Downsizing and ethics of personnel dismissals - The case of Finnish managers

The purpose of our article is to present a qualitative empirical study from the ethical viewpoint. It aims at the theoretical conceptualization concer ning the managers' decision-making of personnel dismissals in downsizing or ganizations. First we present and seek to motivate our research task. The i mportance of real business ethical issues as a starting point of business e thics research is emphasized. Second the main normative ethical theories an d ethical decision-making models are presented. These form the loose framew ork for describing and interpreting research interviews. After this the emp irical findings are set forth. This part suggests that the managers explain the dismissals from different decision-making roles emphasizing different ethical orientation. The roles are called a rational and an independent man ager, a marionette and an emotional individual. Our study suggests that the role of empathy in morality reveals an interesting and a necessary researc h topic for business ethics research.