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Article
Individual Moral Development and Ethical Climate: The Influence of Person-Organization Fit on Job Attitudes
Journal of Business Ethics
  • Maureen L. Ambrose, University of Central Florida
  • Anke Arnaud, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
  • Marshall Schminke, University of Central Florida
Document Type
Article
Publication/Presentation Date
1-1-2007
Abstract/Description

This research examines how the fit between employees’ moral development and the ethical work climate of their organization affects employee attitudes. Person–organization fit was assessed by matching individuals’ level of cognitive moral development with the ethical climate of their organization. The influence of P–O fit on employee attitudes was assessed using a sample of 304 individuals from 73 organizations. In general, the findings support our predictions that fit between personal and organizational ethics is related to higher levels of commitment and job satisfaction and lower levels of turnover intent. Ethical P–O fit was related to higher levels of affective commitment across all three ethical climate types. Job satisfaction was only associated with ethical P–O fit for one of the three P–O fit variables and turnover intentions were significantly associated with two of the ethical P–O fit variables. The most consistent effect was found for the Conventional –Caring fit variable, which was significantly related to all three attitudes assessed. The weakest effect was found for the Preconventional – Instrumental fit variable, which was only predictive of affective commitment. The pattern of findings and implications for practice and future research are discussed.

Required Publisher’s Statement
The final publication is available at Springer via https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-007-9352-1.
Citation Information
Maureen L. Ambrose, Anke Arnaud and Marshall Schminke. "Individual Moral Development and Ethical Climate: The Influence of Person-Organization Fit on Job Attitudes" Journal of Business Ethics Vol. 77 Iss. 3 (2007) p. 323 - 333
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/anke_arnaud/8/