bathsheba syndrome - the ethical failure; by dean c. ludwig
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This paper suggests that many ethical violations by uppermanagers are the by-product of success - not of competitivepressures. Our research suggests that many managers arepoorly prepared to deal with success. First, success oftenallows managers to become complacent and to lose focus, divertingattention to things other than the management of theirbusiness. Second, success, whether personal or organizational,often leads to privileged access to information, peopleor objects. Third, with success usually comes increasinglyunrestrained control of organizational resources. And fourth,success can inflate a manager's belief in his or her personalability to manipulate outcomes. Even individuals with a highlydeveloped moral sense can be challenged (tempted?) by the"opportunities" resulting from the convergence of thesedynamics. We label the inabiliry to cope with and respondto the by-products of success "the Bathsheba Syndrome,"based on the account of the good King David (a storyDean C. Ludwig is an Assistant Prcifessor of Management andDirector of the Center for Family Business at the University ofToledo. His teaching and research focuses one ethical issues inmanagement and marketing. Clinton 0. Longenecker is anAssociate Professor of Management at the University of Toledoand has published a variety of articles in both academic andprofessional journals on the topic of performance appraisal andthe management of managers. Both have extensive industrial andeducational experience and are active management consultants.Journal ofBusiness Ethics 12: 265-273, 1993.© 1993 Kluwer Academic Publishers. Printed in the Netherlands.familiar in a variery of traditions). Recognition of thisphenomenon implies that we change or broaden our approachto the teaching of business ethics. It also implies thatorganizations must re-evaluate and change structures, procedures,and practices which enhance the likelihood of managersfalling victim to the Bathsheba Syndrome.TRANSCRIPT
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The Bathsheba Syndrome: The ethical failure of successful leadersLudwig, Dean C; Longenecker, Clinton OJournal of Business Ethics; Apr 1993; 12, 4; Research Librarypg. 265
Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.