Ep. 295: Ethics Under Pressure - Decision Making During Organizational Crisis

Layoffs, rapid change, public scrutiny, and crisis situations often reveal an organization’s true ethical posture.

This episode explores how ethical standards are tested, and sometimes abandoned, during periods of organizational pressure. Using I-O psychology frameworks, we examine ethical decision-making under uncertainty, competing stakeholder demands, and the long-term cultural consequences of short-term ethical compromises. 

In this episode:  Dr. Emi Barresi, Lee Crowson, Natasha Desjardines, Nicolas Krueger, LindaAnn Rogers, Rich Cruz, Dr. Cam Dunson, Asif Haider.

 

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References

Jin, Y., Pang, A., & Smith, J. (2018). Crisis communication and ethics: the role of public relations. The Journal of Business Strategy, 39(1), 43–52. https://doi.org/10.1108/JBS-09-2016-0095

 

Ludviga, I., & Kalvina, A. (2024). Organizational Agility During Crisis: Do Employees’ Perceptions of Public Sector Organizations’ Strategic Agility Foster Employees’ Work Engagement and Well-being? Employee Responsibilities and Rights Journal, 36(2), 209–229. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10672-023-09442-9

 

Nhedzi, A., & Gombarume, C. (2021). A Moral Compass of the Organisation During Crisis: Exploring the ethics roles of Strategic Communication practice. African Journal of Business Ethics, 15(1), 28. https://doi.org/10.15249/15-1-275

 

Piotrowski, C., & Guyette, R. W. (2010). Toyota Recall Crisis: Public Attitudes on Leadership and Ethics. Organization Development Journal, 28(2), 89.

 

Pope, K. S. (2019). A Human Rights and Ethics Crisis Facing the World’s Largest Organization of Psychologists: Accepting Responsibility, Understanding Causes, Implementing Solutions. European Psychologist, 24(2), 180–194. https://doi.org/10.1027/1016-9040/a000341

 

Schoofs, L., Fannes, G., & Claeys, A.-S. (2022). Empathy as a main ingredient of impactful crisis communication: The perspectives of crisis communication practitioners. Public Relations Review, 48(1), Article 102150. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pubrev.2022.102150

 

Schowalter, A. F., & Volmer, J. (2024). Servant and Crisis Manager? The Association of Servant Leadership with Followers’ Adaptivity and Proactivity. Journal of Leadership & Organizational Studies, 31(4), 433–452. https://doi.org/10.1177/15480518241287647

 

Zarzavadjian Le Bian, A., Tresallet, C., & Martinod, E. (2020). A crisis of ethics in the ethics of crisis. Journal of Visceral Surgery, 157(4), 365–366. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jviscsurg.2020.07.002...