A Test Of Environmental, Situational, And Personal Influences On The Ethical Intentions Of Ceos

Abstract

A national survey of CEOs of manufacturing firms was conducted to identify factors explaining CEOs\u27 intentions to engage in two questionable business practices: soliciting a competitor\u27s technological secrets and making payments to foreign government officials to secure business. Drawing on research in corporate misconduct, ethical decision making, and strategic management, the authors analyzed ethical intentions by looking at hostile environmental conditions, opportunity-rich situations, and/or personal characteristics. Based on responses to scenarios, their findings suggest that the ethical intentions of CEOs may be more affected by the decision maker\u27s predisposition than by environmental pressures or organizational/situational characteristics. © 1995, Sage Publications. All rights reserved