Abstract
This paper compares the findings of content analyses of the corporate codes of ethics of Canada’s largest corporations in 1992 and 2003. For both years, a modified version of a technique used in several other studies was used to determine and categorize the contents of the codes. It was found, inter alia, that, in 2003, as in 1992, more of the codes were concerned with conduct against the firm than with conduct on behalf of the firm. Among the changes from 1992 to 2003 were a significant increase in the frequency of mention of environmental affairs, legal responsibility as the basis of codes and enforcement/compliance procedures.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
R. Berenbeim (1999) ArticleTitle‘Ethics in the Global Workplace’ Vital Speeches of the Day 66 IssueID5 138–139
R. Berenbeim (2000) ArticleTitle‘Global Ethics’ Executive Excellence 17 IssueID5 7
L. J. Brooks (1989) ArticleTitle‘Corporate Codes of Ethics’ Journal of Business Ethics 8 117–129
E. F. Carasco J. B. Singh (2003) ArticleTitle‘The Content and Focus of the Codes of Ethics of the World’s Largest Transnational Corporations’ Business and Society Review 108 IssueID1 71–94 Occurrence Handle10.1111/1467-8594.00007
D. R. Cressey C. A. Moore (1983) ArticleTitle‘Managerial Values and Corporate Codes of Ethics’ California Management Review 25 IssueID4 53–77
R. Hite A. Bellizzi C. Fraser (1988) ArticleTitle‘A Content Analysis of Ethical Policy Statements Regarding Marketing Activities’ Journal of Business Ethics 7 IssueID9 771–776
M. Kaptein (2004) ArticleTitle‘Business Codes of Multinational Firms: What do They Say?’ Journal of Business Ethics 50 IssueID1 13–31 Occurrence Handle10.1023/B:BUSI.0000021051.53460.da
Langlois C. C. and B. B. Schlegelmilch: 1990, ‘Do Corporate Codes of Ethics Reflect National Character? Evidence from Europe and the United States’, Journal of International Business Studies, (Fourth Quarter): 519–536
M. Lefebvre J. Singh (1992) ArticleTitle‘The Content and Focus of Canadian Corporate Codes of Ethics’ Journal of Business Ethics 11 799–808 Occurrence Handle10.1007/BF00872312
M. Lefebvre J. Singh (1996) ArticleTitle‘A Comparison of the Contents and Foci of Canadian and American Corporate Codes of Ethics’ International Journal of Management 13 IssueID2 156–171
E. Marnburg (2000) ArticleTitle‘The Behavioural Effects of Corporate Ethical Codes: Empirical Findings and Discussion’ Business Ethics: A European Review 6 IssueID3 200–210
M. C. Mathews (1987) ArticleTitle‘Codes of Ethics: Organizational Behavior and Misbehavior’ Research in Corporate Social Performance and Policy: Empirical Studies of Business Ethics and Values 9 107–130
M. C. Mathews (1998) Strategic Intervention in Organizations: Resolving Ethical Dilemmas Sage Publications, Inc Newbury Park, California
McClearn M.: 2004, ‘Did Anybody Even Read This?’, Canadian Business, May 24–June 6: 14
M. McIntosh D. Leipziger K. Jones G. Coleman (1998) Corporate Citizenship: Successful Strategies for Responsible Companies Financial Times Pitman Publishing London
OECD: 2001, Codes of Corporate Conduct: Expanded Review of Their Contents. Paris: OECD Directorate for Financial, Fiscal and Enterprise Affairs
M. Schwartz (2001) ArticleTitle‘The Nature of the Relationship Between Corporate Codes of Ethics and Behaviour’ Journal of Business Ethics 32 247–262 Occurrence Handle10.1023/A:1010787607771
R. Sims J. Brinkmann (2003) ArticleTitle‘Enron Ethics (or: Culture Matters More Than Codes)’ Journal of Business Ethics 45 243–256 Occurrence Handle10.1023/A:1024194519384
J. Singh et al. (2005) ArticleTitle‘A Comparative Study of the Contents of Corporate Codes of Ethics in Australia, Canada and Sweden’ Journal of World Business 40 91–109 Occurrence Handle10.1016/j.jwb.2004.10.007
A. D. Stajkovic F. Luthans (1997) ArticleTitle‘Business Ethics Across Cultures: A Social Cognitive Model’ Journal of World Business 32 IssueID1 17–34 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S1090-9516(97)90023-7
Verschoor C. C.: 2002, ‘New Governance Initiatives have Ethics Component’, Strategic Finance, (November): 22, 24
G. Weaver (1993) ArticleTitle‘Corporate Codes of Ethics: Purpose, Process and Content Issues’ Business and Society 32 IssueID1 44–58
G. R. Weaver L. K. Trevino P. L. Cochran (1999) ArticleTitle‘Corporate Ethics Practices in the Mid 1990’s: An Empirical Study of the Fortune 1000’ Journal of Business Ethics 18 IssueID3 283–294 Occurrence Handle10.1023/A:1005726901050
B. J. White B. R. Montgomery (1980) ArticleTitle‘Corporate Codes of Ethics’ California Management Review 23 80–86
G. Wood (2000) ArticleTitle‘A Cross Cultural Comparison of the Content of Codes of Ethics: USA, Canada and Australia’ Journal of Business Ethics 25 287–298 Occurrence Handle10.1023/A:1006034209956
W. G. Zikmund (1991) Business Research Methods The Dryden Press Chicago
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Singh, J.B. ‘A Comparison of the Contents of the Codes of Ethics of Canada’s Largest Corporations in 1992 and 2003’. J Bus Ethics 64, 17–29 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-005-2408-1
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-005-2408-1