Document Type
Conference Proceeding
Publication Date
Spring 2024
Abstract
The current study scrutinizes differences between the ethical attitudes and behaviour of South Africa’s future generation of business leaders. The target population comprises first-level employed business managers who are currently completing an executive MBA degree. Business managers at three selected South African business schools comprised the sampling frame. Each member of the target population received an online link for access to a questionnaire which featured a previously validated series of balanced 6-point itemized rating scales. Data were collected on both behaviour and attitudes regarding 14 questionable business behaviours, each representing a potential breach of ethical conduct. A 60% response rate was achieved. Respondents shared their perceptions on 14 questionable business actions using third-party scenarios. Respondents also provided answers regarding behaviour as a manager for these 14 scenarios. They were asked to indicate if they were aware of colleagues behaving questionably regarding these scenarios. The results indicate that the test metric for nine of the 14 business scenarios significantly differs when comparing their attitudes to their behaviour.
Recommended Citation
Bisschoff, C., & Fullerton, S. (2024). The A-B gap: An assessment of the differences between ethical attitudes and ethical behaviour among the next generation of business leaders in South Africa. The 2024 Association of Marketing Theory and Practice Proceedings, 44. https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/amtp-proceedings_2024/44
