The Role of Senior Management in Fostering Ethical Cultures in Guyana’s Public and Private Sectors: A Qualitative Analysis

Download Article

DOI: 10.21522/TIJMG.2015.10.02.Art004

Authors : Roystone F. M. Nelson

Abstract:

This paper revisits the significant empirical gaps in ethical decision-making within organizations highlighted by Linda Trevino in 1986, emphasizing their persistence in today's dynamic business environment, particularly within Guyana’s public and private sectors. Despite decades of progress, companies continue to grapple with the integration of ethical practices into their operational frameworks. This essay explores the pivotal role of senior management in cultivating ethical standards and delves into the strategies and challenges of embedding these practices sustainably within organizations. Through comprehensive analysis, it aims to bridge Trevino's identified gaps by examining the practical application of ethical leadership and its implications for corporate governance in Guyana. Key findings indicate that while most organizations have established codes of ethics, there remains a significant disconnect between policy articulation and actual practice. The research highlights the influence of senior management in shaping organizational culture and the critical challenges they face, including inconsistency in policy enforcement and a lack of robust mechanisms to support ethical behavior. This study proposes several recommendations for enhancing ethical practices, including strengthening leadership commitment to ethical standards, improving communication and training regarding ethics, and fostering an organizational culture that supports ethical decision-making

References:

[1] Boyd, Colin. 1996, “Ethics and Corporate Governance: The Issues Raised by the Cadbury Report in the United Kingdom.” Journal of Business Ethics. 15(2), 167-182.

[2] Caza, A., Barker, B. A., & Cameron, K. S., 2004, “Ethics and Ethos: the Buffering and Amplifying Effects of Ethical Behavior and Virtuousness.” Journal of Business Ethics, 52(2), 169-178.

[3] Commonwealth Governance. 2017, The Business Environment of Guyana. Accessed Online: https://www.commonwealthgovernance.org/countries/ americas/guyana/the-business-environment/.

[4] Creswell, J. W., 2014, Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches. 4th Edition. Sage Publications.

[5] Denzin, N. K., 1978, The Research Act: A Theoretical Introduction to Sociological Methods. McGraw-Hill.

[6] Driscoll, D., 2001, “Ethics and Corporate Governance: Lessons Learned from a Financial Services Model.” Business Ethics Quarterly, 11(1), 145-158.

[7] Enderle, G., 1987, Some Perspectives of Managerial Ethical Leadership. Journal of Business Ethics, 6(8), 657-663.

[8] Frank, D. G., 2002, Meeting the Ethical Challenges of Leadership. Journal of Academic Librarianship, 28(1/2), 81.

[9] Homann, K., and Blome-Drees, F., 1992, Business and Corporate Ethics. Göttingen.

[10] IMF. 2023. “Guyana: 2023 Article IV Consultation-Press Release; and Staff Report.” Accessed Online: https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/CR/Issues/2023/12/01/ Guyana-2023-Article-IV-Consultation-Press-Release-and-Staff-Report-541920.

[11] Lenk, H., and Maring, M., 1992, Business Ethics – A Contradiction in Terms? In Lenk, H., and Maring, M. (ed.), Economy and Ethics. Stuttgart.

[12] Lincoln, Y. S., & Guba, E. G., 1985, Naturalistic Inquiry. Sage Publications.

[13] Mertens, D. M., 2015, Research and Evaluation in Education and Psychology: Integrating Diversity with Quantitative, Qualitative, and Mixed Methods. 4th Edition. Sage Publications.

[14] Patton, M. Q., 2002, Qualitative Research & Evaluation Methods. 3rd Edition. Sage Publications.

[15] Salmons, J., 2015, Qualitative Online Interviews: Strategies, Design, and Skills. 2nd Edition. Sage Publications.

[16] Stabroek News. 2010. “Chamber of Commerce Launches Code of Conduct for Businesses.” Stabroek News September 29. Accessed Online: https://www.stabroeknews.com/ 2010/09/29/news/guyana/chamber-of-commerce-launches-code-of-conduct-for-businesses/.

[17] Stabroek News. 2023. “Guyana moves up one point in Transparency International rankings.” Stabroek News. Access online: https://www.stabroeknews.com/2023/01/31/news/ Guyana /guyana-moves-up-one-point-in-transparency-international-rankings/.

[18] Sullivan, John. 2009, The Moral Compass of Companies: Business Ethics and Corporate Governance as Anti-Corruption Tools. Washington, DC. World Bank, The International Finance Corporation.

[19] Trevino, L., 1986, Ethical Decision Making in Organizations: A Person-Situation Interactionist Model. The Academy of Management Review, 11(3), 601-617.

[20] US Department of State. 2023. 2023 Investment Climate Statements: Guyana. Accessed online: https://www.state.gov/reports/2023-investment-climate-statements/guyana/.

[21] Wieland, Josef. 2001. “The Ethics of Governance.” Business Ethics Quarterly, 11(1), 73-87.