TOWARD AN UNDERSTANDING OF ETHICAL CLIMATE - ITS RELATIONSHIP TO ETHICAL BEHAVIOR AND SUPERVISORY INFLUENCE

In recent years, theoretical and empirical developments in the area of organizational climate has provided the impetus for research concerni ng ethical climate. According to this latter research, ethical climate is a-multi-dimensional construct which is manifested in organizations . Studies, however, have not focused on the relationship between ethic al climate and ethical behavior. Furthermore, an enhanced understandin g of the multi-dimensionality of ethical climate will likely advance w hat we know about organizational climate and culture in general We pro pose further examination of ethical climate by. (1) showing the concep tual relationship between ethical climate and ethical (Or unethical) b ehavior in organizations; and (2) examining supervision as one of the principle influences on ethical climate and concomitant subordinate be havior. Finally, we explore the implications for future research on et hical climate.