TY - JOUR
T1 - Tensions and struggles in tackling bribery at the firm level
T2 - perspectives from Buddhist-enacted organizational leaders
AU - Vu, Mai
PY - 2021/1/1
Y1 - 2021/1/1
N2 - This study explores the role of an informal institution – engaged Buddhism – in leadership responses to issues of bribery at the firm level in the context of Vietnam. In-depth interviews were carried out in Vietnam with 26 organizational leaders who were Buddhist practitioners. The leaders expressed a Buddhist-enacted utilitarian approach based on three context-associated mechanisms: karmic consequences, community and social well-being, and total detachment. These mechanisms manifest in leadership approaches based on the Middle Way, Skillful Means, and Emptiness. They are involved in forming leaders’ perceptions about bribery issues and their enacting of contextual approaches to balance organizational means and ends in tackling ethical issues associated with bribery. The study also sheds light on moral struggles involved in the process of shaping and enacting a Buddhist-enacted utilitarian approach.
AB - This study explores the role of an informal institution – engaged Buddhism – in leadership responses to issues of bribery at the firm level in the context of Vietnam. In-depth interviews were carried out in Vietnam with 26 organizational leaders who were Buddhist practitioners. The leaders expressed a Buddhist-enacted utilitarian approach based on three context-associated mechanisms: karmic consequences, community and social well-being, and total detachment. These mechanisms manifest in leadership approaches based on the Middle Way, Skillful Means, and Emptiness. They are involved in forming leaders’ perceptions about bribery issues and their enacting of contextual approaches to balance organizational means and ends in tackling ethical issues associated with bribery. The study also sheds light on moral struggles involved in the process of shaping and enacting a Buddhist-enacted utilitarian approach.
KW - Bribery
KW - Engaged Buddhism
KW - Leadership
KW - Tensions
KW - Transitional context
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85068049124&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s10551-019-04235-3
DO - 10.1007/s10551-019-04235-3
M3 - Article
VL - 168
SP - 517
EP - 537
JO - Journal of Business Ethics
JF - Journal of Business Ethics
SN - 0167-4544
IS - 3
ER -