title: Thick as thieves: the effects of ethical orientation and psychological safety on unethical team behavior.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to uncover compositional and emergent influences on unethical behavior by teams. Results from 126 teams indicated that the presence of a formalistic orientation within the team was negatively related to collective unethical decisions. Conversely, the presence of a utilitarian orientation within the team was positively related to both unethical decisions and behaviors. Results also indicated that the relationship between utilitarianism and unethical outcomes was moderated by the level of psychological safety within the team, such that teams with high levels of safety were more likely to engage in unethical behaviors. Implications are discussed, as well as potential directions for future research.
authors.affiliation: Department of Management & Organization, Robert H. Smith School of Business, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742-1815, USA. mpearsall@rhsmith.umd.edu
authors.forename: Matthew J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Pearsall
authors.forename: Aleksander P J
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Ellis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D003657:Decision Making / Q000941:ethics*; D028663:Ethical Theory; D005260:Female; D006126:Group Processes; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012919:Social Behavior; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology; D013800:Theft / Q000941:ethics* / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult