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Idealism, Gender and Business Decisions

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 September 2015

Eva E. Tsahuridu  and
Elizabeth Walker
Eva E. Tsahuridu
Affiliation:
Edith Cowan University, Faculty of Business & Public Management, School of Management, Pearson Street, Churchlands WA 6018, Australia, Phone: +61 8 9442 1944, Fax: +61 8 9273 8754, Email: [email protected] and [email protected]
Elizabeth Walker
Affiliation:
Edith Cowan University, Faculty of Business & Public Management, School of Management, Pearson Street, Churchlands WA 6018, Australia, Phone: +61 8 9442 1944, Fax: +61 8 9273 8754, Email: [email protected] and [email protected]
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Abstract

The present study examined women and men's ethical ideologies, as measured by a shorter version of Forsyth's (1980) Ethics Position Questionnaire and individual beliefs about ethical behaviour in organisations using Froelich and Kottke's (1991) instrument. Froelich and Kottke's questions suggest actions that are inconsistent with societal moral values. The sample (N=662) consisted of tertiary students in two Western Australian universities. The data revealed that women are less likely to undertake ethically questionable activities to support and / or protect the organisation. Women are also found to have a more idealistic orientation than men, which partially explains the previous findings. In this study, women are less likely to emphasise organisational interests over societal ethical values.

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Management & Organization , Volume 7 , Issue 1 , 2001 , pp. 53 - 62
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press and Australian and New Zealand Academy of Management 2001

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