ETHICS IN ORGANIZATIONS - A FRAMEWORK FOR THEORY AND RESEARCH

In a climate of increasing interest and activity within the field of b usiness ethics, as yet there exists no coherent conceptual framework f or organizational theory and research. From a review of current thinki ng and previous writings a framework of concepts is suggested to help set an agenda for empirical research. The elements of this are, first, a taxonomy of ''ethical domains'': the foci of organizations' and the ir agents' ethical concerns and conduct. Second, it is considered how ''ethical functioning'' might be analysed in terms of causal relations hips between expressive forms, voluntary action and instituted forms. Third is discussed ''ethical process'', the means by which ethical awa reness is aroused. Fourth and last, the paper examines how normative e valuations might apply to the ''ethical condition'' of organizations a nd their agents, meaning change or stability in reputation and integri ty. At each stage of the argument possible objectives for research are developed.