The Relative Effects of a Supervisory Emphasis on Ethical Behavior Versus Political Responsiveness

Abstract

This exploratory study examines the effects of a supervisory emphasis on ethical guidance versus political responsiveness in a sample of public finance employees. Supervisors can encourage employees to act both ethically and responsively, or they can emphasize political responsiveness without setting ethical limits. Employees' perceptions of the resulting balance affects their decision-making and their attitudes toward their job. Supervisors set the ethical tone in organizations.Ethical behavior dominates public organization issues today. Recent actions on the part of highly visible leaders, including presidents, governors, senators, corporate executives, financial managers, accountants, stock analysts, and investment bankers, have spurred concerns about ethical management.

Finance Managers' Propensity To Save

“…Requests for favors and political pressure are both acts demanding deviation from the professional norm of neutral decision making (National Association of State Budget Officers, n.d.). In contrast, having a supervisor who encourages a high level of professional conduct and/or having coworkers who exhibit a high level of ethical behavior in their conduct at work are sources of guidance and support when people confront ethical challenges (Miller, Yeager, Hildreth & Rabin, 2005;Yeager, Hildreth, Miller & Rabin, 2007). Supervisors and coworkers can either mitigate or exacerbate ethics stress.…”

Ethics, Law and Social Justice

“…The case was fairly exciting to impress some quandary of ranked officers, and the research from Yeager S.J. could be applied in terms of importance we can find in the supervision role (Yeager, S. J. et al, 2007). The encouragement of supervisor, C.K.…”

“…This could build up the trust leading to the ethical management in their industrial and social commitment. The ethical perspective would turn as desirable while the external and internal ethical pressure could be moderated (Yeager, S. J., Hildreth, W. B., Miller, G. J., & Rabin, J. , 2007). The ethics stress would more be easily resolved because they were humanly interacted and based on the mutual trust.…”

“…The political responsiveness is one criterion to influence the ways of response to some specific challenges. It could be virtuous in some circumstances, and may, in other context, fail of organizational or employee's reputation or right ways that the organization are obliged to do (Yeager, S. J. et al, 2007). The whistle blowing may simply reveals this aspect of ethical conduct.…”

“…Their predominant disposition would be embedded on the organizational lives. I consider that three of simple principles would govern their professional course of dealings and commitment, which are ethics, political responsiveness, and merit (Yeager, S. J., Hildreth, W. B., Miller, G. J., & Rabin, J., 2007). These elements are actually overwhelming and powerful on which the leaders and followers could rely.…”