How supervisors’ compassionate but unethical behavior impacts subordinates’ unethical behavior: A sensemaking process
View Emonet XII Paper Presentation “How supervisors’ compassionate but unethical behavior impacts subordinates’ unethical behavior: A sensemaking process” by Wei, Li, & Zhu (2020) now.
Live Paper Discussion Session Time: Wednesday, 8th July 2020, UTC 12:00
Zoom Meeting ID: 960 8578 3384
Authors:
Hongguo Wei, University of Central Oklahoma, United States
Shaobing Li, Miami University, United States
Yunxia Zhu, The University of Queensland, Australia
Abstract:
There has been increasing scholarly attention to the unethical concerns of prosocial behavior at work, such as unethical pro-organizational behavior and pro-group behavior. In this paper, we identify the unethical concerns of supervisors’ compassion and address how supervisors’ compassion with unethical implications (i.e., compassionate but unethical behavior) impacts subordinates’ unethical behavior. Drawing on sensemaking theory, we argue that subordinates’ interpretation of the context and supervisors’ actions explain their emotional responses, moral self, and unethical behavior. We develop a theoretical model to conceptualize the sensemaking processes and establish a four-quadrant taxonomy specifying subordinates’ various meaning interpretations of supervisors’ behavior. We develop propositions regarding how subordinates’ meaning interpretation shapes their unethical behavior through emotional responses and moral identity. Theoretical contributions and future research directions are discussed and implicated.
Contact:
Hongguo Wei, hwei3@uco.edu
Shaobing Li, lis18@miamioh.edu
Yunxia Zhu, y.zhu@business.uq.edu.au