On the role of experience in ethical decision making at work: An ethical expertise perspective. (February 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Dane, Erik; Sonenshein, Scott
• Is Part Of: Organizational psychology review. Volume 5:Number 1(2015:Feb.)
• Page Start: 74
• Page End: 96
• Publication Date: 2015-02
• Subjects: Business ethics -- cognitive schemas -- ethical expertise -- experience -- expert performance; Psychology, Industrial -- Periodicals; Organizational behavior -- Periodicals; Psychology, Applied -- Periodicals; 158.705
• DOI: 10.1177/2041386614543733
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2041-3866

Abstract

Previous research has produced contradictory results on whether and how "experience" relates to ethical decision making in the workplace. Maintaining that these divergent findings result from underspecified and inconsistent treatments of experience in the business ethics literature, we build theory around experience and its connection to ethical decision making. To this end, we draw upon and advance research on ethical expertise, defined as the degree to which one is knowledgeable about and skilled at applying moral values within a given work context. We also unpack the nature and consequences of two forms of ethical expertise, convergent and divergent. Building on this foundation—and seeking to reconcile the contradictory results around experience and ethical decision making—we theorize factors associated with the acquisition of ethical expertise in the workplace. We conclude by discussing the implications of our theorizing for business ethics scholarship and expertise research.