Skip to main content
Log in

Rational Moralists and Moral Rationalists Value-Based Management: Model, Criterion and Validation

  • Published:
Journal of Business Ethics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This paper considers ethical decision making by blending three streams of related research: cognitive moral development of the decision maker, rational choice theory and a subjective expected utility model. Ethical dilemmas can be defined as situations where moral certainty is compromised by rational cognition. In this paper, the authors assume that some people use a morality-first perspective and others a rationality-first perspective. Ethical scenarios were written and used to test hypotheses derived from this perspective. The instrument developed was shown to be in need of further refinement. Results are discussed in terms of relationships between participant-characteristics variables overall and subscale responses to the ethical scenarios.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • J. S. Coleman (1990) Foundations of Social Theory Harvard University Press Cambridge

    Google Scholar 

  • R. S. Fudge J. L. Schlacter (1999) ArticleTitle‘Motivating Employees to Act Ethically: An Expectancy Theory Approach’ Journal of Business Ethics 18 IssueID3 295–304 Occurrence Handle10.1023/A:1005801022353

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • E. D. Honeycutt M. Glassman SuffixJr. M. T. Zugelder K. Karande (2001) ArticleTitle‘Determinants of ethical behavior: A study of autosalespeople’ Journal of Business Ethics 32 IssueID1 69–79 Occurrence Handle10.1023/A:1010704409683

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • L. Kohlberg (1976) ‘Moral Stages and Moralization: The Cognitive Developmental Approach’ T. Lickona (Eds) Moral Development and Behavior: Theory, Research, and Social Issues Holt Rinehart, dc Winston New York 31–53

    Google Scholar 

  • L. Kohlberg (1984) The Psychology of Moral Development: The Nature and Validity of Moral Stages Harper & Row San Francisco

    Google Scholar 

  • C. H. Lawshe (1975) ArticleTitle‘A Quantitative Approach to Content Validity’ Personnel Psychology 28 563–575

    Google Scholar 

  • R. Louden (1984) ArticleTitle‘On Some Vices of Virtue Ethics’ American Philosophical Quarterly 21 227–36

    Google Scholar 

  • E. Marnburg (2001) ArticleTitle‘The Questionable Use of Moral Development Theory in Studies of Business Ethics: Discussion and Empirical Findings’ Journal of Business Ethics 32 IssueID4 275–283 Occurrence Handle10.1023/A:1010643309056

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • D. S. Nagin R. Paternoster (1993) ArticleTitle‘Enduring Individual Differences and Rational Choice Theories of Crime’ Law and Society Review 27 467–496

    Google Scholar 

  • D. S. Nagin R. Paternoster (1994) ArticleTitle‘Personal Capital and Social Control: The Deterrence Implications of a Theory of Individual Differences in Criminal Offending’ Criminology 32 IssueID4 581–598

    Google Scholar 

  • J. R. Rest (1979) Development in Judging Moral Issues University of Minnesota Press Minneapolis

    Google Scholar 

  • I. Roozen D. Pelzsmacker Particlede F. Bostyn (2001) ArticleTitle‘The Ethical Dimensions of Decision Processes of Employees’ Journal of Business Ethics 33 IssueID2 87–99 Occurrence Handle10.1023/A:1017536222355

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • V. H. Vroom (1964) Work and Motivation John Wiley & Sons New York NY

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to P. Michael McCullough.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

McCullough, P.M., Faught, S. Rational Moralists and Moral Rationalists Value-Based Management: Model, Criterion and Validation. J Bus Ethics 60, 195–205 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-004-8317-x

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-004-8317-x

Keywords

Navigation