Applying the Randomized Response Technique in Business Ethics Research: The Misuse of Information Systems Resources in the Workplace

Mitigating response distortion in answers to sensitive questions is an important issue for business ethics researchers. Sensitive questions may be asked in surveys related to business ethics, and respondents may intend to avoid exposing sensitive aspects of their character by answering such questions dishonestly, resulting in response distortion. Previous studies have provided evidence that a surveying procedure called the randomized response technique (RRT) is useful for mitigating such distortion. However, previous studies have mainly applied the RRT to individual dichotomous questions (e.g., yes/no questions) in face-to-face survey settings. In this study, we focus on behavioral research examining the relationships between latent variables, which are unobserved variables measured by multiple items on Likert or bipolar scales. To demonstrate how the RRT can be applied to obtain valid answers from respondents answering a self-administered online questionnaire with Likert and bipolar scales, we build a behavioral model to study the effect of punishment severity on employees’ attitudes toward misuse of information systems resources in the workplace, which in turn influence misuse behavior. The survey findings meet our expectations. The respondents are generally more willing to disclose sensitive data about their attitudes and actual behavior related to misuse when the RRT is implemented. The RRT’s implications for causal modeling and the advantages and challenges of its use in online environments are also discussed.     

Explaining the Persistence of Profits: A Time-Varying Approach

The present paper analyzes the determinants of profit persistence using a newly developed methodology that allows the persistence parameter to vary with time. It therefore addresses a significant limitation of previous persistence models, which have assumed unrealistically that persistence is fixed over relatively long periods of 20 years and upwards. The concentration of the industry is found to have a significant positive impact on profit persistence. However, at firm level, market share and risk have a surprisingly negative impact     

Philosophical Foundations of Workplace Spirituality: A Critical Approach

It is an undeniable reality that workplace spirituality has received growing attention during the last decade. This fact is attributable to many factors, socioeconomic, cultural and others [Hicks, D.A. 2003: Religion and the Workplace. Pluralism, Sprtituality, Leadership (Cambridge University press, Cambridge)]. However the field is full of obscurity and imprecision for the researcher, the practitioner, the organisational analyst and whoever attempts to systematically approach this relatively new inquiry field. This article attempts to provide a critical review of the literature on workplace spirituality by examining the underlying rationale of the main trends regarding spirit at Work and by negotiating their strengths and weaknesses. Current approaches to workplace spirituality are distinguished to the exploratory, contextual and the consequential, acontextual ones. Particular attention is given to ‚Respectful Pluralism’ proposed by Douglas Hicks, as it is suggested that this theoretical framework is the most well-founded, elaborated and systematic up to date. However, it is proposed that even ‚Respectful Pluralism’ fails to fully capture the complexity of such a multidimensional phenomenon as spirituality. Drawing on mainstream ethical and philosophical traditions (deontology, utilitarianism, virtue ethics) supporting alternative value-systems, it is suggested that a more inclusive and philosophically affluent framework needs to be developed. Finally, some propositions and thoughts are made towards this direction. George Gotsis is an assistant professor at the department of History and Philosophy of Science, University of Athens, Greece. His research interests include history of economic thought, business ethics and history of ideas. Zoi Kortezi is currently a research assistant at the department of History and Philosophy of Science, University of Athens, Greece. Her research interests include organisational theory, employee relations and work ethics.     

Information Technology and the Virtual Workplace

Abstract

A holistic research project commenced in 1997 and was completed in 1999 investigating a new administrative scenario, the virtual office (VO). This exploratory and ex post facto project aimed to identify the characteristics of a virtual office environment that emerged in enterprises worldwide, due to the influence of information technology innovations. The VO is also closely related to telework: tele, meaning distance and implies that teleworkers perform their duties away from the traditional office while still maintaining their positions as corporate employees. This paper only focuses on two selected areas of the holistic project, visualizing telework supplemented by telecenters as possible VO's against the theoretical framework of the traditional office scenario as it has been known for ages. The aim was to market the concept in the Republic of South Africa where it is relatively unknown, according to the research findings that proved significantly beneficial to the socio economies of other countries-but more specifically the USA-where telework has been practiced for more than a decade. Recommendations are focused on how these two related concepts can also result in a paradigm shift for the corporate arena in the Republic of South Africa, in order to add to, maintain and develop its global competitiveness.     

Explaining Firm Internationalization in Africa Using the Competence Approach

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to explore, through secondary research, the potential influence of the top management (key decision makers) of firms on the degree of internationalization of firms in sub-Saharan Africa.

More specifically, an attempt was made, firstly, to characterize the problem of low exports and low firm internationalization in Sub-Saharan Africa with a view to discussing the potential influence of the characteristics of key decision makers on firm internationalization. Secondly, to explore the competence theory and determine whether it could provide a viable analytical framework to facilitate future empirical investigations into the influence of key decision makers (top management) on firm internationalization focusing on sub-Saharan Africa.

Previous studies on firm internationalization from different parts of the world including Sub-Saharan Africa were examined. The characteristics and behaviors of top management reported to relate strongly to high levels of firm internationalization and export performance were extracted. The literature on competence then was examined with a view to obtaining theory that would be used to integrate the various managerial variables, which strongly related to high levels of firm internationalization.

The process of analysis and integration resulted into the development of the Competence Model of Firm Internationalization, which has been proposed. The analysis indicated that the top managers of firms had profound influence on the level and intensity of export activities mainly through the firms' production and marketing functions. The managerial implications of the findings and future research directions are discussed along with the limitations of the study.     

Information Systems Ethics: A Practitioner Survey

Fortune 500 non-management employees who work in their company's information systems department were polled via a mail survey; of 191 surveys sent (one to a company), 123 (64%) were returned. Virtually all respondents (97%) indicated that management should define ethical computer use for employees. A majority of respondents (60%) reported that the method management uses to do this should be some form of consensus building. Almost two thirds of respondents (63%) reported that the definition of ethical computer use was well known in their organization. Finally, over half of the respondents (55%) had no personal knowledge that computer abuse occurred in their organization – a surprisingly favorable finding. Of responses indicating knowledge of computer abuse, only about a quarter (26%) indicated direct evidence of the problem.     

信息的哲学思考

信息是事物确定性的表征。信息是事物的存在形式之一,是一切事物的基本属性。没有没有信息的事物,也没有没有事物的信息。信息具有共享性、准确性、可传输性和时间性等重要特征。     

Explaining the Uneven Economic Performance of the EU Cohesion Countries: An Export-Led Growth Approach

This article explains the differences in growth rates between the cohesion countries of the EU: Ireland, Spain, Portugal and Greece. Employing a decomposition growth approach, it is found that the main driver of growth differences lies in productivity. The remarkably higher Irish growth rates in the 1990s are sourced to greater productivity growth resulting from higher investment in human capital and technology. The export-led growth approach reasonably predicts the growth rates and the prediction is more precise when differences in productivity growth are controlled for. Higher economic growth is explained by the higher income elasticity of exports relative to imports.     

Embedding Corporate Social Responsibility in Corporate Governance: A Stakeholder Systems Approach

Current research on corporate social responsibility (CSR) illustrates the growing sense of discord surrounding the ‘business of doing good’ (Dobers and Springett, Corp Soc Responsib Environ Manage 17(2):63–69, 2010). Central to these concerns is that CSR risks becoming an over-simplified and peripheral part of corporate strategy. Rather than transforming the dominant corporate discourse, it is argued that CSR and related concepts are limited to “emancipatory rhetoric…defined by narrow business interests and serve to curtail interests of external stakeholders.” (Banerjee, Crit Sociol 34(1):52, 2008). The paper addresses gaps in the literature and challenges current thinking on corporate governance and CSR by offering a new conceptual framework that responds to the concerns of researchers and practitioners. The limited focus of existing analyses is extended by a holistic approach to corporate governance and social responsibility that integrates company, shareholder and wider stakeholder concerns. A defensive stance is avoided by delineating key stages of the governance process and aligning profit centred and social responsibility concerns to produce a business-based rationale for minimising risk and mainstreaming CSR.     

Local Consumer Information Systems for Services: A Test

This paper reports on a survey of consumers' experiences with local services firms that was conducted by the Montgomery County, Maryland Office of Consumer Affairs and supported by an FTC grant. Over 1,200 individuals evaluated auto repair, heating and air conditioning, home remodeling, roofing, and insulation contracting firms on three dimensions: satisfaction with work performed, price in relation to quality, and strength of recommendation. Results for the heating and air conditioning category were published and widely disseminated.     

Academic perceptions: Ethics in the Information Systems discipline

This study obtained data about faculty attitudes on the ethical propriety of and estimated involvement with 38 activities. A questionnaire, mailed to 480 randomly selected Information Systems (IS) academicians provided insights into the ethical standards held by IS faculty. Several attitudinal differences, based upon individual and institutional demographic characteristics were identified. The most discriminating individual characteristic explaining differences in faculty attitudes was appointment level. The IS major at the graduate level explained more differences in attitude and more critical attitudes than any other factor.Patsy Lewellyn holds the John M. Olin Chair of Enterprise at the University of South Carolina — Aiken. She is an Associate Professor of accounting and information systems. Her research interests include behavioral and ethical aspects of business practice, and innovative business education.     

Electronic Commerce: A Marriage of Management Information Systems and Marketing

The development of the Internet creates many opportunities—for human life, for business, for entrepreneurs, and for consumers. Here, we discuss some of these opportunities; and we concentrate on the perspectives offered by two related disciplines: Marketing and Management Information Systems. In particular, we discuss how the development of electronic commerce creates an opportunity for these two disciplines to form an alliance that has the potential to increase our knowledge about human interactions in cyberspace.     

Workplace Spirituality Facilitation: A Comprehensive Model

This article specifies a comprehensive model for workplace spirituality facilitation that integrates various views from the existing research on workplace spirituality facilitation. It outlines the significance of workplace spirituality topic and highlights its relevance to the area of ethics. It then briefly outlines the various directions the existing workplace spirituality research has taken. Based on this, it indicates that an integration of the elements from various existing research works on workplace spirituality facilitation into a comprehensive workplace spirituality facilitation model could make relevant contributions to the existing workplace spirituality research. It then indicates that there are various points of focus in workplace spirituality conceptualization and facilitation views. It outlines various views from the existing research on workplace spirituality facilitation. Drawing on the elements of these various workplace spirituality facilitation views, it specifies a comprehensive model of workplace spirituality facilitation. It outlines how the various parts and linkages depicted in the comprehensive model of workplace spirituality facilitation are consistent with and are supported by the various views of workplace spirituality facilitation that it seeks to integrate. It then outlines how the comprehensive model specified can guide the future research in the area of workplace spirituality and how it can provide inputs to leadership and organization development (OD) efforts for workplace spirituality facilitation.     

Profiling Cyber-Slackers in the Workplace: Demographic,Cultural, and Workplace Factors

ABSTRACT

Internet abuse in the workplace (a.k.a. cyber-slacking) has become a pervasive problem for employers. When employees abuse the Internet through activities like online gaming, online shopping, personal investment managing, personal emailing, chatting, media watching and viewing pornography, they waste work time and reduce available bandwidth. Existing research has failed to build consensus about who is most likely to cyber-slack. This study examines individuals from the United States, Asia, and India and develops clusters of typical patterns of cyber-slacking and examines the impact of demographic and work related factors on predicting individual cluster membership. The results reveal that young executives are the most likely to cyber-slack and a further qualitative analysis reveals that the pressure of their jobs are compelling them to look for stress relievers and the Internet is an easy resource. In addition, young executive's high degree of autonomy also appears to perpetuate their propensity to cyber-slack.     

Organizational Governance and Ethical Systems: A Covenantal Approach to Building Trust

American businesses and corporate executives are faced with a serious problem the loss of public confidence. Public criticism, increased government controls, and growing expectations for improved financial performance and accountability have accompanied this decline in trust. Traditional approaches to corporate governance, typified by agency theory and stakeholder theory, have been expensive to direct and have focused on short-term profits and organizational systems that fail to achieve desired results. We explain why the organizational governance theories are fundamentally, inadequate to build trust. We advance a conceptual framework based on stewardship theory characterized by “covenantal relationships” and argue that design of governance mechanisms using a covenantal approach is more effective in building trust in organizations. A covenantal relationship is a specialized form of a relational contract between an employee and his or her organization. We argue that regardless of incentives and control mechanisms carefully designed through contractual mechanisms, in the absence of covenantal relationships it is extremely difficult to build trust within organizations. We propose that organizations are more likely to build trust – both at the organizational level and at the interpersonal level – when they create reinforcing and integrated systems that honor implied duties of “covenantal relationships.”     

Combining Information Technology and Decentralized Workplace Organization: SMEs versus Larger Firms

This paper examines whether information technology (IT) and decentralized and incentive-based workplace organization are complementary only for large firms or also for smaller firms. Previous empirical evidence suggesting complementarity between IT and decentralization is mainly based on large firms. Using data from a sample of 3,288 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and 595 larger firms from the manufacturing and service sector in Germany, it appears that SMEs with decentralized and incentive-based work practices tend to use IT more intensively. Moreover, for the sample of SMEs, IT and workplace organization are individually associated with higher productivity, but the combination of IT and decentralization does not yield a productivity premium. In contrast, the productivity of IT depends positively on decentralization for large firms. The findings suggest that combining IT and decentralized workplace organization seems only to be a successful strategy for larger firms.     

Moral Repair in the Workplace: A Qualitative Investigation and Inductive Model

The topic of moral repair in the aftermath of breaches of trust and harmdoing has grown in importance within the past few years. In this paper, we present the results of a qualitative study that offers insight into a series of key issues related to offender efforts to repair interpersonal harm in the workplace: (1) What factors motivate offenders to make amends with those they have harmed? (2) In what ways do offenders attempt to make amends? (3) What outcomes emerge from attempts to make amends? Drawing from the findings, we build an inductive model intended to guide future business ethics and management inquiry and research in this area.     

Promise-keeping: A Low Priority in a Hierarchy of Workplace Values

Using a sample of over 700 business people and students, this study tested the premise of promise-keeping as a core ethical value in the work place.The exercise consisted of in-basket planning for layoffs within an organization. Only one of the five employees within the group had been given an express commitment/promise of continued employment for a two year period. The layoffs were being considered six months after the two year promise had been made. All five employees were performing their jobs adequately, and each had either personal or work attributes representing competing values that would have made it difficult to choose among them.Clearly, promise-keeping does not matter most in the workplace: subjects overwhelmingly ignored their promises even when legally bound to keep them. Further, promise-keeping consistently was found to rank last in a hierarchy of workplace values. The legal system was suggested as a viable mechanism for encouraging promise-keeping in the workplace. Although the possibility of legal sanctions increased the frequency with which promises were kept, overall fewer than one-third (30%) of the subjects kept their word. Of those respondents who expressly were told that the promise was legally enforceable, the number who stated that they would keep their promise increased to 57%.     

Internationalizing the Information Systems Curriculum

This paper provides a systems model for curriculum developers who wish to add appropriate international content to the business curriculum. The major factors which determine the degree of internationalization and the method of effecting change are viewed as inputs to a subsystem; graduating students are the principal outputs. While the primary focus of the article is on the information systems function, the approach is applicable to other business disciplines as well. A guide to recent literature on international curriculum development is included.