lOMoARcPSD|22517024
TO Upload -W3 - Journal Article
Review
International Business (Liberty University)
lOMoARcPSD|22517024
W3 REVIEW – PERCEPTION OF ETHICS 1
Supply Chain Management Article Journal Article # 3
Article: Perceptions of Ethics Among Supply Chain Management Professionals
XXX
School of Business, Liberty University
Author Note
XXX
I have no known conflict of interest to disclose.
Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to XXX
Email: [email protected]
lOMoARcPSD|22517024
W3 REVIEW – PERCEPTION OF ETHICS 2
Supply Chain Management Journal Article # 3
Statement of the Author's Purpose
The journal article examines the highly relevant aspect of ethics and the domain of supply
chain management professionals. Heller et al. (2014) conducted studies aiming to identify the
difference in ethical beliefs of supply chain management professionals based on several vital,
relevant aspects, including their gender, educational background, and the period of their tenure
with an organization. According to Heller et al. (2014), the scope of study encompassed "the
perceptions of ethical issues, transparency, legal considerations, and sustainability." The article's
primary purpose is to ascertain how different key relevant aspects influence the ethical beliefs of
supply chain management professionals (Heller et al., 2014). The journal article recommends
research over a more extended period.
Application to Supply Chain Management
The supply chain management domain has evolved and gained importance over the years
(Quigg, 2021). As a result, several definitions can be referred to for scholarly discussions.
According to Svensson and Bååth (2008), supply chain management can be termed as a
"business philosophy that strives to integrate the dependent activities, actors, and resources
between the different levels of the points of origin and consumption in channels." The broad
scope of supply chain management, the emergence of globalization, international regulatory
structures, and ever-competitive market trends can contribute towards ethical vulnerability for
supply chain management professionals.
According to the Institute for Supply Management (2020), "as the supply management
profession has become a strategic influencer, every action within the supply chain has
consequences." The Institute for Supply Management (ISM) emphasizes the "distinguishing
lOMoARcPSD|22517024
W3 REVIEW – PERCEPTION OF ETHICS 3
characteristic of a profession is that practitioners combine ethical standards with the
performance of technical skills." Heller et al. (2014) underscore that we can not only focus on
sales and purchasing for ethical behavior. Lately, as Heller et al. (2014) emphasize, "ethical
behavior in supply chain management expanded to include corporate behavior that promotes
sustainability and social responsibility." Several studies stress the corporate world to adopt a
transparent and well-balanced approach of following business ethics and social responsibility
while perusing the legitimate commercial component of revenue streams.
Background of the Issue
When we consider the significance, scope, and implications of ethical perception of
ethics in the domain of supply chain management professionals, the study developed three
different hypotheses to approach the findings from a set of different perspectives. First, the
study researched a sample of 117 supply chain management professionals for their perception of
ethics based on their gender, education, and tenure with an organization. Second, Heller et al.
(2014) developed the following three hypotheses.
In terms of gender, female respondents considered placing a much higher value towards
the perception of ethics in their role in contrast with their male counterparts. Supply chain
management professionals' level of education was regarded as a relevant factor. Supply chain
management professionals with higher education can better understand the importance of
employing ethics in their practices. The third relevant factor derives from how long a
professional has been with an organization. Heller et al. (2014) argue tenure of a supply chain
management professional carries the same weightage as the other two of gender and education.
However, due to several limitations of the research, the findings from the study were not
conclusive and could not be used to develop a much-uninformed view of the perception.
lOMoARcPSD|22517024
W3 REVIEW – PERCEPTION OF ETHICS 4
Managerial Applications
Managers should be role models for their employees. Our actions speak louder than
words, as we all have heard and experienced. Managers should be highly conscious of
approaching any challenging business situation. Some business situations might tempt them to
take a shortcut while overlooking the ethical integrity needed by their role as a manager, human,
and above all, as a Christian. Managers should ensure to design and promote transparent business
practices across their organization. As part of transparent organizational culture, managers should
employ a set of check-and-balance mechanisms to ensure compliance toward an ethical
perspective.
Managers should be considerate towards the compensation packages of their employees.
Managers should not aggressively push their sales teams to hit the sales target by cutting corners.
Instead, a manager should design a much-balanced compensation package comprising
quantitative and qualitative components. Managers should also introduce an award for an
employee going above and beyond to ensure ethical integrity while awarding a salesperson of the
month.
Managers should arrange a series of workshops for their employees to refresh the
significance of ethics in daily life. Managers should coordinate with a local Church to integrate
the universal message of Christ into work. Managers should consult with their team members to
set up religious studies at church periodically. Finally, managers should be conscious of their
way of approaching and integrating faith into their lives. Actions speak louder than words.
Biblical Integration
Philippians 4 (Christian Standard Bible) reads, "Finally brothers and sisters, whatever is
true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is
lOMoARcPSD|22517024
W3 REVIEW – PERCEPTION OF ETHICS 5
commendable—if there is any moral excellence and if there is anything praiseworthy—dwell on
these things. Do what you have learned and received and heard from me, and seen in me, and the
God of peace will be with you."
Summary
The fast-paced evolution of supply chain management and the emergence of
globalization, international regulatory structures, and ever-competitive market trends can
contribute to ethical vulnerability for supply chain management professionals. Heller et al.
(2014) examine supply chain management professionals can perceive the significantly relevant
subject of ethics. They attempted to draw findings based on gender, education, and tenure within
an organization based on their three-hypothesis. The findings, due to different limitations, were
not proved conclusive. As Kotter, J. (2012) emphasize, leading by example is a must to ensure a
change in organizational culture. Managers should lead by example through their actions.
Managers should exhibit ethical and moral integrity as role models for their employees when
faced with challenging business situations.
lOMoARcPSD|22517024
W3 REVIEW – PERCEPTION OF ETHICS 6
References
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by
Biblica,
Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Heller, J. A., Heller, N. A., & Burch, G. (2014). Perceptions of Ethics Among Supply Chain
Management Professionals. Academy of Business Research Journal, 4, 90–102.
Kotter, J. P. (2012). Leading Change, With a New Preface by the Author. Harvard Business
Review Press.
Quigg (2021)
Svensson, G., & Bååth, H. (2008). Supply chain management ethics: conceptual framework and
illustration. Supply Chain Management, 13(6), 398-405.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/13598540810905651
