The Impact of Situational Influences on Corruption in Organizations

• Published in: Journal of business ethics Vol. 100; no. 1; pp. 85 - 101
• Main Author: Rabl, Tanja
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer 01.04.2011; Springer Netherlands; Springer Nature B.V
• Series: Journal of Business Ethics
• Subjects: Attitudes; Behavioral decision theory; Bribery; Bribes; Business; Business and Management; business code; Business corruption; Business Ethics; Business structures; Codes; Corruption; Decision making; Decision making models; Desire; Education; Ethical behavior; Ethical codes; Ethics; Management; Modeling; Moral corruption; Organizations; Philosophy; Prevention; Professional ethics; Quality of Life Research; Simulation; situation; Size; size of the bribe; Studies; Theory of planned behavior; Time pressure; time pressure; size of the bribe; business code; corruption; situation
• ISSN: 0167-4544; 1573-0697
• DOI: 10.1007/s10551-011-0768-2

The literature states that both situational and individual factors contribute to corrupt behavior. This study investigates the influence of rarely empirically investigated situational factors - the size of the bribe, time pressure, and the degree of abstractness of the business code - on the Model of Corrupt Action that describes the subjective decision making process of corrupt actors. To test the effects, I used an experimental simulation design. Only few effects were found. Thus, my results show a certain robustness of corrupt behavior against the examined situational influences. Based on these results, I discuss implications for the prevention of corruption in organizations.