The third eye : exploring Guanxi and relational morality in the workplace
Document Type
Journal article
Source Publication
Journal of Business Ethics
Publication Date
12-3-2002
Volume
41
Issue
4
First Page
361
Last Page
384
Keywords
Confucian, Guanxi, Moral thinking, Relational morality
Abstract
We examine the use of Confucian relational morality as an alternative reference point to that of modernist morality in judging workplace ethical conduct. A semi-structured interview based study involving 46 ethnic Chinese managers and 30 non-Chinese expatriate managers in Singapore, provided evidence of the use of traditional guanxi-linked morality as a moral resource by some of the former group in judging workplace ethical dilemmas. While such morality played only a minor role in moral reasoning, and was largely overshadowed by modernist morality, the research nonetheless demonstrates that moral reasoning reflects wider cultural heritage, and is not merely a function of corporate culture and individual moral development.
DOI
10.1023/A:1021217027814
Print ISSN
01674544
E-ISSN
15730697
Publisher Statement
Copyright © 2002 Kluwer Academic Publishers
Access to external full text or publisher's version may require subscription.
Full-text Version
Publisher’s Version
Language
English
Recommended Citation
Tan, D., & Snell R. S. (2002). The third eye: Exploring Guanxi and relational morality in the workplace. Journal of Business Ethics, 41(4), 361-384. doi: 10.1023/A:1021217027814