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Enhancing Moral Intensity: The Roles of Personal and Consequential Information in Ethical Decision-Making

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Abstract

This research explored how (a) information regarding consequences and (b) personal information regarding the potential victim influences perceptions of moral intensity and ethical behavioral intent. An experimental vignette research design was used and 314 professional managers participated. The results of the study indicated that personal information impacted ethical behavioral intent through its influence on perceptions of proximity. In contrast, consequential information's impact depended on the presence of personal information or prior knowledge. Implications for management and future ethical research are discussed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Business Administration & Economics, Nebraska Wesleyan University, 5000 Saint Paul Avenue, Lincoln, NE, 68504-3704, U.S.A.

    Loy D. Watley

  2. Department of Management, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, 68588-0491, U.S.A.

    Douglas R. May

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  1. Loy D. Watley
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  2. Douglas R. May
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Watley, L.D., May, D.R. Enhancing Moral Intensity: The Roles of Personal and Consequential Information in Ethical Decision-Making. Journal of Business Ethics 50, 105–126 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1023/B:BUSI.0000022147.41538.ba

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