Group ethical voice and ethical behaviors: The mediating role of group moral transitive motivation and moderating role of group faultlines

Abstract

Ethical voice involves individuals’ perceptions of what is right and what is wrong. Although prior research has investigated the impacts of individual-level prohibitive ethical expression on personal outcomes, there has been limited examination of ethical voice at the group level. Our study examines how and when different types of ethical voice influence group outcomes. Using data gathered from 363 participants from 61 groups in two Chinese companies, the results reveal that promotive and prohibitive ethical voices at the group level exert opposing influences on group moral transitive motivation. Group moral transitive motivation serves as a mediating factor in the association between the two types of ethical voice and group ethical behaviors (GEB). In addition, group faultlines moderate the impact of promotive ethical voice and prohibitive ethical voice on group moral transitive motivation and on GEB (via group moral transitive motivation). Our study extends the focus of research from a single type of ethical voice at the individual level to multiple types at the group level. The findings contribute to the body of knowledge regarding group ethical voice (GEV) by articulating its mediating mechanism as well as its boundary condition. This research provides valuable insights for researchers and managers by offering a comprehensive understanding about the role of different types of GEV and how to reform GEV.