Ethics Management in Municipal Governments and Large Firms

Abstract

This study compares the ethics management strategies of large cities and firms with the purpose of examining whether public-private sector differences that have been hypothesized in the literature are reflected in ethics management practices. The findings suggest that differences between the public and private sectors are minimal; however, cities use more regulatory-based strategies, and large firms use code-based strategies. Moral leadership by senior managers is the most important strategy for improving ethics in both sectors. Concerns about litigation, public complaints, and promoting good public relations are important reasons driving concern with ethics in both cities and firms.

Shared Leadership in Commercial Organizations: A Systematic Review of Definitions, Theoretical Frameworks and Organizational Outcomes

“…), the management of ethical issues (Berman et al . ), decision‐making processes (Nutt ), managerial values (Metcalfe ), styles of strategic management (Shortell et al . ), levels of organizational commitment (Goulet and Frank ) and, importantly, leadership styles (Andersen ; Bourantas and Papalexandris ; Hansen and Villadsen ) across these different organization types.…”

Accountability through Ethics Enhancement Strategies: Empirical Evidence from American Cities

“…Brumback (1991) and Bruce (1994) asked respondents to rank practices that encourage ethical behavior, and in both cases, moral leadership was ranked as the number one strategy in creating an ethical organization. In a study comparing the public and private sectors Berman, West, and Cava (1994) found that moral leadership has a large effect on the ethical climate within an organization, independent of the sector.…”

What Happens After the Storm? Investigating Three Conditions Under Which Local Governments Change Integrity Policy After Scandals

“…A variety of instruments and reforms are necessary in order to achieve an organization of integrity. This study, therefore, incorporates a broad range of integrity policies, both on the formal and the informal side (Berman, West, & Cava, 1994). Formal-"hard" control-mechanisms are the rules and regulations concerning the detection and sanctioning of integrity incidents.…”