An Examination of Integrative Social Contracts Theory: Social Hypernorms and Authentic Community Norms in Corporate Drug Testing Programs

Abstract

This manuscript discusses the utility of Integrative Social Contracts Theory in describing the social conduct of corporations in the area of drug testing. As a hybrid of classical contractarian theory and descriptive organizational theory, Integrative Social Contracts Theory (ISCT) occupies conceptual space at the intersection of normative and empirical approaches to analysis of business phenomena. Therefore, ISCT does not lend itself well to empirical testing in the positivist tradition. However, the expectations derived from ISCT can be examined through empirical testing and observation to determine if ISCT is useful in describing corporate conduct. This study asks not if ISCT is scientifically correct, but rather is it analytically insightful. The results suggest that ISCT provides a valuable framework for identifying areas of disagreement and convergence on important social and moral issues in business and society. However, the principle of implied consent through failure to exit may not be as strong as originally thought.