Facultad de Ciencias Económicas y Empresariales
Working Paper nº 07/ 12
A Survey on Virtue in Business and Management
(1980-2011)
I gnacio Ferrero
University of Navarra
Alejo José G. Sison
University of Navarra
A Survey on Virtue in Business and Management (1980-2011)
I gnacio Ferrero, Alejo José G. Sison
Working Paper No.07/ 12
October 2012
ABSTRACT
Virtue ethics is generally recognized as one of the three major schools of ethics, but is
often waylaid by utilitarianism and deontology in business and management literature.
Focusing on publications in the Thomson-Reuters Journal of Citation Report between
1980 and 2011, we use EBSCO and ABI databases to look for articles containing the
keywords “virtue ethics”, “virtue theory” or “virtuousness” in the abstract together with
“business” or “management” in the text. We refined our search to draw lists of the most
prolific authors, the most cited authors, the most cited articles and the journals with the
most virtue ethics publications. This information allows us to chart how virtue ethics
articles have evolved through the decades and establish clusters of authors as well as
clusters of themes. These findings also provide a foundation for future study of the
meanings of virtue ethics and the achievement and potential of different persuasions
within virtue ethics research. We believe this will make a significant contribution to
business ethics scholarship and management education by supplying both with a solid
philosophical and anthropological mooring.
I gnacio Ferrero
School of Economics and Business Administration
University of Navarra
[email protected]
Alejo José G. Sison
School of Humanities and Social Sciences
University of Navarra
[email protected]
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A SURVEY ON VIRTUE IN BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT (1980-2011)
Autores
Ignacio Ferrero. Departamento de Empresa. Universidad de Navarra.
[email protected]
Alejo José G. Sison. Departamento de Filosofía. Universidad de Navarra.
[email protected]
Abstract
Virtue ethics is generally recognized as one of the three major schools of ethics, but is
often waylaid by utilitarianism and deontology in business and management literature.
Focusing on publications in the Thomson-Reuters Journal of Citation Report between
1980 and 2011, we use EBSCO and ABI databases to look for articles containing the
keywords “virtue ethics”, “virtue theory” or “virtuousness” in the abstract together with
“business” or “management” in the text. We refined our search to draw lists of the most
prolific authors, the most cited authors, the most cited articles and the journals with the
most virtue ethics publications. This information allows us to chart how virtue ethics
articles have evolved through the decades and establish clusters of authors as well as
clusters of themes. These findings also provide a foundation for future study of the
meanings of virtue ethics and the achievement and potential of different persuasions
within virtue ethics research. We believe this will make a significant contribution to
business ethics scholarship and management education by supplying both with a solid
philosophical and anthropological mooring.
1
Key Words: Virtue, virtue ethics, virtuousness, literature review, publication patterns,
Aristotle, MacIntyre.
2
INTRODUCTION
In the English-speaking world, virtue ethics had all but disappeared until the publication
of Anscombe’s (1958) article. Dominant then were deontology (Kant) and utilitarianism
(Bentham and Mill). Certainly, there is no monolithic position for these schools.
However, Anscombe thought Kant’s idea of “legislating for oneself” absurd because
legislation required a superior power and given Kant’s agnosticism, recourse to a
“supreme law-giver” was impossible. She was also critical of utilitarianism because she
held that ethics entailed certain things as forbidden in themselves regardless of
consequences (killing the innocent). Nonetheless, Anscombe did not directly endorse
virtue ethics, due to the lack of an “adequate philosophy of psychology”.
The virtue ethics amnesia afflicting general moral philosophy affected business
and management ethics as well. Deontology, which considers behavior exclusively in its
conformity with universal rules of justice and rights without reference to context or
results has prevailed in theory; while utilitarianism, which judges action through costbenefit analysis without regard for norms or values has dominated in practice.
Anscombe (1958) identified many of the difficulties that beset virtue ethics. First, the
meaning of virtue, even in Aristotle, is no longer clear. Neither are there satisfactory
accounts of basic concepts of moral psychology such as “intention”, “desire”, “motive”
or “action”. Instead, there is widespread disagreement in the existence and meaning of
virtue-related notions such as “human nature” and “flourishing”.
Notwithstanding these deficiencies, we still think that virtue ethics is a valid
option for ethics in general and for business ethics in particular. It integrates the
advantages of both deontology and utilitarianism, while providing cogent responses to
the criticisms or objections from each one. Virtue ethics, like deontology, subscribes to
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universal principles, and like utilitarianism, it considers outcomes. But unlike
deontology, virtue ethics pays attention to the particulars of agents (motives, intentions,
habits, character, relations) and actions (circumstances, community); unlike
utilitarianism, it maintains that exceptionless prohibitions exist. It establishes the
connection between what the agent does and who the agent becomes. These features
combine make virtue ethics a more integrated, balanced and nuanced framework to
evaluate human action.
This article forms part of a wider research on the place of virtue ethics in
business and management. In this first phase we carry out a literature review of the last
three decades. We then trace the historical development of virtue ethics providing a
comprehensive assessment of its evolution and identifying the most influential works.
Afterwards, we focus on major themes and clusters of authors, describing the
intellectual structure of virtue ethics literature. We end by indicating future trends in
virtue ethics research.
We leave for later detailed discussions of the contributions of each school and
scholar. Critiques and responses from standard Aristotelian virtue ethics to deontology
and utilitarianism will also be set aside for future research.
A QUANTITATIVE STUDY OF VIRTUE ETHICS LITERATURE
Antecedents
We have identified three studies that could serve as antecedents to our current task.
Collins (2000) and Calabretta et al. (2011) limit themselves to articles found in just one
journal, the Journal of Business Ethics, with the former using a purely chronological
criterion, the first 1,500 articles. Ma et al. (2012), on the other hand, focuses on the
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most cited publications within a period, aiming to chart the intellectual structure of
business ethics studies.
Our work differs in several ways. Firstly, we are concerned with virtue ethics
articles in business and management, not with business ethics studies in general.
Secondly, we do not limit our scope to a single journal, but consider any periodic
publication where such articles are found. And thirdly, besides presenting the
intellectual structure (McCain 1990) of these articles, we also provide other information
such as the chronology, major authors, themes and trends of this knowledge stock.
Objectives
Our objectives are four-fold: (1) identify the articles which belong to this knowledge
stock of virtue ethics in business and management; (2) establish the chronology of
articles and the order of appearance of major topics so as to document the formation of
the field; (3) discover the major authors (backgrounds, sources and schools) and main
themes; and (4) describe the trends in its evolution and maturation.
To fulfill our aims, we begin by asking: What has been published on virtue
ethics in business and management? By whom? When? And where? We would also like
to know who the most relevant authors are by the number of articles written and the
frequency of citation. Similarly, we’d like to learn which journals have been most
accommodating to virtue ethics by the number of articles published. The study will
provide data for historical trends in virtue ethics articles and for mapping the field in
terms of scholars, schools and topics.
Domain
5
The study is limited to works in business ethics between 1980 and the third quarter of
2011 in journals ranked by the Thomson Reuters Journal Citation Report. We take the
impact factor as a simple statistical metric of the influence of a journal, despite the
debate about its ability to really measure impact (Amin & Mabe 2000; Seglen 1997).
We use the impact factor to rank journals, although other criteria can and perhaps
should be used (Adler et al. 2008). We may leave out other valuable contributions, but
that is the price of applying Journal Citation Report criteria (ISI, 1993).
Data search and methods
Through EBSCO, we gained access to Academic Search Premier, Business Source
Complete and MLA International Bibliography and searched for articles from 19802011 containing the terms “virtue ethics” or “virtue theory” or “virtuousness” in the
abstract. Searching for key words would have been more exclusionary. We obtained 552
hits. We refined the search by adding “management” or “business” in the body of the
text and narrowed results to 128.
We repeated the procedure with ABI Inform and obtained 156 hits. We reviewed
the abstracts of these 156 articles and after comparing them with the EBSCO search
results to detect replications we came up with a combined new list of 135 items.
We then subjected the items on our list to a bibliometric analysis, chosen for its
objectivity, consistency and unobtrusiveness (Garfield 1979). We are aware that a
simple bibliometric analysis cannot compensate for an attentive reading of the articles,
yet we think it is adequate as a first step in identifying works and authors belonging to
this field, and in setting their chronology.
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We also employ knowledge-stock analysis (Biemans et al. 2007) in detecting major
authors and themes, as well as recognizing main trends in the field’s evolution and
development. We acknowledge greater subjectivity or bias in this step, for instance, in
evaluating an author or an article’s influence, or in listing an article under a certain
theme. Furthermore, this tool does not give us access to the motives for which an author
or article is cited, or a theme investigated. However imperfect the method, we
nonetheless consider it necessary for an initial contact with our research material.
Findings
Most Prolific Authors
Among the 135 articles that have met our search criteria 150 authors were found and
37.8% of items were done in collaboration. The most prolific author is Geoff Moore,
with 7 MacIntyre-inspired articles (5 alone and 2 in co-authorship with Ron Beadle). In
second place is Edwin Hartman with 6 articles, followed by Bill Shaw (3 in coauthorship) and Robert Solomon with 5, and John Dobson with 4 (2 in co-authorship).
These are followed by five other authors including Kim Cameron and Arran Caza who
have published 3 articles together, and they (with Patrick Murphy, Daryl Koehn and
Caryn L. Beck-Dudley) form the top ten authors who have most published in the field.
Twenty other authors have published 2 articles during this period. We did not include in
the following table authors who have contributed only 1 article.
(Table 1. List of authors according to the number of articles)
Most Referenced Authors
7
The relevance of an author may also be judged by the number of citations (Tahai
and Meyer 1999). We determined this through Google Scholar searches carried out in
November 15, 2011. We find D.P. Robin and R.E. Reidenbach (1987) at the top with
384 citations as co-authors of a single article. This is the oldest article cited in both
business ethics and marketing. Next comes Solomon receiving 368 citations for 5
articles. Solomon is cited almost exclusively in business ethics. He is followed by Caza
and Cameron, who in three co-authored articles have 248 citations. Close behind are
Moore, with 241 citations for 7 articles (some in co-authorship with Beadle), Stark, with
215 citations for one work in the Harvard Business Review and Bright, with 206
citations for two articles. Notice that between the third most cited author, Solomon, and
the fourth and fifth, co-authors Cameron and Caza, there is a difference of 120 citations,
exactly the same as between Cameron and Caza and the tenth, Hartman, whose 6
articles have 128 citations in total. From the 11th most cited author onwards, the
differences in the number of citations significantly diminishes. Scholars tend to refer to
the same handful of authors and articles.
(Table 2. List of authors according to the number of citations)
Given the quantitative nature of our study, we refrain from judging the quality of
each author’s contribution. Nonetheless, in order to gauge an author’s influence in the
virtue ethics field, we have noted the number of citations each has received (see Table
3). Thus, we can identify Moore, Solomon, Koehn, Hartman, Murphy, Shaw,
Whetstone, Dobson, Cameron and Caza as the main authors, appearing in the top 10
lists of both the number of articles and citations. The most cited article is Solomon 1992
with 25 citations, followed by Koehn 1995 with 19, then three articles by Moore: 2005a
(18), 2002 (17), 2005b (15).
(Table 3. List of authors according to the number of citations)
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(Table 4. List of most cited articles)
Evolution of the scientific production
We divided the period under study into five-year segments to determine how the
frequency of virtue ethics articles has evolved. None published from 1980-1984, and
only one from 1985-1989. Between 1990 and 1994 there was a big jump with 11
articles, and an even steeper rise between 1995 and 1999 with 32 articles. Despite a
downward trend between 2000 and 2004, with 26 articles, 51 articles were published in
the next five-years, from 2005 to 2009. The 14 articles published in 2010-2011 confirm
this uptick. From this we infer a sustained growing interest in virtue ethics (Arnold,
Audi & Zwolinski, 2009).
(Figure 1. Historical trend in the number of virtue ethics articles in 5 year periods)
The great majority of articles published, 120 out of 135 or 89%, in these past three
decades is conceptual (essays, reviews and theory development), while the rest, 15 out
of 135 or 11%, is empirical (interviews, surveys, model testing). As Payne et al. (2011)
observe, most of the empirical articles were published in the past two years (27%),
while from 1990 to 1999, only a single empirical article appeared. This is the inverse of
the conceptual articles, where most were published between 1990 and 1999, and fewer
in the past two years (only 8%).
Another finding refers to academic journals. Among the 20 periodicals, the Journal
of Business Ethics is, by far, the leading journal for virtue ethics, with 66 articles,
followed by the Business Ethics Quarterly, with 43 articles. Together, they account for
more than 80% of publications. Organization Studies contributes 5 articles and Business
Ethics: A European Review, contributes 4. American Behavioral Scientist provides 2
articles. Among these journals, the highest impact factor for the last five years belongs
9
to Organization Studies, followed by Business Ethics Quarterly, Journal of Business
Ethics and American Behavioral Scientist. Business Ethics: A European Review had its
impact fact measured for the first time in 2010-2011. Fifteen remaining journals reflect
a token presence with a single article.
(Table 5. List of journals with number of articles and impact factors)
A CHRONOLOGY OF VIRTUE ETHICS IN BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT
We shall trace the historical development of virtue ethics by determining the time and
order of appearance of articles. We cannot refer to these articles without citing authors
and topics. However, our main concern is to discover when virtue ethics and related
themes first surfaced and how these topics cascaded into other articles and authors
through the years. We identify the origins and sources of virtue-inspired business ethics.
Inevitably, there are overlaps in authors and topics in our timeline. Nonetheless, this is
preferable as it presents a more realistic picture than an artificially straightened-out
version.
The Novelty of Virtue Ethics
Virtue ethics is not new. Its systematic origins could be traced to Aristotle (1985), and
to Socrates and Plato even before. However, its academic application to business is
scarcely three decades old.
The great majority of business ethics studies in the early 1990s does not mention
virtue ethics. In 1990, three literature reviews in research (Kahn 1990), teaching
(Furman 1990) and marketing (Williams & Murphy 1990) were published, and none
made reference to virtues. They all coincided, however, in citing utilitarianism (or
10
“teleology”) and Kantian deontology as dominant theories. Other articles concur (Bowie
1991, Donaldson & Dunfee 1994, and Collier 1995), with Duska (1993) denouncing
this state.
The absence of virtue ethics was detected not only in the academe but also among
practitioners and consultants (Beck-Dudley 1996). The closest thing to virtue ethics
were references to “managerial values” such as honesty, integrity and competence that
shape or reflect individual character (Horvath 1995).
This absence was not because authors —many of whom were philosophers— were
ignorant about virtue ethics, but because virtue ethics was simply not considered
relevant.
1987: Virtue Ethics’ First Appearance in Marketing
The introduction of virtue ethics was slow, dispersed and sporadic. Its initial appearance
in a marketing journal seems to give credence to the idea that interest in ethics arises
from an alleged usefulness as a marketing tool.
Robin and Reidenbach (1987) co-authored the first article explicitly referring to
virtue ethics in management (marketing). Their objective was to integrate corporate
social responsibility and ethics into marketing strategy (see also Takala and Uusitalo
(1995) for a similar attempt among Finnish retailers). They proposed developing an
organization’s corporate culture to direct its marketing plan. Not content with
utilitarianism and deontology, they turn to virtue ethics with its notion of a “golden
mean”. Williams and Murphy (1990) continued this line, underscoring the advantages
of the virtue perspective. Principle-based theories (utilitarianism and deontology) do not
adequately describe exemplary behavior. We need an account of the virtues, character
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traits that shape the vision and action of individuals and organizations. Similarly,
Hartman and Beck-Dudley (1999) show how virtues allow for a comprehensive analysis
of the ethical character of marketing decision-makers and strategies.
Also in 1999, Murphy examines the applicability of virtue ethics to international
marketing, listing five core virtues —integrity, fairness, trust, respect and empathy— in
multinational and multicultural contexts (Murphy 1999). Later, Murphy, Laczniak and
Wood (2007) provide a virtue ethics foundation for relationship marketing, pairing each
stage of relationship marketing with a corresponding virtue. In customer relationship
management, Bull and Adam (2011) argue that MacIntyre’s virtue ethics allows for a
holistic approach which considers design, implementation and best practice issues.
Van de Ven (2008) revisits the relationship between corporate social responsibility
and marketing. He identifies the strengths and weaknesses of marketing communication
tools in building a virtuous corporate brand.
1990: Virtues in Teaching Business Ethics
An academic, pedagogical concern about the virtues arose from their potential in
framing a model for ethical instruction. Virtue ethics is compatible with methods such
as case discussions and role playing. Virtues ethics could also furnish a broader, more
humanistic and social mindset.
Furman (1990) questions the assumption that teaching principle-based models
alone can create rational and autonomous managers who apply such reasoning to
corporate quandaries. She recommends exploring complementary models such as virtue
and feminist ethics, which offer a more culturally grounded orientation to moral values
and norms. Virtue ethics engages the decision maker, putting “an emphasis on being,
rather than, or at least alongside, doing” (Furman 1990: 33).
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Mintz (1996) describes Aristotelian moral and intellectual virtues, acquired
excellences that lead to the good life in community, as well as the pedagogical tools
such as case studies, collaborative and cooperative learning, role-playing and video
presentations used to integrate them into the curriculum. W. Shaw (1996) presents a
survey of business ethics in North America comparing the standard, politics and virtue
models. Dyck and Kleysen (2001) offer empirical support that the Aristotelian virtue
framework is not only operationalizable but that it also affords students with a more
holistic understanding of management. Equally committed to Aristotelian virtue ethics
is Hartman (2006), who upholds the importance of good character, the ability to discern
the salient moral features of situations, which can be nurtured or undermined by
organizational culture. Later, Hartman (2008b) shows that virtues and (an enlightened)
self-interest can overlap, and that case studies, the modern-day version of Aristotelian
dialectic, can help students reach a reflective equilibrium against pressures from
corporate culture. Taking “character” to refer to qualities that lead individuals to desire
and pursue the good, Peterson and Park (2006) believe that character strengths help
organizations to be productive and profitable. Because management is never neutral,
Roca (2008) defends the use of Aristotelian practical wisdom to recover moral
considerations in management education and practice. Practical wisdom not only leads
to the education of cognition, but also of affect.
Other authors consider Aristotelian virtues, but in an uncommitted way. Maguire
(1997) synthesizes the political or distributive justice perspective with virtue theory,
examining the character and responsibilities of individuals in light of their roles within
organizations. Like Roca (2008), he highlights the importance of practical wisdom
(phronesis) which serves as link between the two perspectives.
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1992: Solomon – Virtues as Excellences within Business Communities
As scholars delve into the social purpose of business, they realize that it is an activity
not much different from what normal people do. The logic of business cannot run
counter to the logic of society. Virtues, as human excellences, are beneficial to
individuals themselves, their organizations and communities.
1992 signals a turning point with the publication of Solomon’s article, Corporate
roles, personal virtues: An Aristotelian approach to business ethics (Solomon 1992).
Solomon concludes that despite specific goals and practices, there is no “business
world” apart from the people who work in business, and that the integrity of business
and the integrity of business people are mutually dependent (see also Solomon 2004).
The Aristotelian approach to business ethics boils down to putting people ahead of
profits. While generally sympathetic, Koehn’s (1992) discussion chides Solomon for
being too quick in establishing the goodness of business practice without first analyzing
its content and form. She then extends Solomon’s insights to examine, from an
Aristotelian perspective, the practice of exchange, claiming its inherent goodness.
Newton (1992), another discussant, agrees with Solomon’s proposal of an “an ontology
of ethics for the employee”. She sees in the relation between employee character and
virtue a possible solution to moral dilemmas in the firm.
In 1993, Solomon publishes his book, Ethics and Excellence (Solomon 1993). It
explores through analogy how the Aristotelian notion of virtue linked to the polis may
be applied to the activity of individuals in business organizations and in the community.
Solomon distances himself from the individualistic ethics of the time. This book
includes a list of virtues relevant for business, patterned after Pincoff (1986).
Solomon’s book triggered a series of reviews. Among the favorable was Stark’s
(1993), which welcomes virtue ethics as one of practical value for managers. Boatright
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(1995) commends Solomon for introducing rectifications in Aristotle to the “perverse”
nature and “unnatural” purpose of business. For Solomon, the modern business
corporation is a community with business as a natural human activity. From the legal
perspective, Nesteruk (1995) adopts and challenges Solomon’s notion of the corporation
as a community with individuals occupying specialized roles. He accepts the insight,
but thinks that it lacks a deeper appreciation of the dynamics of legal rules and
community development. Beck-Dudley (1996) is again quite conflicted. Although she
applauds Solomon’s efforts in humanizing business organizations, she points out to the
difficulty in universalizing virtues. A defence of the universality of human nature is
needed, and Solomon fails to furnish one. Ewin’s (1995) review is perhaps most critical.
For Solomon, virtue is a character trait that makes one “fit” or “excell” in a given
society. But what if a business were to consider excellence in persuading people to
accept falsehoods a “virtue” for a salesperson? Should “virtue” not be the capacity to
stand out against such a community? Solomon blurs the connection between virtues and
reasons for acting, which should not depend solely on whatever are common judgments.
1994 A: Hartman — Virtues for the Corporate Commons
Virtues display features of “public goods”, such as nonexcludable and nonrivalrous
consumption. They are compatible with an enlightened notion of self-interest.
Cultivating the virtues result in a win-win situation for individuals and the group.
Hartman (1994), another major character, envisions business as a commons,
relying on corporate culture rather than supervisory techniques against free riders for
preservation. An excellent corporate culture permits the disaffected to exit, encourages
reflection on morality and the good life, and creates loyalty. This article provoked two
replies, one by Solomon and another by Werhane. Solomon (1994) still finds too much
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of compromised egoism in Hartman’s commons metaphor, and too little of a genuine
spirit of community. For Solomon, self interest is always a vice, a character defect.
Werhane (1994) criticizes Hartman's communitarian approach and understanding of
exit, voice, and loyalty. She argues that the right kind of community is one that not
merely preserves the commons, but also observes justice. Exit, voice, and loyalty would
be devoid of meaning without justice, impartiality and reciprocity.
1994 B: Virtues as Rationale for Morality
In Aristotle, virtues were justified by their connection with human flourishing
(eudaimonia). In modern times, the question “why be virtuous?” resurfaces. The
instrumental (“virtues are valuable in respect of another”) and the intrinsic (“virtues are
valuable in themselves”) responses are explored.
Faced with the query why managers should be moral, Hosmer (1994) responds that
by treating people in a manner that is right, just and fair, one creates trust and
commitment, ensuring effort essential for long-term success. B. Shaw and Corvino
(1996) object that the mere appearance of morality could equally generate trust. They
propose virtue ethics as the way to plug this loophole and guarantee genuine morality.
Morality should not be conceived primarily as a set of restrictions, but as fulfillment in
all aspects of life, not only in the material or economic; a virtuous life becomes a good
life, broadly understood. Virtues represent a “different rationale” for being moral. A
decade later, however, Corvino (2006) rejects the virtue ethics option. Instead, he
advocates reforming corporate institutions such that “morality pays”.
1994 C: Virtue Ethics and Other Competing Paradigms
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Arguments in favor of virtue ethics and synergies with other approaches, notions and
ideas are investigated.
MacDonald and Beck-Dudley (1994) alert us to the absence of “traditional
teleology” or virtue ethics. Virtue ethics contains the best of deontological and
utilitarian approaches. While deontological in observing categorical rules, it also accepts
utilitarian-like calculus, although within a different framework (see also Whetstone
2001). Furthermore, virtue ethics contains cogent explanations of the role of individuals
within organizations. Koehn (1995) expresses similar opinions inasmuch as virtue ethics
alone is capable of an integrated evaluation of agents, acts and outcomes. Horvath
(1995) advocates Aristotelian virtue ethics, albeit from MacIntyrean lens. He
encourages managers to adopt an ethics of excellence, based on internal standards by
which they can evaluate their actions, in place of an ethics of effectiveness, measured by
the achievement of external goals. This version of virtue ethics, concerned with the
performance of roles within communities, is highly compatible with organizational
behavior theories. For B. Shaw (1995), postmodernism, with its rejection of “grand
narratives” enhances the desirability of Aristotelian virtues. Crockett (2005) likens the
paradigm shift to virtue ethics to the one by Kuhn in the history of science, making
better sense of contemporary social and moral issues in business.
Robertson and Crittenden (2003) combine virtue ethics with egoism, utilitarianism,
deontology and moral relativism in a cross-cultural, macro-level societal ethical model
for strategic decisions in multinational enterprises. In comparing competing paradigms
on the problem of motivation, Colle and Werhane (2008) do not explicitly favor virtue
ethics. Rather, they emphasize the importance of informal elements, such as
organizational culture and values that foster character, over formal elements, such as
codes of ethics. Moral imagination plays an essential role in combining both formal and
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informal elements. Arnold, Audi and Zwolinski (2010) called attention to the
importance of virtue ethics compared to pluralist and particularist models.
1995 A: Virtues in Decision Making, Virtues and Leadership
Virtues help understand and explain rational, moral agency. They also clarify choice
and decision making. The power to choose has always been acknowledged as the
leader’s prerogative.
The role of virtues in decision making was first presented by McCraken and B.
Shaw (1995). They consider the contractarian-utilitarian model of rational agency too
limited and call upon Aristotelian virtue ethics to complement it with a broader view of
character and rationality. McCraken, Martin and B. Shaw (1998) defend a central role
for virtue ethics as the only model that allows us to live a shared vision of the good life,
learning the practices and habits implied in the roles that constitute a successful
community. For Bastons (2008), virtues make an invaluable contribution to the
structuring problem in decision making. Although the utility principle helps us choose
among options, it does not tell us which options to include in the set. This role belongs
to the cardinal virtues of fortitude, prudence, self-control and justice. Earlier, Mahoney
(1998) already spoke of cultivating courage in business, a topic on which Naughton and
Cornwall (2006) return, from the Catholic Social Teaching perspective, while Stieb
(2006) explains how Aristotelian virtue ethics banish egoist difficulties through loyalty.
Provis (2010) draws similarities between Aristotelian practical wisdom (prudence)
and elements from Confucian tradition. This enhanced model of practical wisdom is
brought to bear on modern ideas about intuition in decision making. Athanassoulis and
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Ross (2011) apply virtue ethics by investigating on the kind of character that assumes
reasonable risks.
Lahdesmaki (2005) contributes an empirical study on the decision making of small,
nature-based Finnish entrepreneurs, analyzed through the ethical theories of
utilitarianism, deontology and virtue ethics. No specific conclusion is reached regarding
the theories, however.
For a contrarian view, we turn to Sundman (2000). He maintains that the virtue
approach does not live up to its promise of “relevance” nor to its claim of “harmony”
between the common demands of morality and the goods internal to business practice.
1995 B: MacIntyre and the Virtues
Among living authors, none more influential than MacIntyre. Although his
contributions to virtue ethics in business, relative to total production, is quite scant,
many scholars apply and extend his thoughts. We organized these articles under
“Corporate agency”, “Virtues and the market” and “The practice-institution distinction”.
Corporate Agency. Collier (1995) asks whether the firm could be considered a moral
agent and display virtues. She refers to MacIntyre’s thoughts regarding practice, virtues
and narrative quest. An organization may be called virtuous insofar as it has a purpose
related to human flourishing and is capable of carrying out right actions to fulfill its
purpose, manifesting the qualities to attain the goods internal to management practice.
Unlike Collier (1995), Moore (1999) is not entirely convinced that we could speak of
the character of the the organization, besides the moral character of individuals. He
believes that organizations are “moral agents”, rather than “moral persons”, leaving
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open whether virtue ethics, which assumes character and personality, could be applied
to organizations.
Schudt (2000) recognizes corporations as moral agents, attributing virtues or
character traits to them. Despite the Aristotelian terminology, he establishes sustainable
profit as the corporation’s goal from which the virtues of efficient production, resource
management, correct pricing and right relationship derive. Gowri (2007) goes further in
attributing moral personhood to corporations. For her, corporations have appetites or
tendencies. Corporate virtues represent the mean between the two extremes in those
tendencies and should be other-regarding, rather than (self) profit-seeking. Only thus
could corporations advance in integrity, becoming mature, social actors. Néron and
Norman (2008) evaluate the potential costs and benefits of applying virtues and
citizenship to corporations.
Melé (2003) shifts the discussion from moral agency and personhood to the
humanistic practice of management. The corporation is viewed as a community of
persons that seeks to satisfy common needs and develop virtue. The humanistic
approach is key to attaining higher moral quality in management, greater virtue among
individuals and more efficient organizations.
Coming from positive organizational scholarship, Caza, Barker and Cameron
(2004) provide empirical support for the importance of virtuousness in corporations in
relation to performance. At first, Heugens, Kaptein and van Oosterhout (2006) suggest
combining virtue ethics, which focuses on the moral quality of economic actors, with
contractualism, which looks into the morals of exchange, as the most appropriate
normative core for business ethics. But later (Heugens, Kaptein & van Oosterhout
2008), they cast their lot with virtue ethics as the theory that gives the best response to
“What does it take to be a good company?” Organizations are neither innately good nor
20
evil. The moral goodness of different organizational forms depends on the fit between
its purpose and the virtues. Managers who are able to infuse virtues into their
organizations can expect effectiveness and legitimacy, while those who fail,
organizational demise.
Virtues and the Market. Maitland (1997) considers MacIntyre too pessimistic in
thinking that the market is based exclusively on self-interest. For Maitland markets
could be moralizing forces, rewarding, reinforcing and spreading virtues. Thus markets
strengthen the foundations of a moral culture conducive to flourishing. B. Shaw (1997)
acknowledges with Maitland that markets promote behavioral rules to function
properly. But markets also gives rise to opportunism and self-interested preference
maximization. This seems to refute the notion that markets generate virtue in the
Aristotelian and MacIntyrean sense. Without leaving the Aristotelian virtue framework,
Graafland (2010) takes a more conciliatory stance. Although market competition
stimulates diligence, it also suppresses temperance, generosity and sociability. It
heightens envy, while its effect on courage, high-spiritedness, justice and prudence is
ambiguous.
The practice-institution distinction. No doubt, Moore has worked the most in applying
MacIntyre’s insights to business. The core of Moore’s contribution consists in the study
of MacIntyre’s distinction between practices, which seek internal goods, and
institutions, which are corruptive of practices in pursuing external goods. Moore (2002)
draws attention to the inherently corrupt nature of markets and capitalism as institutions.
The tendency to avarice in capitalist business threatens the integrity of character and
community flourishing. For this Moore (2005a) encourages the rediscovery of
21
craftsmanship in business as a way to revitalize the community. Moore (2005b) likewise
distinguishes between corporate character and virtues, which follow from practices, and
corporate culture and values, which follow from institutions. Moore and Beadle (2006)
explore the conditions in which some businesses protect practices, develop virtues and
encourage moral agency in decision making. They find that these largely arise from the
mode of institutionalization and environment. That same year, Beadle and Moore
(2006) write a historical piece tracing the evolution of MacIntyre’s thoughts on social
science and underscoring their relevance. Finally, Moore (2008) proposes a way how
management may be re-imagined, to recovers its capacity for virtue. Apart from a core
practice with its corresponding excellence or virtue, managers should also seek the
practice of sustaining the institution itself, which then becomes an internal good. This
constitutes a stand similar to Brewer (1997).
Moore’s interpretation of MacIntyre has raised a lot of comment. Dawson and
Bartholomew (2003) agree that a notion of management based on individual preference
and profit is problematic. But instead of rejecting it, they think it would be permissible
if business people subordinate profits and external goods to a broader vision, based on
the community and centered on virtue. Weaver (2006) explains the implications of
framing organizational ethics in terms of virtues and moral agency, directing attention
to moral identity. Clarifying virtue and moral agency through social cognitive identity
theory helps discover the influence of organizational, extraorganizational and
macrocultural factors. Dawson (2009) returns to MacIntyre’s framework of practices,
institutions and tradition-based narratives, applying it to UK healthcare organizations.
Halliday and Johnsson (2009) relate MacIntyre’s notions of practice, institution and
relational dependence to organizational learning and underscore the moral and relational
dimensions of organizations. Hartman (2011) considers MacIntyre’s rejection of the
22
separation thesis (no “ought” could be derived from an “is”) too radical that it smacks of
naturalism, and summons Aristotle’s statement regarding the close relationship between
external and internal goods as a corrective. Ethicists and empiricists should work
together, for an ethically good life ought to be one that is possible within our realm of
experiences.
1995 C: Virtues, Feminine Ethics, Ethics of Care
This group of articles explore non-Aristotelian virtues as qualities that cannot be
attributed to Athenian gentlemen Aristotle originally had in mind.
Although Furman (1990) already suggested links between virtue ethics and
Gilligan’s (1982) feminine ethics, this was not developed until Dobson and White
(1995). The male bias underlying business theory may be corrected by drawing on the
feminine-oriented, relationship-based rationality in virtue ethics. Seeing the firm in a
feminine way, as a nexus of relationships among stakeholders, is not only morally more
desirable, but also economically more efficient because it fosters trust. Derry (1996)
argues that Dobson and White's (1995) claim was based on a misinterpretation of
Gilligan’s (1982) work. Virtue ethics and feminine ethics take different approaches to
nurturing relationships and care. In like manner, Wicks (1996, 1997) traces this
misinterpretation to the influence of MacIntyre’s ideas, which are too radical and
dismissive of the firm as self-interested and overly competitive. MacLellan and Dobson
(1997) denounce the male bias in business education, understood as a game with wholly
material objectives. They count on virtue ethics as remedy. In response to Wicks,
Dobson (1997) clarifies MacIntyre’s influence and susbstitutes the controversial
“feminine firm” with the “virtuous firm”, one that flourishes in a community which is
not purely economic. Dobson’s (2009) final statement is that MacIntyre’s critique of
23
modern capitalism is only “partially valid”, and that business is not necessarily
antithetical to the pursuit of goods internal to practice.
Related to feminine ethics is the ethics of care. Solomon (1998) complains how
the bloodless concepts of obligation, duty, responsibility and rights have dominated to
the detriment of care and compassion. Seeger and Ulmer (2001) highlight caring virtues
such as immediacy of response, supportiveness of victims, rebuilding and renewal.
Simola (2003) compares the ethics of care to the ethics of justice. Sandin (2009)
continue’s Simola’s (2003) work, identifying courage and honesty as relevant virtues.
Bauman (2011) concludes, based on considerations of unintended harms, that an ethics
of care is more effective than an ethics of justice or virtue ethics in managing
stakeholder concerns in times of crisis.
1998: Virtues and Moral Psychology
This group fills the gap of an “adequate philosophy of psychology” that Anscombe
(1958) detected. However, the majority of works proceeds from modern, empirical
psychology and psychology of organization literature. They may hold assumptions that
Anscombe and other Aristotelian virtue ethicists do not share.
With Aristotelian virtue ethics already fairly established, Koehn (1998) alerts to its
weaknesses in explaining the psychology of weak-willed managers, virtuous but
thoughtless actors, good bigots and virtuous companies that sell harmful products. To
understand how moral people behave and how they become moral, Hartman (1998)
admonishes to go beyond virtues and refer to character, of which virtues together with
other personality traits are components. Character, which allows us to grasp the
connection between moral assessment and psychological explanation, is especially
useful in business ethics education.
24
An excellent review of the relation between virtues and modern psychology is
found in Moberg (1999), who compares five main personality features (extroversion,
agreeableness, conscientiousness, neuroticism, openness) taken from Barrick and Mount
(1991) and Costa and McCrae (1992) with what constitutes virtue by means of
empirical studies. Moberg speaks of agreeableness, conscientiousness and openness to
experience as organizational virtues. Taking character as the “interpenetrable habitual
qualities within individuals and applicable to organizations that constrain and lead them
to desire and pursue personal and societal good”, Wright and Goodstein (2007) study
the relationship between character strength and organizational virtues. Later, Moberg
(2000) examines the psychology behind role modeling, a means for acquiring virtues in
organizations. Fort (2000) explores the relationship among social psychology, business
ethics and corporate governance, stressing virtue ethics’ ability to mitigate ingrouping
tendencies. Lau and Wong (2009) continue with this line of empirical research on how
personal justice norms are shaped by ethical dispositions and ethical climates, from
virtue ethics and interactionist perspectives.
Situationism, which denies the existence of character traits, is the main topic at the
junction of virtue ethics and psychology. At its forefront are Harman (2003) and Doris
(2002), for whom behavior is the result of external and circumstantial factors such as
social pressure, culture, customs, routine and so forth. They advance empirical grounds
in support of their claims. Solomon (2003) rises in defense of character traits and virtue,
despite acknowledging the role of circumstances, situation and context. Harman (2003)
finds Solomon’s arguments unpersuasive, insisting on the scant empirical basis for
affirming the existence of character traits and the unsubstantiated a priori claim that
empirical research cannot overturn ordinary moral psychology.
25
We cannot deal with this issue in depth, for our purpose is simply to show the
influence of situationist arguments on virtue ethics. Rallying behind character traits
against situationists are Bhuyan (2007), for whom there could be no free individual
agency without personality and character traits, environmental forces notwithstanding;
Hartman (2008a), who insists that philosophers and empirical psychologists need to
work together because only people of virtuous character are able to discover the salient
facts of a case and frame situations appropriately to make the right decisions; and
Alzola (2008), for whom the situationists’ rejection of character traits as dispositions
rests on misinterpretations of experimental evidence. Arjoon (2008) reconciles
situational social psychology and virtue ethics through an Aristotelian-Thomistic
account of practical judgment.
2000: Virtues, Goods and Principles; Virtues and Capabilities; Virtues and
Spirituality
These articles complete virtue ethics with elements that may have been neglected,
ignored or are simply new.
Arjoon (2000) develops a meta-theory of business based on virtue theory linking
virtues, the common good and the dynamic economy. The firm becomes a space in
which individuals work together to reach the common end of flourishing (eudamonia).
Valentine and Johnson (2005) determine the degree to which principles in corporate
ethics codes is associated with virtue ethics, particularly employee incorruptibility.
Melé (2009a) complements the virtue framework with the personalist principle —the
duty of respect, benevolence and care— and the common good principle, which
promotes conditions for flourishing.
26
Drawing inspiration from the Austrian School of economics, Aranzadi (2011)
blends virtue ethics with institutional ethics through the dynamics and structure of
human action. Individual choices are guided by virtues and virtuous actions maintain
social institutions and culture, which contribute to flourishing.
There have also been attempts to combine virtue ethics with Sen (1999) and
Nussbaum’s (2000) human capabilities approach, and Csikszentmihalyi’s (1990) theory
of flow. Vogt (2005) assesses whether a company organizes work to foster the
development of human capabilities and flow. Bertland (2009) believes that the
capabilities approach frees virtue ethics from the need of a problematic teleological
justification. Giovanola (2009) explains how Aristotelian economic virtues together
with the notion of “human richness” from the capabilities approach lead to businesses
that foster flourishing.
Lastly, Cavanagh and Bandusch (2002) study the relationship among spirituality,
virtues and work climate, while Gotsis and Kortezi (2008) dwell on the aptness of virtue
ethics for analyzing workplace spirituality.
2001 Managerial Virtues and Leadership
A subgroup of authors study the role of virtues in leadership. Guillén and González
(2001) underscore fairness, integrity, honesty, loyalty, determination, courage and
responsibility in Total Quality Management (TQM). Whetstone (2003), through
interviews and surveys, comes up with lists of essential managerial virtues and observes
that they vary according to firms. Knights and O’Leary (2006) prescribe a combination
of MacIntyrean virtue ethics with Levinas’ ethics of responsibility to counteract the
individualistic bias in leadership studies. Flynn (2008) recommends a vision of business
27
leadership based on virtue theory by Aristotle and the contemporary philosopher,
Joseph Pieper. Pastoriza, Ariño and Ricart (2008) explore the impact of ethical
managerial behavior on the development of social capital. After work on leadership
integrity based on virtue (Palanski & Yammarino 2007), Palanski, Kahai and
Yammarino (2011) examine associations among transparency, behavioral integrity and
trust in teams.
2003 Quantitative, Empirical and Applied Studies on the Virtues
“Virtues” and “virtuousness” are defined, measured, tested and operationalized as
constructs.
Shananan and Hyman (2003) were the first to devise a scale for Murphy’s (1999)
and Solomon’s (1999) lists of virtues, classifying people according to decision making
criteria. Libby and Thorne (2004) developed a typology of auditors’ virtues through indepth interviews. Later (Libby & Thorne 2007), they proposed quantitative measures
and scales for virtues included in Pincoff’s (1986) list. Zheng and Li (2010) investigate
the influence of accounting firms on immoral information disclosure in China, using
virtue ethics to explain findings.
Besides linking “virtuousness” with organizational science, Cameron, Bright and
Caza (2004) carry out an empirical study of 18 organizations showing significant
relationships between virtuousness and performance. They describe the buffering and
amplifying effects of ethical behavior (see also Bright, Cameron & Caza (2006) for
these effects in downsized organizations). Rego, Ribeiro and Cunha (2010) extend the
work by Cameron et al. (2004), employing measures of organizational virtuousness.
Organizational virtuousness influences organizational citizenship behaviors through
28
affective well-being at work. Gotsis and Kortezi (2010), from the perspective of
organizational politics, defend virtue ethics as the way to promote positive workplace
behaviors.
Chun (2005) develops a virtue character scale that enables the assessment of the
link between organizational level virtue (integrity, empathy, warmth, courage,
conscientiousness and zeal) and organizational performance in Fortune Global 500
firms. Payne et al. (2011) applies the list of virtues identified by Chun (2005) to family
firms, finding them to rate higher in empathy, warmth and zeal but lower in courage.
2000 – 2010: Miscellaneous
With the new millennium come a series of applications of virtue ethics to specific
markets or problems: the Nigerian business environment (Limbs & Fort 2000); workfamily conflicts (Marchese, Bassham & Ryan 2002); genetically modified food (Calkins
2002); corruption (Everett, Neu & Rahaman 2006); sweatshops (Radin & Calkins
2006); production lines (Drake & Schlachter 2008); corporate responsibility practices
(Ketola 2006 & Weisband 2009); networking (Mele 2009b); and the relation between
private capital and the public good (Morrell & Clark 2010).
MAJOR
AUTHORS,
THEMES
AND
TRENDS
IN
VIRTUE
ETHICS
RESEARCH
Main Virtue Ethics Scholars,Their Backgrounds And Their Sources
It is beyond the scope of this article to give a detailed account of the history of virtue.
Our more modest goal consists in classifying authors in accordance with a line of
thinking. Different criteria may be employed. We shall refer to citations and references
29
made by the authors themselves. We realize this is just a first step, to be followed by a
careful perusal and analysis of the articles and sources of each author. But that would
have to be left for later. We are also aware that certain authors may belong to several
schools and that these schools mutually influence each other (Dobson 2009). It is
impossible to assign every author to a school, because sometimes, only a passing
reference is made to virtue or the concept is not sufficiently defined. These are some
limitations we have to accept.
From the viewpoint of cited primary sources, Aristotle, who appears in 45% of
the articles, occupies first place. In second place comes MacIntyre, in 25% of the works.
Before the 20th century, the only two authors cited are Thomas Aquinas (Arjoon 2008,
MacDonald & Beck-Dudley 1994, Mele 2009) and Hume (Moberg 1999), although the
latter, from a critical perspective. Among contemporary virtue ethicists, most frequently
referenced are: Anscombe (Flynn 2008, Melé 2009), Foot (Arjoon 2000, Melé 2009),
Pieper (Flynn 2008, Mele 2009) and Kupperman (Murphy 1999). We only have passing
references to Von Wright (1993), Slote (1992), Hursthouse (1999) and Swanton (2003).
Primary references for virtue ethics in business and management are scant, and except
for Aristotle and MacIntyre, hardly discussed in depth.
On the basis of primary sources, we establish the following schools or author
clusters. In first place, we have the aristotelian school. This comprises authors who
make explicit reference to Aristotle or aristotelian virtue ethics, following these insights.
What characterizes aristotelian ethics is the connection among the main concepts of
virtue, practical wisdom and eudaimonia (human flourishing). Virtue is a freely
acquired habitual disposition or trait of character that enables one to perceive,
deliberate, decide, act and experience emotions in a proper way, that is, in accordance
with reason (practical wisdom), in every particular situation. Although virtue is not the
30
only element, it is the controlling factor to attain eudaimonia (human flourishing).
Among these authors are Solomon, Hartman, B. Shaw and Koehn, followed by Alzola,
Athanassoulis, Beck-Dudley, Bhuyan, Clark, Crockett, Dyck, Ewin, Flynn, Kleysen,
MacDonald, Martin, McCraken, Morrell, Murphy, Newton, Schudt and Williams.
MacIntyre, despite being sui generis, is an aristotelian philosopher. Yet, there are
several issues or treatments specific to MacIntyre and beyond Aristotle. For example,
the possibility conditions for virtue in the Post-Enlightenment world changed by
individualism and liberalism, the importance of community narratives or sociohistoric
and cultural tradition in constituting practical reason or the virtues of vulnerability,
dependence, care and compassion (“feminine virtues”). Inasmuch as these ideas have
served as inspiration, we constitute a separate MacIntyrean author cluster: Moore and
Dobson, followed by Adam, Bartholomew, Beadle, Brewer, Bull, Collier, Dawson,
Halliday, Horvath, Johnsson, McLellan, Weaver and White.
A third group may be called the “enlightened virtue ethics” (no association with
the Enlightenment intended) authors. They enrich virtue ethics with modern elements
while keeping in line with Aristotle. Their situation is similar to MacIntyrean authors
but without a central figure. We include in this cluster: Arjoon, who combines virtue
ethics with the ideas of the common good and dynamic economy in a comprehensive
business theory and reconciles virtue ethics with situational psychology; Melé, who
combines virtue ethics with the personalist and other principles from Catholic Social
Teaching to form a kind of humanistic management; and Nesteruk, who supplies virtue
ethics with an corporate legal theory.
A fourth cluster is composed of “eclectic virtue ethics” authors who combine
virtue ethics with principles from other schools which may seem foreign or even
incompatible. Belonging to this group are Whetstone, Werhane and Colle, who attempt
31
a synthesis between virtue ethics on the one hand and deontology and utilitarianism on
the other, and Gotsis and Kortezi, who do the same but with kantian deontology alone.
Arnold, Audi, Zwolinski, Robertson and Crittenden advocate methodological pluralism
without excluding virtue ethics. Heugens, Kaptein and van Oosterhout blend virtue
ethics with contractualism; Knights and O’Leary mix it with Levinas’ ethics of
responsibility. Provis introduces confucian elements; Calkins underscores the
importance of casuistry; and Aranzadi joins virtue ethics with the Austrian theory of
action.
Apart from these major clusters, we also distinguish some minor groups. One is
composed of authors who harmonize virtue ethics with Gilligan’s (1982) ethics of
care: Bauman, Simola and Furman. Another is constituted by those who approach
virtue ethics from Sen and Nussbaum’s theory of capabilities: Bertland, Vogt and
Giovanola. And a third comprises authors from empirical organizational psychology
who deal with “virtuousness”: Cameron, Bright, Caza, followed by Cunha, Park,
Peterson, Rego and Ribeiro, Chun and lastly, Moberg.
(Table 6. Schools based on primary sources)
Enough has been said in the chronology regarding Solomon, Hartman and Moore
(see “The practice-institution distinction”). We shall now focus on two remaining very
influential scholars, Bill Shaw and Dobson. Bill Shaw is a traditional aristotelian virtue
ethicist who upholds its superiority to exlusively principle or rule-based approaches and
those unable to distinguish between mere appearance and true morality. He defends
virtue ethics’ potential to assimilate postmodern values such as diversity and the
otherness perspective. He is critical, however of claims that modern markets could
cultivate virtues in the aristotelian sense. John Dobson starts with a defense of feminine
firm, thanks to insights from Thomas White and Carol Gilligan, because he thinks it is
32
compatible with the substantive rationality of virtue ethics. A feminine firm is not only
more desirable, morally, but also economically more efficient. His main source for
virtue ethics is MacIntyre, taken as a critic of modernity, individualism, acquisitiveness
and market values. Dobson, however, does not believe that MacIntyre is totally antibusiness. He thinks that MacIntyre leaves room for an enlightened organization where
virtues can be sought as goods internal to practices. Dobson not only acknowledges the
aristotelian nature of MacIntyre’s business ethics, but also his Thomistic interpretation
of virtue. Dobson has evolved from advocating the “feminine firm” to the “virtuous
firm”.
Main Themes and Trends of Virtue Ethics Research in Business and Management
We have been advised repeatedly about the ambiguity of virtue (Solomon 1992, Chun
2005, Weaver 2006). Although a serious difficulty, we cannot engage in the
clarification of its meaning here. Nevertheless, we can still determine the particular
topics about which most articles have been published. Again, we shall use quantitative
criterion. We shall adopt a systematic rather than historic treatment.
The most popular theme is “Virtues in Relations between Individuals and Firms
as Moral Agents” with 36 articles (27%). Three major virtue ethics authors, Solomon,
Hartman and Moore, have written preferentially about this theme and generated
extensive commentary. Insofar as they reject an individualistic view of human beings
and accept a constitutively relational or social nature, these authors explain how
belonging to organizations, participating in markets and belonging to civil society affect
people’s moral identity and agency. They also elucidate how and to what extent these
collectives display moral identity and agency. Virtue can be understood analogically as
33
the positive or desirable operational traits and dispositions of human beings and groups,
as primary and secondary moral agents, respectively.
The second most popular theme is “Virtue Ethics as a Model for the Study and
Teaching of Business Ethics”, consisting of 33 articles (25%). The bulk of the research
deals with comparisons on the strengths and weaknesses of virtue ethics in respect to
utilitarianism and deontology, in theory and in practice. We have also included articles
linking virtue ethics with feminine ethics and ethics of care. The most significant
authors are Dobson, Hartman and B. Shaw.
“Virtues in Moral Psychology and Decision making” occupies third place with
23 articles (17%). Ethics is not only about actions and their consequences, but also,
about choices and the proper framing of decisions. Virtues, as habits or character traits,
influence preferences and choices. They are not so much a help in maximizing a given
objective whatsoever, but an aid in determining which objectives are worth pursuing,
how and why. Acknowledging virtues means acknowledging deficiencies or lack of
virtues also (weakness of will, intemperance, vice) and how these affect psychological
functioning. Some conceptual research in moral psychology which deals with traits in
individuals and organizations provide a basis for empirical and quantitative work.
Articles on the situationist debate questioning the existence of virtues as dispositional
traits belong here. Hartman, Moberg and B. Shaw are the best known contributors.
At a distant fourth, with 10 articles (7%), are “Empirical and Quantitative
Studies on Virtue Ethics”. These objectify, measure and examine correlations between
virtues (as attitudes or behaviors) and other factors in individuals and organizations.
Assuming that all human beings are inclined toward intrinsic goodness, “virtuousness”
represents the best of the human condition, what brings us closest to eudaimonia
34
(Cameron & Caza 2004). This experimental work discovers how best to foster
“virtuousness” in the workplace, with Cameron, Bright and Caza at the fore.
Close behind, with 9 articles (6%) is “Virtues, goods and principles; virtues and
capabilities; virtues and spirituality”. We have already referred to the limited use of
primary sources in virtue ethics. Related is the neglect of other elements, an account of
goods (eudaimonia as the umbrella term) and principles (practical wisdom) within a
community or tradition, that complete the theory. These articles supply explicit accounts
of the goods, principles and communities. For instance, “flow” is a eudaimonic
experience which occurs when one’s capabilities fully meet challenges; and granted that
humans are not purely material beings, their flourishing requires the spiritual dimension
to be addressed as well. Thomistic ethics and Catholic social teaching furnish principles
generally in keeping with Aristotelian virtue theory. And some intuitions of the Austrian
theory of action (the idea of a self-limiting freedom within an institutional framework)
is also compatible with Aristotelian virtue.
Immediately after, with 8 articles comes “Virtue ethics in marketing”. There is
constant tension between an instrumental view of virtues, which help sell products at
greater profits, and the intrinsic view, in which virtues improve a firm’s organizational
culture, relationships with stakeholders and corporate social responsibility. Murphy is
the author who stands out here.
Next comes “Managerial Virtues and Leadership”, with 6 articles. These
underscore the flexibility or context-sensitivity of virtues with regard to firms, situations
and leaders. They also shed light on the meanings of integrity and ethical leadership in
relation to trust-building.
In last place is the “Miscellaneous” category where virtue ethics is applied to
various areas without a unifying thread.
35
(Table 7. Major themes and authors)
A careful analysis of the distribution of articles on major themes of virtue ethics
research through five-year intervals reveals the following.
Marketing, the pioneering field of publication, after a high of 3 articles between
1995 and 1999, has slumped to the last places. Between 2000 and 2004, nothing was
published in this area.
“Virtues in relations between individuals and firms as moral agents”, “Virtue ethics
as a model for the study and teaching of business ethics” and “Virtues in moral
psychology and decision making” consistently share the top three slots beginning 1995
(when the third of these fields was introduced ) until 2009.
“Managerial virtues and leadership” publications, surprisingly, started at the turn of
the millennium.
“Empirical and quantitative studies in virtue ethics”, practically inexistent until
2000, has jumped to first place, in the year 2010-2011. This may be signalling an
important trend.
And lastly, “Virtues, goods and principles; virtues and capabilities; virtues and
spirituality” has attracted a lot of attention between 2005 and 2009, when most articles
appeared.
(Table 8. Distribution of articles, journals and authors on major themes through
five-year intervals)
In matching journals with major themes, we discover that studies on “Virtues in
relations between individuals and firms as moral agents” abound in Business Ethics
Quarterly, while those on “Virtue ethics as a model for the study and teaching of
business ethics” are most numerous in the Journal of Business Ethics. It is also
36
interesting to note the absence of articles on “Virtues, goods and principles; virtues and
capabilities; virtues and spirituality”, “Virtue ethics in marketing” and “Managerial
virtues and leadership” in Business Ethics Quarterly. Similarly, for a dedicated journal
such as Business Ethics: A European Review, we only find articles in three major fields,
“Virtues in relations between individuals and firms as moral agents”, “Virtues in moral
psychology and decision making” and “Virtue ethics in marketing”. Organization
Studies has only published on “Virtues in relations between individuals and firms as
moral agents”. In the Journal of Business Ethics, by contrast, all major fields of virtue
ethics research are represented.
(Table 9. Journals and articles on major themes)
FUTURE DIRECTIONS IN VIRTUE ETHICS RESEARCH
We have limited ourselves to indicate the appearances of “virtue ethics”, “virtue theory”
and “virtuousness” in academic journals within a period, drawing conclusions regarding
the most prolific and the most cited authors, the most cited articles and the journals with
most virtue ethics articles. The search has also allowed us to establish clusters of
authors and themes, as well as to chart their evolution. Future virtue ethics research
could engage in the following.
First, there is a need to carry out a semantic analysis of “virtue” and its cognate
“virtuousness” to clarify meanings, granted that here, we have taken them to be
practically equivalent. “Virtue” is preferred in conceptual, foundational and
philosophical
literature,
while
“virtuousness”
in
quantitative,
empirical
and
psychological articles. The analysis of the relationship between empirical and non-
37
empirical research in business ethics (Cowton 1998, Donaldson 1994, Weaver and
Treviño 1994) will have to be extended to virtue ethics in particular.
Second, and related to the clarification of meanings, is the convenience of
establishing different virtue ethics schools and defining the characteristics and anchor
authors of each. So far, we have identified Aristotelian, MacIntyrean, “enlightened” and
“eclectic” persuasions. There are indications, however, that the broadest classification
will be into Aristotelian and Non-aristotelian. It still has to be determined where
Positive
Organizational
Scholarship
(indebted
to
Positive
Psychology)
and
Organizational Citizenship Behavior, which use “virtue” or “virtuousness” extensively,
belong.
In third place, from a broad aristotelian perspective, it would be worthwhile to
evaluate the merits or lack thereof of competing virtue ethics schools. Some authors
focused too much on the dispositional aspect of virtue (character trait) to the neglect of
other integral elements, such as goods, norms and a social context. Because of this,
other scholars felt duty-bound to supply them, albeit from other traditions. Yet all of
these elements were already present in the original aristotelian formulation. What, then,
do the competing schools add or subtract from the aristotelian treatment of virtue? Is it
possible to integrate them? Would this be beneficial?
Fourthly, we are also aware that the use of more sophisticated software for cocitation analysis could shed more light, providing more statistical evidence on our
original research questions regarding the impact, evolution and clustering of authors and
articles (Calabretta et al. 2011). However, for the basic and exploratory objectives we
have outlined, we think our methodology has been adequate.
Fifth, a more detailed study of each major author, topic and period could be
carried out. This should look for common conclusions among scholars that could form
38
the pillars of the virtue ethics in business. To this end, the setting up of an “invisible
network of knowledge” (INK) (Ma 2005, Ma et al. 2008) in the field may prove useful.
Lastly, one may also consider future challenges to the development of the virtue
perspective. Some will be internal, arising from particular members of a broad virtue
ethics school, while others will be external, coming from the rival perspectives of
deontology and utilitarianism. Following Macintye, far from stumbling blocks, these
could be valuable contributions to the consolidation of the virtue ethics tradition.
REFERENCES
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39
Bastons, M. 2008. 'The role of virtues in the framing of decisions.' Journal of Business
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40
Bull, C., and Adam, A. 2011. 'Virtue ethics and customer relationship management:
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41
Corvino, J. 2006. 'Reframing “Morality pays”: Toward a better answer to “Why be
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Business Ethics Quarterly, 6:1, 101-109.
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42
Dyck, B., and Kleysen, R. 2001. 'Aristotle's virtues and management thought: An
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43
Graafland, J. 2010. 'Do markets crowd out virtues? An Aristotelian framework.' Journal
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Business Ethics Quarterly, 18:2, 253-265.
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44
Hartman, E. M. 2011. 'Virtue, profit, and the separation thesis: An Aristotelian view.'
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Organization Studies, 27:3, 391-411.
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Business Ethics Quarterly, 5:3, 499-532.
Hosmer, L. T. 1994. 'Why be moral? a different rationale for managers.' Business Ethics
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Ketola, T. 2006. 'From CR-Psychopaths to Responsible Corporations: Waking up the
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Koehn, D. 1995. 'A role of virtue ethics in the analysis of business practice.' Business
Ethics Quarterly, 5:3, 533-539.
45
Koehn, D. 1998. 'Virtue ethics, the firm, and moral psychology.' Business Ethics
Quarterly, 8:3, 497-513.
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Lau, V., and Wong, Y. 2009. 'Direct and multiplicative effects of ethical dispositions
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Libby, T., and Thorne, L. 2004. 'The identification and categorization of auditors'
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Libby, T., and Thorne, L. 2007. 'The development of a measure of auditors’ virtue.'
Journal of Business Ethics, 71:1, 89-99.
Limbs, E. C., and Fort, T. L. 2000. 'Nigerian business practices and their interface with
virtue ethics.' Journal of Business Ethics, 26:2, 169-179.
Macdonald, J. E., and Beck-Dudley, C. 1994. 'Are deontology and teleology mutually
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MacLellan, C., and Dobson, J. 1997. 'Women, ethics, and MBAs.' Journal of Business
Ethics, 16:11, 1201-1209.
Maguire, S. 1997. 'Business ethics: A compromise between politics and virtue.' Journal
of Business Ethics, 16:12/13, 1411-1418.
Mahoney, J. 1998. 'Editorial adieu : Cultivating moral courage in business.' Business
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46
Maitland, I. 1997. 'Virtuous markets.' Business Ethics Quarterly, 7:1, 17-31.
Marchese, M. C., Bassham, G., and Ryan, J. 2002. 'Work-family conflict: A virtue
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McCracken, J., and Shaw, B. 1995. 'Virtue ethics and contractarianism: Towards a
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McCracken, J., Martin, W., and Shaw, B. 1998. 'Virtue ethics and the parable of the
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Melé, D. 2009b. 'The practice of networking: An ethical approach.' Journal of Business
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Mintz, S. M. 1996. 'Aristotelian virtue and business ethics education.' Journal of
Business Ethics, 15:8, 827-838.
Moberg, D. J. 1999. 'The big five and organizational virtue.' Business Ethics Quarterly,
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Moberg, D. J. 2000. 'Role models and moral exemplars: How do employees acquire
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47
Moore, G. 1999. 'Corporate moral agency: Review and implications.' Journal of
Business Ethics, 21:4, 329-343.
Moore, G. 2002. 'On the implications of the practice-institution distinction: Macintyre
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12:1, 19-32.
Moore, G. 2005a. 'Humanizing business: A modern virtue ethics approach.' Business
Ethics Quarterly, 15:2, 237-255.
Moore, G. 2005b. 'Corporate character: Modern virtue ethics and the virtuous
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Moore, G. 2008. 'Re-imagining the morality of management: A modern virtue ethics
approach.' Business Ethics Quarterly, 18:4, 483-511.
Moore, G., and Beadle, R. 2006. 'In search of organizational virtue in business: Agents,
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Morrell, K., and Clark, I. 2010. 'Private equity and the public good.' Journal of Business
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Murphy, P. E. 1999. 'Character and virtue ethics in international marketing: An agenda
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48
Naughton, M. J., and Cornwall, J. R. 2006. 'The virtue of courage in entrepreneurship:
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Newton, L. 1992. 'Virtue and role: Reflections on the social nature of morality.'
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'Organizational virtue orientation and family firms.' Business Ethics Quarterly,
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49
Radin, T. J., and Calkins, M. 2006. 'The struggle against sweatshops: Moving toward
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50
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51
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57
TABLES AND FIGURES
Table 1. List of authors according to the number of articles
AUTHOR
PUBLICATIONS
SOLE
AUTHOR
FIRST
PUBLICATION
CITATIONS
RECEIVED
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
Moore, G.
Hartman, E.
Solomon, R.
Shaw, B.
Dobson, J.
Cameron, K.
Caza, A.
Murphy, P. E.
Koehn, D.
Beck-Dudley, C.
Melé, D.
Bright, D. S.
Whetstone, J. T.
Arjoon, S.
Beadle, R.
Moberg, D. J.
Gotsis, G.
Kortezi, Z.
McCracken, J.
Heugens, P.P.M.A.R.
Kaptein, M.
van Oosterhout, J.
Wicks, A
Calkins, M.
Corvino, J.
Werhane, P
Dawson, D.
7
6
5
5
4
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
5
1999
6
2
5
2
0
0
1
3
1
3
0
2
2
0
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
1
1
1
1
1994
1992
1995
1995
2004
2004
1990
1992
1994
2003
2004
2001
2000
2006
1999
2008
2008
1995
2006
2006
2006
1996
2002
1996
1994
2003
241
128
368
64
93
248
248
152
114
87
50
206
100
75
72
43
33
33
28
27
27
27
23
22
19
19
17
28
29
30
Fort, T.
Libby, T.
Thorne, L.
2
2
2
0
0
0
2000
2004
2004
15
15
15
58
Table 2. List of authors according to the number of citations
AUTHOR
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
Reidenbach, R. E.
Robin, D. P.
Solomon, R.
Cameron, K.
Caza, A.
Moore, G.
Stark, A.
Bright, D. S.
Murphy, P. E.
Hartman, E.
Koehn, D
Whetstone, J. T
Dobson, J
Beck-Dudley, C
Arjoon, S.
Beadle, R.
Shaw, B.
Crittenden, W. F.
Robertson, C. J.
Williams, O. F.
Hosmer, LR. T.
Weaver, G. R.
Harman, G.
Shaw, W. H.
Bandsuch, M. R.
Cavanagh, G. E.
Chun, R.
Furman, F. K.
Melé, D.
Seeger, M. W.
Ulmer, R. R.
MacDonald, J. E.
Maitland, I
White, J
Knights, D.
O'Leary, M.
Moberg, D. J.
Barker, B. A.
Goodstein, J.
Laczniak, G. R.
CITATIONS
RECEIVED
384
384
368
248
248
241
215
206
152
128
114
100
93
87
75
72
64
63
63
63
57
57
56
55
54
54
51
51
50
49
49
48
48
47
45
45
43
42
41
41
PUBLICATIONS
1
1
5
3
3
7
1
2
3
6
3
2
4
3
2
2
5
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
3
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
1
1
1
59
Table 3. List of authors according to the number of citations within the virtue ethics
field
AUTHOR
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
Moore, G.
Solomon, R.
Koehn, D
Hartman, E.
Murphy, P. E.
Shaw, B.
Whetstone, J. T
Dobson, J
Beadle, R.
Cameron, K.
Caza, A.
Bright, D. S.
Harman, G.
Arjoon, S.
Stark, A.
Williams, O. F.
McCracken, J.
Chun, R.
Hosmer, L.
Melé, D.
Reidenbach, R. E
Robin, D. P.
White, J
Beck-Dudley, C
Seeger, M. W.
Ulmer, R. R.
Barker, B. A..
Hartman, C. L.
Shaw, W. H.
Weaver, G. R
CITATIONS
RECEIVED
68
48
31
29
16
16
16
14
13
13
13
10
10
9
7
7
6
5
5
5
5
5
5
4
4
4
3
3
3
3
PUBLICATIONS
7
5
3
6
3
5
2
4
2
3
3
2
1
2
1
1
1
1
1
3
1
1
1
3
1
1
1
1
1
1
CITATIONS BY
PUBLICATIONS
9.7
9.6
10.3
4.8
5.3
3.2
8
3.5
6.5
4.3
4.3
5
10
4.5
7
7
6
5
5
1.6
5
5
5
1.3
4
4
3
3
3
3
60
Table 4. List of most cited articles
TITLE OF THE ARTICLE
YEAR
JOURNAL
AUTHORS
CITATIONS
CITATIONS
WITHIN THE
FIELD
1987
Journal of
Marketing
Robin, D. P.
and
Reidenbach,
R. E.
384
5
Stark, A.
215
7
1
Social responsibility, ethics, and
marketing strategy: Closing the
gap between concept and
application
2
What's the matter with business
ethics?
1993
Harvard
Business
Review
3
Corporate roles, personal virtues:
An Aristotelian approach to
business ethics
1992
Business Ethics
Quarterly
Solomon, R.
182
25
4
Exploring the relationships
between organizational
virtuousness and performance
2004
American
Behavioral
Scientist
Cameron,
K., Bright,
D. and Caza,
A.
160
6
5
Aristotle, ethics and business
organizations
2004
Organization
Studies
Solomon, R.
71
7
6
Virtue theory as a dynamic
theory of business
2000
Journal of
Business Ethics
Arjoon, S.
70
9
7
How virtue fits within business
ethics.
2001
Journal of
Business Ethics
Whetstone,
J. T.
65
11
8
Mapping moral philosophies:
strategic implications for
multinational firms
2003
Strategic
Management
Journal
Robertson,
C. J. and
Crittenden,
W. F.
63
1
9
The Ethics of Virtue: A moral
theory for marketing
1990
Journal of
Macromarketing
Williams, O.
F. and
Murphy, P.
E
63
7
10
Victims of circumstances? A
defense of virtue ethics in
business
2003
Business Ethics
Quarterly
Solomon, R.
59
12
11
Character and virtue ethics in
international marketing: An
agenda for managers, researcher
and educators
1999
Journal of
Business Ethics
Murphy, P.
E.
58
8
12
Virtue in organizations: Moral
identity as a foundation for moral
2006
Organization
Weaver, G.
57
3
61
agency
Studies
R.
13
Why be moral?
1994
Business Ethics
Quarterly
Hosmer, L.
T.
57
5
14
No character or personality
2003
Business Ethics
Quarterly
Harman, G.
56
10
15
A role of virtue ethics in the
analysis of business practice
1995
Business Ethics
Quarterly
Koehn, D.
55
19
16
Business ethics today: A survey
1996
Journal of
Business Ethics
Shaw, W.H.
55
3
17
Virtue as a Benchmark for
Spirituality in Business
2002
Journal of
Business Ethics
Cavanagh,
G. E. and
Bandsuch,
M. R.
54
1
18
Ethical character and virtue of
organizations: An empirical
assessment and strategic
implications
2005
Journal of
Business Ethics
Chun, R.
51
5
19
Teaching business ethics:
Questioning the assumptions,
seeking new directions
1990
Journal of
Business Ethics
Furman, F.
K.
51
1
20
Virtuous responses to
organizational crisis: Aaron
Feuerstein and Milt Cole
2001
Journal of
Business Ethics
Seeger, M.
W. and
Ulmer, R. R.
49
4
21
Are deontology and teleology
mutually exclusive?
1994
Journal of
Business Ethics
MacDonald,
J. E. and
BeckDudley, C.
48
1
22
Virtuous markets. The Market as
School of the Virtues
1997
Business Ethics
Quarterly
Maitland, I.
48
6
23
Toward the feminine firm: An
extension to Thomas White
1995
Business Ethics
Quarterly
Dobson, J.
and White, J.
47
5
24
The amplifying and buffering
effects of virtuousness in
downsized organizations
2006
Journal of
Business Ethics
Bright, D.
S., Cameron,
K. S. and
Caza, A.
46
4
25
In search of organizational virtue
in business: Agents, goods,
practices, institutions and
environments.
2006
Organization
Studies
Moore, G.
and Beadle,
R.
46
9
62
Figure 1. Historical trend in the number of virtue ethics articles in 5 year periods
63
Table 5. List of journals with number of articles and impact factors
JOURNAL
1980-89
1990-99
2000-09
2010-11
TOTAL
Impact
Impact
Factor
Factor
Last
5 last years
Nº of
citations
year
(2005-2010)
(2010)
Journal of Business Ethics
12
44
10
66
1399
1.125
1.603
Business Ethics Quarterly
26
15
2
43
1169
3.256
2.085
Business Ethics: A European
2
1
1
4
41
1.060
-
Review
Organization Studies
5
5
211
2.339
3.590
American Behavioral
2
2
163
0.492
1.026
1
1
44
2.533
3.333
1
13
1.576
1.682
1
1
17
1.672
3.672
1
1
41
0.824
-
1
215
1.881
2.671
1
5
2.641
4.304
1
63
1.175
-
Scientist
Academy of Management
Learning and Education
American Business Law
1
Journal
Corporate Social
Responsibility and
Environmental Management
European Journal of
Marketing
Harvard Business Review
1
International Journal of
1
Management Reviews
Journal of Macromarketing
1
Journal of Management
1
1
41
3.758
6.210
Journal of Management
1
1
16
3.817
4.684
1
384
3.770
7.243
1
40
2.351
4.411
1
4
0.946
1.124
Studies
Journal of Marketing
1
Journal of Organizational
1
Behavior
Journal of Risk Research
1
Journal of Value Inquiry
1
1
2
0.167
0.206
Management Learning
1
1
3
1.206
1.887
Strategic Management
1
1
63
3.583
6.818
135
3934
Journal
TOTAL BY DECADES
1
43
77
14
64
Table 6. Schools based on primary sources
ARISTOTELIAN
MACINTYRE
SCHOOL
ENLIGHTED
ECLECTIC
ETHICS
THEORY OF
EMPIRICAL
VIRTUE
VIRTUE
OF
CAPABILITIES
ORGANIZATIONAL
ETHICS
ETHICS
CARE
PSYCHOLOGY
Solomon
Moore
Arjoon
Aranzadi
Simola
Bertland
Bright
Hartman
Dobson
Mele
Arnold
Bauman
Giovanola
Cameron
B. Shaw
Adam
Nesteruk
Audi
Furman
Vogt
Caza
Koehn
Bartholomew
Calkins
Moberg
Alzola
Beadle
Crittenden
Chun
Athanassoulis
Brewer
Colle
Cunha
Beck-Dudley
Bull
Gotsis
Park
Bhuyan
Collier
Heugens
Peterson
Clark
Dawson
Kaptein
Rego
Crockett
Halliday
Knights
Ribeiro
Dyck
Horvath
Kortezi
Ewin
Johnsson
O'Leary
Flynn
McLellan
Provis
Kleysen
Weaver
Robertson
MacDonald
White
v.Oousterhout
Martin
Werhane
McCracken
Whetstone
Morrell
Zwolinski
Murphy
Schudt
65
Table 7. Major themes and authors
Virtues in Relations Between
Virtue Ethics as a Model for the
Virtues in Moral
Individuals and Firms as Moral
Study and Teaching of Business
Psychology and Decision-
Agents
Ethics
Making
Solomon (1992)
Furman (1990)
McCraken and B. Shaw
(1995)
Koehn (1992)
MacDonald and Beck-Dudley (1994)
Mahoney (1998)
Newton (1992)
Koehn (1995)
Hartman (1998)
Hartman (1994)
B. Shaw (1995)
Koehn (1998)
Solomon (1994)
Horvath (1995)
McCraken, Martin and B.
Shaw (1998),
Werhane (1994)
Mintz (1996)
Moberg (1999),
Boatright (1995)
Maguire (1997)
Moberg (2000)
Collier (1995)
Arnold, Audi and Zwolinski (2010)
Sundman (2000)
Nesteruk (1995)
Dyck and Kleysen (2001)
Harman (2003)
Ewin (1995)
Whetstone (2001)
Solomon (2003)
Beck-Dudley (1996)
Crockett (2005)
Lasdesmaki (2005)
Maitland (1997)
Hartman (2006)
Stieb (2006)
B. Shaw (1997)
Hartman (2008b)
Naughton and Cornwall
(2006)
Moore (1999)
Roca (2008)
Bhuyan (2007)
Schudt (2000)
Robertson and Crittenden (2003)
Wright and Goodstein (2007),
Moore (2002)
Peterson and Park (2006)
Alzola (2008)
Dawson and Bartholomew (2003)
Hosmer (1994)
Arjoon (2008)
Mele (2003)
B. Shaw and Corvino (1996)
Bastons (2008)
66
Caza, Barker and Cameron (2004)
Corvino (2006)
Hartman (2008a)
Solomon (2004)
Colle and Werhane (2008)
Lau and Wong (2009)
Moore (2005a)
Dobson and White (1995)
Provis (2010)
Neron and Norman (2008)
Derry (1996)
Athanassoulis and Ross (2011)
Moore (2005b)
Wicks (1996)
Fort (2000)
Beadle and Moore (2006)
Wicks (1997)
Moore and Beadle (2006)
MacLellan and Dobson (1997)
Moore (2008)
Dobson (1997)
Weaver (2006)
Dobson (2009)
Gowri (2007)
Solomon (1998)
Heugens, Kaptein and van Oosterhout
Seeger and Ulmer (2001)
(2006)
Dawson (2009)
Simola (2003)
Heugens, Kaptein and van Oosterhout
Sandin (2009)
(2008)
Halliday and Johnsson (2009)
Bauman (2011)
Graafland (2010)
W. Shaw (1996)
Hartman (2011)
Brewer (1997)
Stark (1993)
Empirical and Quantitative
Virtues, goods and principles;
Studies on Virtue Ethics
virtues and capabilities; virtues
Virtue ethics in marketing
and spirituality
Shananan and Hyman (2003)
Arjoon (2000)
Robin and Reidenbach (1987)
67
Libby and Thorne (2004)
Valentine and Johnson (2005)
Williams and Murphy (1990)
Libby and Thorne (2007)
Mele (2009a)
Takala and Uusilato (1995)
Zheng and Li (2010)
Aranzadi 2011
Hartman and Beck-Dudley
(1999)
Cameron, Bright and Caza (2004)
Vogt (2005)
Murphy (1999)
Bright, Cameron and Caza (2006)
Bertland (2009)
Murphy, Laczniak and Wood
(2007)
Rego, Ribeiro and Cunha (2010)
Giovanola (2009)
Bull and Adam (2011)
Gotsis and Kortezi (2010)
Cavanagh and Bandusch (2002)
van de Ven (2008)
Chun (2005)
Gotsis and Kortezi (2008)
Payne and otros (2010)
Managerial Virtues and
Miscellaneous
Leadership
Guillen and Gonzalez (2001)
Limbs and Fort (2000)
Whetstone (2003)
Marchese, Bassham and Ryan (2002)
Knights and O’Leary (2006)
Calkins (2002)
Flynn (2008)
Everett, Neu and Rahaman (2006)
Pastoriza, Arino and Ricart (2008)
Ketola (2006)
Palanski, Kahai and Yammarino
Radin and Calkins (2006)
(2011)
Drake and Schlachter (2008)
Weisband (2009)
Mele (2009b)
Morrell and Clark (2010)
68
Table 8. Distribution of articles, journals and authors on major themes through five-year
intervals
Trends
Number
Journals
of
Authors (2 or more
Years
Years
Years
Years
Years
Years
articles)
1985-
1990-
1995-
2000-
2005-
2010-
1989
1994
1999
2004
2009
2011
0
7
9
6
12
2
0
3
14
5
9
2
0
0
6
5
10
2
0
0
0
3
3
4
0
0
0
2
6
1
1
1
3
0
2
1
articles
Virtues in Relations between
1
Individuals and Firms as
Moral Agents
BEQ, JBE,
36
Virtue Ethics as a Model for
2
the Study and Teaching of
33
Business Ethics
3
4
Virtues in Moral Psychology
and Decision-Making
Empirical and Quantitative
Studies on Virtue Ethics
23
10
Moore, Solomon,
Organization
Hartman, Beadle,
Studies,
Dawson, Heugens,
otros
Kaptein, v.Oosterhout
JBE, BEQ,
Dobson, Hartman, B.
otros
Shaw, Corvino
BEQ, JBE,
Hartman, Moberg,
otros
B. Shaw, McCracken
JBE, BEQ,
Bright, Cameron, Caza,
otro
Libby, Thorne
Virtues, goods and principles;
5
virtues and capabilities;
9
JBE
8
JBE, otros
6
JBE
0
0
0
2
3
1
10
JBE, otros
0
0
0
3
6
1
virtues and spirituality
6
Virtue ethics in marketing
Murphy
Managerial Virtues and
7
8
Leadership
Miscellaneous
69
Table 9. Journals and articles on major themes (See Table 8 for column headings)
1
Academy of Management
2
3
American Behavioral Scientist
American Business Law Journal
1
Business Ethics Quarterly
17
Review
5
6
7
13
2
10
1
1
2
1
1
1
Corporate Social Responsibility
1
and Environmental Managemen
1
European Journal of Marketing
Harvard Business Review
1
International Journal of
1
Management Reviews
Journal of Business Ethics
8
17
8
Journal of Risk Research
4
6
7
1
1
Journal of Marketing
Behavior
9
1
Journal of Management
Journal of Organizational
7
1
Journal of Macromarketing
Journal of Management Studies
8
1
Learning and Education
Business Ethics: A European
4
1
1
70
1
Journal of Value Inquiry
Management Learning
1
Organization Studies
5
Strategic Management Journal
1
71