The Moral Reasoning of Nigerian Managers and Entrepreneurs in the making

Abstract

Using Kohlberg’s model of moral reasoning, this study focuses upon the moral reasoning of MBA students. MBA students are not only prospective managers but also prospective entrepreneurs whose ethical decisions will have implications for the survival of the organisations in which they work. Moreover, by understanding the moral reasoning of ‘managers in the making’, it may be possible to predict the ethical decisions of managers in the organizational setting. The study found that MBA students are characterized largely by stages 1-2 type of moral reasoning. Also while men and women were found to be similar in terms of their definitions of right and wrong, both groups differed to a great extent in their approaches to resolving the consequences of unethical behavior. The implications of the findings for action in organizations and society are discussed.