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

Share

COinS