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Idealism, relativism, and perception of ethicality of employee behavior in Mainland China and Hong Kong

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Abstract

This paper is aimed at investigating the differences in ethical perception between Mainland China and Hong Kong through qualitative analysis. The level of idealism and relativism of the informants are measured quantitatively. The qualitative analysis of the viewpoints of participants from Hong Kong and other Chinese cities offers a profound understanding of ethical perception. Contradicting previous studies, our research offers a fresh perspective, indicating that those with high idealism are not always the ones who condemn misconduct or advocate for whistle-blowing. Interestingly, we noted that individuals with high relativism frequently consider and emphasize alternative perspectives, rather than merely condemning or advocating misconduct and whistle-blowing. Conversely, those with low relativism frequently exhibit more anger, regardless of their stance. This discovery suggests that high relativism could be beneficial for facilitating communication between conflicting parties.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Lee Shau Kee School of Business and Administration, Hong Kong Metropolitan University, Ho Man Tin, Kowloon, Hong Kong

    Vane-Ing Tian & Hoi Yi Crystal Chan

  2. School of Accounting and Finance, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong

    Wai Ling Winnie Chiu

Authors
  1. Vane-Ing Tian
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  2. Wai Ling Winnie Chiu
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  3. Hoi Yi Crystal Chan
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Correspondence to Vane-Ing Tian.

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The data collection had study-specific approval by Hong Kong Metropolitan University research ethics committee and informed consent from human participants.

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Vane-Ing Tian is an associate editor of Asian Journal of Business Ethics. The authors declare that they have no other competing interests.

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Tian, VI., Chiu, W.L.W. & Chan, H.Y.C. Idealism, relativism, and perception of ethicality of employee behavior in Mainland China and Hong Kong. Asian J Bus Ethics (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13520-024-00194-9

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