Scholarly Works

Where does business theory meet business practice? What happens when the pursuit of profit and the pursuit of meaningful purpose intersect? Explore an array of scholarship inspired by Another Way of Doing Business, the SPU School of Business and Economics' unique business-as-service philosophy, and focused on the integration of faith and ethics in the world of business.

Margaret Diddams, Ph.D.

Director of the SPU Center for Scholarship and Faculty Development
Biography

Daniels, D., Diddams, M. & Van Duzer, J. (2009). A magnetic pull on the internal compass: The effects of moral self on ethical sensitivity. Academy of Management Chicago. 2009.

  • Academy of Management
  • Proceedings
  • Abstract
    • This study examined how people view their moral beliefs and values vis-à-vis their situated culture. Drawing on the writings of theologian Richard Niebuhr, who suggested that Christians interact with their culture in a multitude of ways, we created a self-report instrument called Moral Self in Culture that examined the extent to which people – regardless of religious identity – perceived their values and beliefs to be 1) aligned with the surrounding culture ("align"), 2) capable of transforming culture ("transform") and 3) at odds with the surrounding culture ("paradox"). We used this instrument in conjunction with internalized moral identity to predict ethical sensitivity and business decisions. The results of the study showed that people whose values were aligned with culture were less ethically sensitive than the other two perspectives. People who endorsed a transforming culture perspective were more likely to show concern for others and less likely to make a business decision that could harm others. People with a paradox perspective were more likely to identify ethical concerns but less likely to act on them. Implications for moral identity and ethical sensitivity are discussed.

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