Anomie and the Marketing Function: The Role of Control Mechanisms

Abstract

The theoretical notion of anomie is used to examine the impact of top management's control mechanisms on the environment of the marketing function. Based on a literature review and in-depth field interviews with marketing managers in diverse industries, a conceptual model is proposed that incorporates the two managerial control mechanisms, viz. output and process control, and relates their distinctive influence to anomie in the marketing function. Three contingency variables, i.e., resource scarcity, power, and ethics codification, are proposed to moderate the relationship between control mechanisms and anomie. The authors also argue for the link between anomic environments and the propensity of unethical marketing practices to occur. Theoretical and managerial implications of the proposed conceptual model are discussed.

Dysfunctional behaviour in university accounting schools: a tale of management control

“…The literature amply demonstrates that the prevalence of such behaviour does not appear to respect organisational boundaries, having been studied in a diverse range of settings including school principals (Bergman et al , 2011); health care and social services industry (Volmer et al , 2016); undergraduate students (DeShong et al , 2015); graduate business students (Harlos, 2010); MBA graduates (Dean et al , 2010); marketing managers (Jaworski and Young, 1992); manufacturing, professional/technical, education, emergency services and administrative groups (Michalak et al , 2018); financial institutions and public service organisations (Mathieu et al , 2014); banking, information technology and fashion retailers (Cugueró-Escofet and Rosanas, 2017); information and communication technologies (Väyrynen and Laari-Salmela, 2018); and marketing managers (Saini and Krush, 2008). These studies, although by no means exhaustive, provide clear examples of the detrimental outcomes that dysfunctional behaviour typically invokes and underscores the importance and pervasiveness of this problem across sectors, industries and organisations generally.…”

The Role of Ethics and Social Responsibility in Organizational Success: A Spanish Perspective

“…In addition, these authors propose the moderating effects of three contingency variables, namely, resource scarcity, power, and ethics codification on the relationship between control mechanisms and anomie in the marketing function (Saini and Krush, 2008).…”

An Exploration of Factors Affecting Work Anomia

“…Anomia is a state of mind, a subjective condition that exists in persons that live in anomic conditions and relates to 'the breakdown of the individual's sense of attachment to society' (MacIver, 1950, p. 84). More recently it has been used to explore and understand the moral behaviour of people at work (Passas, 1999;Saini et al, 2008;Tsahuridu, 2006). Anomie in most organisations is a consequence of the prevalent pressure placed on people to achieve the expected unachievable economic goals that leads people to resort to illegal or immoral means in order to achieve them (Martin et al, 2009).…”