Hierarchical mum effect: a new investigation of organizational ethics

• Ploeger, Nicole A. ^[3] ; Kelley, Katherine M. ^[1] ; Bisel, Ryan S. ^[2]
  1. [1] Fort Hays State University

     Fort Hays State University

     City of Hays, Estados Unidos

     
  2. [2] University of Oklahoma

     University of Oklahoma

     Estados Unidos

     
  3. [3] University of Arkansas

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• Localización: Southern communication journal, ISSN 1041-794X, Vol. 76, nº 5, 2001, págs. 465-481
• Idioma: inglés
• Texto completo no disponible (Saber más ...)
• Resumen

  • In this language production experiment, working adults (N = 226) were asked to respond to unethical business requests. Our objective was to advance a communicative understanding of unethical organizational behaviors by analyzing the linguistic adjustments workers employ to deny unethical requests. Specifically, we measured responses to unethical requests on a continuous coding scheme, which captured degrees of denial directness. We hypothesized that command structures produce a hierarchical mum effect in which subordinates are more indirect in denying an unethical request than supervisors and coworkers. Results confirmed the presence of a hierarchical mum effect; data also indicated that females, younger workers, and those with the least work experience are most indirect in denying an unethical request.