A Study of the Relationship Between Personality Characteristics and Ethical Sensitivity in Business.
Abstract
This research establishes a significant relationship between ethical sensitivity (the perception that a situation requires ethical consideration), and personality type, as characterized by the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI). A simple random sampling from the membership of the National Contract Management Association yielded 466 responses. The sample was analyzed by segmentation into government (181) and industry (285) respondents. The average ethical sensitivity response of 5.28 out of seven is considered high. Differences in perceptions of ethical sensitivity were significant among government and industry, and among ten scenarios often faced by contracting professionals. In the majority of scenarios, the government segment reported higher ethical sensitivities than industry. Industry reported higher ethical sensitivities to one question involving an error causing a loss to the contractor. There was a significant difference in the MBTI distribution of this sample compared to that of the Center for the Application of Psychological Type. The research sample contained more introverted, sensing, and thinking types. Among the government segment, those favoring intuition, and the intuition- thinking cognitive set of preferences, exhibit higher degrees of ethical sensitivity than other personality types. Recommendations are provided.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 1992
- Accession Number
- ADA258421
Entities
People
- David Petrillo
- Ronald A. Ortiz
Organizations
- Air Force Institute of Technology