Moving beyond compliance to conventional wisdom: How I-O professionals can promote an ethical organizational culture

Abstract

While the implications of Watt et al.’s (2023) analysis are undeniable, if the code is to be utilized as a general guide, why then does the code need to be enforced for I-O psychologists? Furthermore, how do I-O psychologists use the code to promote ethical behavior within their organizations? This argument does not assert that I-O psychologists should ignore the code’s standards. It is assumed that those working in this field are interested in advancing moral responsibility in enterprises. However, given the striking discovery that most code violators are not I-O psychologists, promoting ethical behavior in organizations requires us to leverage the code in nonregulatory ways. With I-O psychologists working in a wide array of job industries and sectors, it may be near impossible to implement a standardized code that could be necessitated or pertinent for all members. Understanding these complex issues first requires uncovering why good-intentioned ethical systems go awry.