
- FWCI
- 134.64
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Update notices
- clarification (2010-07-05)
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Applied Psychology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- DigitalGeorgetown (Georgetown University Library) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Decision Sciences › Information Systems and Management › Ethics in Business and Education
- Social Sciences › Business, Management and Accounting › Organizational Behavior and Human Resource Management › Job Satisfaction and Organizational Behavior
- Social Sciences › Safety Research › Academic integrity and plagiarism
- Keywords
- unethical decision making, unethical workplace behavior, bad apples, ethical considerations, organizational context, corporate scandals, behavioral ethics
- MeSH terms
- Choice Behavior, Decision Making, Organizational, Ethics, Professional, Humans, Organizational Culture, Workplace, Intuition, Intention
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