Title
Sensemaking Strategies for Ethical Decision Making
Document Type
Article
Department or Administrative Unit
Management
Publication Date
9-2011
Abstract
The current study uses a sensemaking model and thinking strategies identified in earlier research to examine ethical decision making. Using a sample of 163 undergraduates, a low-fidelity simulation approach is used to study the effects personal involvement (in causing the problem and personal involvement in experiencing the outcomes of the problem) could have on the use of cognitive reasoning strategies that have been shown to promote ethical decision making. A mediated model is presented which suggests that environmental factors influence reasoning strategies, reasoning strategies influence sensemaking, and sensemaking in turn influences ethical decision making. Findings were mixed but generally supported the hypothesized model. It is interesting to note that framing the outcomes of ethically charged situations in terms of more global organizational outcomes rather than personal outcomes was found to promote the use of pro-ethical cognitive reasoning strategies.
Recommended Citation
Caughron, J.J., Antes, A.L., Stenmark, C.K., Thiel, C.E., Wang, X. & Mumford, M.D. (2011). Sensemaking strategies for ethical decision-making. Ethics and Behavior 21(5), 351-366. DOI: 10.1080/10508422.2011.604293
Journal
Ethics and Behavior
Rights
Copyright © 2011 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC
Comments
This article was originally published in Ethics and Behavior. The full-text article from the publisher can be found here.
Due to copyright restrictions, this article is not available for free download from ScholarWorks @ CWU.