Abstract

This paper analyses the role of traditional moral theories in managers’ moral decision making using the multidimensional ethics scale (MES) developed and refined by Reidenbach and Robin (1988, 1990). This study extends their work by examining the applicability of the scale to subjects from India, other than the country in which the scale was developed. The research question is: what kind of ethical dimensions do Indian managers reveal when they are making moral decisions. Factor analysis is done to investigate the role of five moral philosophies (justice, deontology, relativism, utilitarianism, and egoism) in their ethical decision-making. The results show that the scale holds for the different sample. A broad-based moral equity dimension consisting of items from justice, relativism, contractualism, and utilitarianism emerged. However, an additional egoism construct emerged in the current as an important factor.