Title: The influence of emotion in ethical decision making within an organization
Key words: emotion, ethical, unethical, organization
Introduction
People in an organization always make many decisions every day. Some decisions may have an effect on moral issues and even on ethical dilemmas. However, in organizations, few individuals have the freedom to make ethical decisions and not be affected by organizational pressures (Selart, 2010; Ferrell, Fraedrich & Ferrell, 2011). As a result, the decisions are often enslave to stress (Selart & Johansen, 2011). Thus, the process of decision making is influenced by both individual and organizational factors within and between organizations. The individual factors of the influence may include the extent of knowing about moral intensity and the factors of organization may involve the relationship between workmates and the working environment. This project will focus on how emotions influence ethic decision making and critically evaluate the influence.
Unethical decision is either illegal or morally unacceptable to the larger community (Jones, 1991). However, not all the people who make unethical decisions are driven by unethical beliefs or judgments. In other words, individuals who possess ethical beliefs may occasionally make unethical decisions that lead to unethical behaviors.
According to Ferrell and Gresham (1985), ethical or unethical behavior is learned in the process of interacting with persons who are part of intimate personal groups or role sets. That is, the decisions are related to the relationship with other person, and sometimes relationship may ignore people’s own beliefs and making ethical or unethical decision.
Methods
The data will collect through questionnaire and online survey. Online surveys are nowadays very popular research instruments, as a quick and efficient diffusion and also offer substantial cost advantages (Ilieva et al., 2002; Wilson and Laskey, 2003).
Objectives
- To examine the influence of emotion in ethical decision making within an organization.
- Critically evaluate the influence of emotion in ethical decision making within an organization.
Research questions
- How emotions influence ethical decision making
- What types of emotion influence ethical or unethical decision making.
- The advantage and disadvantage about the influence on ethical decision making by emotions.
Plan
- July 1st to 7th: adjust the proposal
- July 8th to 15th: finish introduction and outline of topic and critical reflection on methods.
- July 16th to July 30th: finish the literature review.
- July 31 to Aug 15th: finish the first draft of report
Reference
- Selart, M. (2010). A leadership perspective on decision making, Oslo, Cappelen Academic Publishers.
- Selart, M. & Johansen, S.T. (2011). Ethical decision making in organizations: The role of leadership stress, Journal of Business Ethics, 99, pp. 129-143.
- Ferrell, O.C. & Gresham, L.G. (1985). A contingency framework for understanding ethical decision making in marketing, Journal of Marketing, pp. 87-96.
- Jones, T.M. (1991). Ethical decision making by individuals in organizations: An issue-contingent model, Academy of Management Review, 16 (2), pp. 366-395.
- Ilieva, J., Bacon, S. and Healeay, N.M. (2002), “Online surveys in marketing research: pros and cons”, International Journal of Market Research, Vol. 44 No. 4, pp. 440-453.
- Wilson, A. and Laskey, N. (2003), “Internet based marketing research: a serious alternative to traditional research methods?”, Marketing Intelligence and Planning, Vol. 21 No. 2, pp. 79-84.
- Introduction (500 words)
— Setting the scene – why is this topic of interest?
— What are your objectives in doing this work?
- Outline of the topic (500 words)
— Why is this topic worthy of review?
— Methods (explain how you did your literature search)
- Critical reflection on Methods (250 words)
— What are the strengths/weaknesses of your type of review (narrative or systematic)?
- Literature review (4000 words)
— Detailed analysis of literature
- Analysis and critical discussion (1000/2000 words)
— In light of your literature review you should discuss the implications for the following groups:
— Practising managers
— Policy-makers
— Academic – implications for research and teaching
- Conclusions (250 words)
— Summarising your key findings
- Learning statement (750 words)
— Personal reflections on the PROCESS – what have you learnt in undertaking this particular project?