ETHICAL BEHAVIOUR PATTERNS

Abstract

The article develops a thesis, according to which the ethics of economic organisations depends on behaviour patterns regarded at economic organisations as effective in terms of their basic objectives, i.e. generating profit. Based on the criterion of coordination of actions among employees, three types of organisations have been identified: organisations of procedures, leaders and emotions. The aim of the article is to show the strength of link between the distinguished types and behaviour patterns (manipulation vs. cooperation), constituting business ethics of a given company. The basis of the article are the results of survey carried out on a sample of representatives of 305 Polish enterprises. A type of organisation based on procedures and emotions is conducive to ethics based on behaviour related to cooperation. The most important conclusion from the survey is the statement that one of the reasons of good financial position of a company is normative trust in the management staff. It can cause a number of dysfunctions of the entire system, and thus management focused on the maximisation of profits in the future is very important, even at the cost of current benefits.