MAPPING MORAL PHILOSOPHIES IN THE GLOBAL ECONOMY

Conference Paper Abstracts
WHERE INTRINSIC JOB SATISFACTION FAILS TO WORK: NATIONAL MODERATORS
OF INTRINSIC MOTIVATION
Huang, Xu y.wong@ppsw.rug.nl U. of Groningen
Van de Vliert, Evert e.van.de.vliert@ppsw.rug.nl U. of Groningen
This study sought for national characteristics that moderate the individual-level relationship between job
characteristics and job satisfaction. Data from two distinct questionnaire surveys administered to
107,292 employees in 49 countries were analyzed by employing multilevel modeling. Results showed
that the link between intrinsic job characteristics and job satisfaction is stronger in richer countries,
higher social security countries, more individualistic countries, and smaller power distance countries. By
contrast, extrinsic job characteristics are strongly and positively related to job satisfaction in all
countries. In addition, Study 2 revealed that intrinsic job characteristics might produce motivating
satisfaction in countries with high levels of social security irrespective of the degree of power distance,
while it might not work so in low social security countries with a large power distance culture. Socioeconomic
and cultural approaches to explaining cross-national variation in work motivation are
discussed.
Keywords: None.
MAPPING MORAL PHILOSOPHIES IN THE GLOBAL ECONOMY
Robertson, Chris c.robertson@neu.edu Northeastern U.
Crittenden, William w.crittenden@neu.edu Northeastern U.
Strategic managers appear increasingly under pressure from stakeholder concerns regarding social and
ethical issues. Partially in response, the supply of ethical decision-making models has grown rapidly.
Business ethics scholars have broadened their scope and incorporated moral philosophies into their
research endeavors. Despite these positive trends, the international focus of business ethics research has
been slow to evolve. Yet, diverse moral philosophies, often most apparent across international borders,
have important strategic implications for multinationals. The ethical norms pursued within, or by, crosscultural
alliance partners, distributors, suppliers, customers, financiers and foreign government agencies
can create public relations disasters, foster shareholder unrest, lead to consumer boycotts and otherwise
impact organizational outcomes. We seek to rectify the deficiency in international business ethics
scholarship with two distinct contributions. First, we develop a new cross-cultural, macro-level model
of societal ethics. Second, we map moral philosophies onto an established framework for assessing
socioeconomic environments. These theoretical tools should assist managers of multinational
organizations, international policy makers, and researchers to recognize and prepare for the ethical
consequences of international strategic decisions.
Keywords: None.
International Management Conference Paper Abstracts--1
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