R. Eric Reidenbach

A Conceptual Model of Corporate Moral Development

The conceptual model presented in this article argues that corporations exhibit specific behaviors that signal their true level of moral development. Accordingly, the authors identify five levels of moral development and discuss the dynamics that move corporations from one level to another. Examples of corporate behavior which are indicative of specific stages of moral development are offered.

The Empirical Performance of Cognitive Moral Development in Predicting Behavioral Intent

The substantial work on cognitive moral development (CMD) by Lawrence Kohlberg and James Rest popularized the use of this construct in the literature on business ethics. This construct has been prominently used in models attempting to explain ethical/unethical behavior in management, marketing, and accounting, even though Kohlberg did not intend for the construct to be used in that manner. As a predictor of behavior, CMD has been attacked on the theoretical level, and its empirical performance has been weak. This article uses another established construct, which seems to satisfy the central criticisms of CMD, as a means of testing those complaints. The comparative multidimensional ethics scale (MES) substantially outperforms CMD, operationalized using Rests Defining Issues Test, in every test. These results seem to suggest that other options perform better than CMD when the purpose is to model ethical/unethical behavior or even ethical judgment.

Planning for Freedom the Marketing System as Sociocybernetic Mechanism

I. A fresh look at the scope and domain of macromarketing. 2. A listing of major macromarketing issues facing different groups in various countries, both developed and underdeveloped. Identifying linkages so that a global character can be maintained for the field of macromarketing. 3. Classification of research issues. 4. Discussion of research paradigms and methods, especially the newer approaches that macromarketing would require. 5. Conclusions, outlining the major questions around which the macromarketing debates could fruitfully evolve.