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Challenges in the sociology of business ethics
Uys, Tina
Uys, Tina
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n2008_C_Uys_tina.pdf
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The central research agenda of the sociology of business ethics focuses on (i) the moral foundations of people’s behaviour, both within and outside the business context, (ii) the compatibility and contradictions between these behaviours, and (iii) the stability of a society or constituent of a society ‘governed solely by the precepts of self-interest, without the constraining effects of moral discipline’ (Hendry, 2001, p. 214). This implies a focus on descriptive ethics where accurate descriptions and explanations of ethical situations are provided. In particular, the central theme of this agenda would centre on the compatibility of traditional moral values with the increasing legitimisation of self-interest in the business world. The methodological challenges faced by all business ethics researchers, namely embeddedness, stage of development, ambiguity and sensitivity are scrutinized by using research on whistleblowing as an example. This analysis demonstrates the importance of using an integrated multi-strategy approach by combining qualitative and quantitative measures. It also shows the necessity of balancing the emphasis on the motivations, and the cognitive, affective and ethical decision processes of individual actors, with an investigation of these processes in the larger social context, particularly as it relates to the organisation.
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2008
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With permission of the license/copyright holder