Work Meaningfulness as a Key Enhancer of Ethical Values in Business

Details

Serval ID
serval:BIB_39D441ABD993
Type
Inproceedings: an article in a conference proceedings.
Collection
Publications
Institution
Title
Work Meaningfulness as a Key Enhancer of Ethical Values in Business
Title of the conference
Fifth International Society of Business, Economics, and Ethics (ISBEE) World Congress
Author(s)
Gonin Michael, Swaton Sophie
Publisher
International Society of Business, Economics, and Ethics (ISBEE)
Publication state
Published
Issued date
07/2012
Editor
Rok Boleslaw, Sokolowska Judita
Volume
1
Pages
515-528
Language
english
Notes
ldb2380
Abstract
Despite abundant research on work meaningfulness, the link between work meaningfulness and general ethical attitude at work has not been discussed so far. In this article, we propose a theoretical framework to explain how work meaningfulness contributes to enhanced ethical behavior. We argue that by providing a way for individuals to relate work to one's personal core values and identity, work meaningfulness leads to affective commitment - the involvement of one's cognitive, emotional, and physical resources. This, in turn, leads to engagement and so facilitates the integration of one's personal values in the daily work routines, and so reduces the risk of unethical behavior. On the contrary, anomie, that is, the absence of meaning and consequently of personal involvement, will lead to lower rational commitment rather than affective commitment, and consequently to disengagement and a-morality. We conclude with implications for the management of ethical attitudes.
Keywords
meaning, work, ethics, sensemaking, Individual, Anomie
Create date
11/09/2012 10:42
Last modification date
20/08/2019 14:29
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