Perceptions of the Ethical Climate in the Korean Tourism Industry

Abstract

This study investigates the ethical climate types presented in the Korean tourism industry, the differences in the perceptions of ethical these climate types based on individual/organizational characteristics, and the influence of ethical climate types based on job satisfaction/ organizational commitment. Empirical findings of this study identify six ethical climate types and demonstrate significant difference and significant influence of the proposed relationships. This research contributes to the existing body of academic work by using empirical data collected from 820 respondents across 14 companies within the Korean tourism industry to demonstrate the relationship between actual ethical climate types and ethical climate related factors. The findings of this study identify the new factor 'moral caring', which describes an environment characterized by decisions that maximize collective interest but based on an individual employee's personal values and ethics. Such a factor has important implications for the service industry, where face to face encounters typify the relationship between employee and consumer.

The Effects Of Ethical Climate Types on Job Satisfaction: The Case of Tourism Industry

“…Among independent variables, caring was found to be the most important in explaining the variance in job satisfaction as the highest beta value was 0,201. This research has pointed out that a positive and meaningful relationship between the perceptions of caring type of the ethical climate and the job satisfaction in hotel business as stated in previous research results and different sectors such as Kim and Miller (2008), Tsai and Huang 2008), Aydemir (2007), Mulki et al (2006), Schminke et al (2005), Schwepker Jr. andHartline (2005), Suar and Khuntia (2004), Koh andBoo, (2001), Schwepker Jr. (2001) and the perceptions of caring type of the ethical climate could be the determinant factor over the job satisfaction of the hotel employees in Nevsehir.…”

“…He also stated that the instrumentalism aspect had a negative direction and meaningful impact over the general job satisfaction. Kim and Miller (2008) stated that while the types of climate such as the self interest and the efficiency could affect the job satisfaction in a negative direction, the other types of the ethical climate could affect the job satisfaction in a positive direction. Tsai and Huang (2008) stated that there was a positive relationship between the climate type based on philanthropic and wage satisfaction, job satisfaction and the total job satisfaction.…”

Inking Perceived Ethical Climate to Performance Outcomes: The Mediating Role of Job Embeddedness

“…Specifically, what is already known about job embeddedness emerges from studies in the developed Western countries such the USA (Karatepe, 2012). Empirical research on ethical climate also relies on samples derived from the developed Western countries (Kim and Miller, 2008;Okpara and Wynn, 2008). Therefore, extension of the research stream to under-represented geographical locations such as Nigeria, a developing subSaharan African country, is necessary for gaining richer insights.…”

Role of Organizational Ethics in Sustainable Development: A Conceptual Framework

“…On the other hand, employees who perceive an unethical organizational climate are likely to minimize the importance of ethics and social responsibility [63]. Kim and Miller [64] suggest that organizations should create an appropriate ethical climate that reinforces ethical behaviors of their employees. In doing so, an ethical climate model may be required to foster their organizational ethical climate.…”