The Bathsheba Syndrome: The ethical failure of successful leaders

Reports of ethical violations by upper level managers continue to multiply despite increasing attention being given to ethics by firms and business schools. Much of the analysis of these violations focuses on either these managers'lack of operational principles or their willingness to abandon p...

Full description

Saved in:  
Bibliographic Details
Authors: Ludwig, Dean C. (Author) ; Longenecker, Clinton O. (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
Check availability: HBZ Gateway
Journals Online & Print:
Drawer...
Fernleihe:Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste
Published: Springer Science + Business Media B. V 1993
In: Journal of business ethics
Year: 1993, Volume: 12, Issue: 4, Pages: 265-273
Further subjects:B Level Manager
B Ethical Dilemma
B Business Ethic
B Business School
B Economic Growth
Online Access: Volltext (JSTOR)
Volltext (lizenzpflichtig)

MARC

LEADER 00000naa a22000002 4500
001 1785603981
003 DE-627
005 20220112043450.0
007 cr uuu---uuuuu
008 220112s1993 xx |||||o 00| ||eng c
024 7 |a 10.1007/BF01666530  |2 doi 
035 |a (DE-627)1785603981 
035 |a (DE-599)KXP1785603981 
040 |a DE-627  |b ger  |c DE-627  |e rda 
041 |a eng 
084 |a 1  |2 ssgn 
100 1 |a Ludwig, Dean C.  |e VerfasserIn  |4 aut 
245 1 4 |a The Bathsheba Syndrome: The ethical failure of successful leaders 
264 1 |c 1993 
336 |a Text  |b txt  |2 rdacontent 
337 |a Computermedien  |b c  |2 rdamedia 
338 |a Online-Ressource  |b cr  |2 rdacarrier 
520 |a Reports of ethical violations by upper level managers continue to multiply despite increasing attention being given to ethics by firms and business schools. Much of the analysis of these violations focuses on either these managers'lack of operational principles or their willingness to abandon principles in the face ofcompetitive pressures. Much of the attention by firms and business schools focuses either on the articulation of operational principles (a deontological approach) or on the training of managers to sort their way through subtle ethical dilemmas in the face of competitive pressure (a utilitarian approach). While valuable, these approaches alone are incomplete., This paper suggests that many ethical violations by upper managers are the by-product ofsuccess — not of competitive pressures. Our research suggests that many managers are poorly prepared to deal with success. First, success often allows managers to becomecomplacent and to lose focus, diverting attention to things other than the management of their business. Second, success, whether personal or organizational, often leads toprivileged access to information, people or objects. Third, with success usually comes increasinglyunrestrained control of organizational resources. And fourth, success can inflate a manager's belief in his or her personalability to manipulate outcomes. Even individuals with a highly developed moral sense can be challenged (tempted?) by the “opportunities” resulting from the convergence of these dynamics. We label the inability to cope with and respond to the by-products of success “the Bathsheba Syndrome,” based on the account of the good King David (a story familiar in a variety of traditions). Recognition of this phenomenon implies that we change or broaden our approach to the teaching of business ethics. It also implies that organizations must re-evaluate and change structures, procedures, and practices which enhance the likelihood of managers falling victim to the Bathsheba Syndrome. 
650 4 |a Level Manager 
650 4 |a Ethical Dilemma 
650 4 |a Business School 
650 4 |a Business Ethic 
650 4 |a Economic Growth 
700 1 |a Longenecker, Clinton O.  |e VerfasserIn  |4 aut 
773 0 8 |i Enthalten in  |t Journal of business ethics  |d Dordrecht [u.a.] : Springer Science + Business Media B.V, 1982  |g 12(1993), 4, Seite 265-273  |h Online-Ressource  |w (DE-627)270937129  |w (DE-600)1478688-6  |w (DE-576)121465284  |x 1573-0697  |7 nnns 
773 1 8 |g volume:12  |g year:1993  |g number:4  |g pages:265-273 
856 |3 Volltext  |u http://www.jstor.org/stable/25072398  |x JSTOR 
856 4 0 |u https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01666530  |x Resolving-System  |z lizenzpflichtig  |3 Volltext 
935 |a mteo 
936 u w |d 12  |j 1993  |e 4  |h 265-273 
951 |a AR 
ELC |a 1 
ITA |a 1  |t 1 
LOK |0 000 xxxxxcx a22 zn 4500 
LOK |0 001 4033662855 
LOK |0 003 DE-627 
LOK |0 004 1785603981 
LOK |0 005 20220112043450 
LOK |0 008 220112||||||||||||||||ger||||||| 
LOK |0 035   |a (DE-Tue135)IxTheo#2021-12-31#F254FF16AED7ECB6478CD3D7E8C495ACAFAF3D18 
LOK |0 040   |a DE-Tue135  |c DE-627  |d DE-Tue135 
LOK |0 092   |o n 
LOK |0 852   |a DE-Tue135 
LOK |0 852 1  |9 00 
LOK |0 866   |x JSTOR#http://www.jstor.org/stable/25072398 
LOK |0 935   |a ixzs  |a ixrk  |a zota 
ORI |a SA-MARC-ixtheoa001.raw