Software for Data Analysis and Modelling

Survey on Multinational Corporation Ethics

Survey Aims The aim of this survey is to explore the attitudes of individuals towards the ethical behaviour of multinational corporations. Please respond to each question based on your own experiences and opinions. The survey will take about 10 minutes.

Legal Consent

Participation in this study is fully voluntary and you have the right to withdraw at any time with no penalty. Please read the following information. You will need to indicate that you have understood this information before you can continue.

This study will adhere to the framework and policies of the University of Southampton. Any data for research publication purposes will be treated with anonymity unless permission is granted for it to be used otherwise. In addition, the data obtained will not be used for commercial purposes or made available to third parties without your express written your consent. By participating in this survey, you express your consent to use the data for research as stated and also confirm that you are 16 years or older, or if participating in the USA. The results emerging from the study will be made available to all participants on request.

Please tick (check) this box to indicate that you consent to taking part in this survey.

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Survey on Multinational Corporation Ethics

Survey Definitions

Before you begin, please read the following definitions carefully:

Definition of a Multinational Corporation

For the purposes of this survey, a ‘multinational corporation’ is an organization that owns or controls the production of goods or services in one or more countries other than its home country. Usually, it is a corporation which both produces and sells goods or services in various countries. Some examples of multinational corporations are British Petroleum (BP), Shell, Toyota, Ford, Volkswagen AG, Sony, Sum Sang, Apple, Amazon, Microsoft, IBM, Huawei, Nike, Google, Starbucks, McDonalds, Coca Cola, Nestlé, Anglo American, Petrobras S.A., SEACOM, etc.

Definition of Ethical/Unethical Behavior

For the purposes of this survey, we would like you to consider the behavior of a multinational corporation as ‘ethical’ if, in your view, the behavior is ‘right’. If, on the other hand, you consider a behavior ‘wrong’, then it is ‘unethical’.

Alternatively, you may base your ethical judgment on how harmful or beneficial you consider the consequences of the behavior to be.

Please try to recall all situations when you have made an ethical judgment about the behavior of a multinational as defined above. It does not matter whether the behavior is legal or illegal. All that matters is how ethical you think it is. For example, in most countries, corporate tax avoidance is legal whereas corruption is not; but you may judge both behaviors to be equally unethical.

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Survey on Multinational Corporation Ethics

Survey Questions 1. How ethical should multinational corporations be?

Please circle the number that comes closest to your level of agreement with each the following statements.

I believe that multinational corporations should:

Strongly Agree

Agree Slightly Agree

Neither Agree

nor Disagree

Slightly Disagree

Disagree Strongly Disagree

a Permit ethical concerns to negatively affect financial performance

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

b Ensure that the respect of ethical principles has priority over financial performance

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

c Be committed to well- defined ethical principles

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

d Avoid compromising ethical standards in order to achieve corporate goals

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

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Survey on Multinational Corporation Ethics

2. Thinking about previous situations when, in your view, multinational corporations have or have not behaved ethically, please circle the number that comes closest to your level of agreement with each the following statements:

Previously, I have: Always Often Sometimes Undecided Rarely Hardly ever

Never

a Recommended to my friends and family the products or services of multinational corporations that I felt had behaved ethically

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

b Avoided the products or services of multinational corporations that I felt had not behaved ethically

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

c Taken part in protests or demonstrations against multinational corporations that I felt had not behaved ethically

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

d Paid considerably more (10% or more) for the products or services of multinational corporations because I felt they had behaved ethically

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

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Survey on Multinational Corporation Ethics

3. Rather than the past, we now wish to consider your future intentions towards the behaviour of multinational corporations: Please indicate your level of agreement (or disagreement) with the following statements.

I would: Strongly

Agree Agree

Slightly Agree

Neither Agree

nor Disagree

Slightly Disagree

Disagree Strongly Disagree

a Recommend to my friends and family the products or services of multinational corporations that I feel have behaved ethically

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

b Avoid the products or services of multinational corporations that I feel have not behaved ethically

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

c Take part in protests or demonstrations against multinational corporations that I feel have not behaved ethically

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

d Pay considerably more (10% or more) for the products or services of multinational corporations because I feel they have behaved ethically

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

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Survey on Multinational Corporation Ethics

4. Below are some actions people may take either in support of multinational corporations that they judge to have behaved ethically or against those they judge to have behaved unethically. For each action, state how likely you believe the action can force or persuade the people in charge of multinational corporations to make an effort to ensure their corporation behaves more ethically.

Very Likely

Likely Somewh at Likely

Undecid ed

Somewh at

Unlikely Unlikely

Very Unlikely

a Customers recommending the products or services of multinational corporations to their friends and family

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

b Customers avoiding the products or services of multinational corporations

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

c Protests or demonstrations against multinational corporations

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

d Customers paying considerably more (10% or more) for the products or services of the multinational corporations that behave ethically

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

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Survey on Multinational Corporation Ethics

5. What is your country of citizenship/passport?

6. What country were you born in?

7. What is your gender? (check one)  Male  Female 8. How old are you? (number of years at your last birthday)

9. What is your primary occupation/job?

10. What is the highest level of education you have completed? (check one)

 High School/Secondary School  Some College  College/University Degree  Master’s Degree  Doctoral Degree

11. Compared to most individuals in the country where you now currently live, how would you describe your personal income? (check one)  Very low  Low  Medium  High  Very high

12. Compared to most households in the country where you now currently live, how would you describe your total household income? (check one)  Very low  Low  Medium  High  Very high

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Survey on Multinational Corporation Ethics

13. Do you have a religious affiliation?  Yes  No 14. Please respond to each of the questions below by circling the number that most closely

represents your level of attendance of religious services and prayer:

More

than once a week

Once a week

Once a month

Only on special

Holy days

Once a year

Less often

Never, practic

ally never

a Apart from weddings and funerals, about how often do you attend religious services these days?

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

b Apart from weddings and funerals, about how often do you pray?

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

15. Please state if you think each of the following acts can always be justified, never be justified, or something in between:

Never

Justifiable

Hardly ever

Justifiable

Rarely Justifiable

Undecide d

Sometime s

Justifiable

Usually Justifiable

Always Justifiable

a Claiming government benefits to which you are not entitled

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

b Avoiding a fare on public transport

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

c Stealing property 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 d Someone

accepting a bribe in the course of their duties

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

End of Survey

Thank you for your participation in this study If you have questions, comments or you wish to participate in future research projects, please contact:

Dr. Maxwell Chipulu ([email protected] ) Southampton Management School,

University of Southampton, UK.

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