International Journal of Ethics and Systems

Publisher:: Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Publication date:: 2021-02-01

ISBN:: 2514-9369

Issue Number

Latest documents

Editorial: Future directions of research in ethics and systems
Green leadership and pro-environmental behaviour: a moderated mediation model with rewards, self-efficacy and training
Purpose: The purpose of this study is to identify the association between environmental leadership (EL) and pro-environmental behaviour among the middle-level employees in iron and steel manufacturing companies. The study further emphasizes on mediation of the relationship by green rewards and green self-efficacy in EL and pro-environmental behaviour relationship, moderated by green training. Design/methodology/approach: To find the reliability and validity of the model, confirmatory factor analysis was used. Pearson correlation was used to explore the relationship between variables. PROCESS macro of Hayes (2013) Model 14 was used to test mediation and moderated mediation. Findings: EL influenced pro-environmental behaviour in middle-level employees. Green rewards and green self-efficacy mediated the relationship. Green training moderated the mediated relationship of green rewards and green self-efficacy between EL and pro-environmental behaviour. Originality/value: This is a fresh contribution around EL and pro-environmental behaviour in iron and steel companies; however, there are studies available on this relationship, but the unique contribution of the study is studying EL in iron and steel companies and mediated moderated relationship by green rewards, self-efficacy and training. It is necessary for the organizations to develop environmental leaders to promote pro-environmental behaviour in employees across sectors.
Philosophical understanding of the dynamics and control of occupational fraud in the public sector: contingency analysis
Purpose: This study aims to examine the roles of organisational control, structure, culture and technology in preventing occupational fraud. This study is essential in the current time. It brings a significant impact on both theory and practice. In the existing studies, there is a lack of clarity on a specific mechanism to prevent organisational fraud. The problem is that they tend to generalise the types of organisational fraud. Conceptually, organisational fraud may include corruption, double funding, asset misappropriation, bribery or falsification of documents. However, many scholars tend to neglect such diversities. Consequently, many occupational fraud cases become unstoppable, particularly corruption. To deal with this topical issue, the current study applies the term “occupational fraud” cited by the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners, consisting of corruption, asset misappropriation and fraudulent financial statement. Design/methodology/approach: This study surveyed three Indonesian Local Governments. This study focussed on management levels that have strong power for coordinating governmental activities. The author chose these local governments because their local leaders (the regents) were jailed due to corruption scandals. As expected, this study gives us different perceptions of how fraud mitigation should be designed in the organisation. Findings: The results suggest that corruption is a little bit complex than other types of occupational fraud. It is improbable to be prevented through technological and administrative approaches. As such, organisations need to think of extra efforts that could perfectly tailor the organisational control and organisational culture, organisational structure and technological advancement. The benefit of this effort is related to diagnosing the fit or misfit of organisation designs in addressing the dynamic dimensions of corporate governance. Then, it can also strengthen the efficacy of preventive measures to deal with occupational fraud. Originality/value: This study provides a provocative discussion regarding the public perception of occupational fraud, consisting of corruption, asset misappropriation and financial statement fraud. And this study also offers a new refined conceptual analysis of how to deal with such types of occupational fraud by incorporating contingency theory and the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO’s) internal control components.
Some observations on contemporary financial proposals
Purpose: This paper aims to discuss the views of scholarship in South Asia regarding Riba and Riba-free finance, including the conservative and realist schools in mainstream thought and the assimilative and interpretive schools in liberal thought. Design/methodology/approach: The paper uses textual analysis to critically review the writings of scholars in South Asia on contemporary issues regarding Riba and Riba-free finance. It provides a critical review in the light of Islamic jurisprudence and extant Islamic economics literature. Findings: There are several characteristics in conventional banking and finance products that do not comply with Islamic teachings. In this scenario, Islamic banking is comparatively a better alternative to conventional banking and finance products to achieve Shari’ah compliance and avoid indulging in Riba. Practical implications: Voluntary financial exclusion to avoid Riba is significant in Muslim-majority countries. Increased penetration of Islamic finance requires clarity on what is Riba and confidence in Riba-free alternatives. Outreach efforts of Islamic financial institutions use conventional banking as a frame of reference to provide a critique of interest-based banking. However, the apprehensions within the Islamic finance literature also need to be answered to change perception and enhance people’s willingness to use Islamic banking. Doing this can expedite the process of financial inclusion as well as help in the transformation of the economy on Riba-free foundations in a reasonably quick timeframe. Originality/value: This is the first study to critically evaluate the financial proposals presented and propagated by the contemporary interpretive school in South Asia.
Maqasid-based consumption intelligence: an empirical model of its application to the intention of halal purchase
Purpose: This study aims to gain new insight into how a set of maqasid-based consumption intelligence variables mediates exogenous variables (i.e. religiosity, Islamic university role and normative belief) and halal purchase intention as an endogenous variable. Design/methodology/approach: The research model is empirically tested with a data set of 370 responses retrieved from the students of the millennial generation from the cross Islamic state university in Indonesia. Data were analysed with Partial Least Square Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM). The sample size of this study is computed with preliminary power analysis. Findings: The SEM finding revealed that two maqasid-based consumption intelligence variables had mediated the exogenous and endogenous variables, i.e. halal purchase intention. These variables mediating the exogenous and endogenous variables have explained 63.5 R2 variances in halal purchase intention. Concerning individual impact size of cognition and motivation as a component of maqasid-based consumption intelligence has shown medium-level effect size (f2) in mediating the halal purchase intention. Interestingly, the exogenous variable does not directly affect halal purchase intention but must be mediated with maqasid-based consumption intelligence variables. However, before including variables of maqasid-based consumption intelligence, the R2 was relatively small. It is just 30.4% in R2 that explains the variance of halal purchase intention. Research limitations/implications: This study explores maqasid-based consumption intelligence as a relatively new model to explain the variable halal purchase intention. Therefore, it takes many types of exogenous variables to test how relevant maqasid-based consumption intelligence variables can define endogenous variables. Notwithstanding, this study does not do that because it only limits three exogenous variables (i.e. religiosity, Islamic university role and normative belief). Therefore, in further research, these limitations seem to be perfected by other scholars concerned about halal purchase intention. Practical implications: The findings of this study allow Islamic universities to mainstream halal issues as a subject of learning, especially concerning consumption ethics. In addition, the empirical results of this study encourage the industry to pay attention to the essential components in determining the halal quality of the products offered because the millennial generation is now very aware of the importance of halal products. Originality/value: This study contributes to the existing literature on halal purchase intention by testing maqasid-based consumption intelligence variables as mediators. Moreover, this is a pioneer study to consider and construct maqasid-based consumption intelligence as a model that explains halal purchase intention.
Examining the role of microfinance: a creating shared value perspective
Purpose: The purpose of this study is to simultaneously examine the role of microfinance from the business and social lenses by using the creating shared value (CSV) framework by Porter and Kramer (2011) in the context of Indonesia. Design/methodology/approach: A survey among more than 170,000 borrowers of two specific credit schemes by PT Bank Rakyat Indonesia Tbk., the largest microfinance provider in Indonesia, was conducted to understand the perceptions of borrowers on the benefits of microcredit under the CSV framework. Findings: The result confirms that, overall, the debtors acknowledged the importance of the loans in various aspects of CSV. The highest levels of importance were recorded in the case of stimulating the increase of business revenue growth, business productivity and fulfilling the needs of consumers. Disaggregating the results based on respondents’ demographic characteristics, it is shown that the findings in both credit schemes have a relatively similar pattern in terms of origin, business sectors and the borrowing purpose from. Originality/value: There have been limited studies that examine the impact of microfinance from both the business and social perspectives. Most studies only use one of these. Implementing the CSV framework allows the authors to fill in the gap and understand how microfinance provides business and social benefits.
The effect of consumers’ perception of CSR activities on their purchasing behavior: the case of the Iranian automotive market
Purpose: This study aims to examine the customer’s perception of corporate social responsibility within the automotive market in Tehran, Iran, and whether it leads to a purchasing behavior directly or indirectly through support intention. Design/methodology/approach: A total of 235 customers of luxury and mid-range-priced automobiles were surveyed and analyzed using the partial least squares structural equation modeling method. Findings: Regarding luxury car owners, the authors concluded that both economical and ethical perceptions are indirectly related to purchasing behavior. Concerning mid-range-priced car buyers, both philanthropic and economical perceptions have a direct relationship with purchasing behavior, while the legal perception has an indirect relationship with purchasing behavior. The results show that Iranian car manufacturers and foreign car dealerships for both luxury and mid-range customers should focus on their economical responsibilities. The results show that luxury car manufacturers and dealerships should act ethically. With the importance of the philanthropic dimension for customers of mid-range cars, car dealerships dealing with mid-range-priced cars should focus more on their philanthropic activities. This study can help companies find better solutions to adjust their corporate social responsibility (CSR) policies to the consumers’ beliefs, gain a competitive advantage in the market and fill the knowledge gap regarding Iranian consumers. Originality/value: Although some research has been conducted on consumer perception and response regarding CSR in both developed and developing countries, no studies on consumer perception toward CSR have been carried out in Iran.
Supervisor bottom line mentality, self-regulation impairment and unethical pro-organizational behavior: investigating the moderating effect of perceived employability
Purpose: Unethical pro-organizational behavior (UPB) is one of the major reasons behind high-profile financial frauds in the recent past. This study aims to explore how an exclusive focus on financial outcomes, i.e. supervisor bottom-line mentality (BLM) leads to UPB among employees and highlights the critical role of self-regulation impairment and perceived employability in the process. Drawing on self-regulation theory, this study examines how BLM and perceived employability interactively impact self-regulatory strength, which ultimately influences UPB. Design/methodology/approach: The theoretical model is tested through a time-lagged field study of 171 employees and hypothesis testing in SPSS PROCESS Macros. Findings: Results suggest that self-regulation impairment mediates a positive relationship between supervisor BLM and employee UPB and perceived employability moderates this indirect association between BLM and UPB, wherein the indirect positive relationship is stronger when perceived employability is low (than high). Originality/value: This study contributes to the BLM and UPB literature by identifying the critical role of perceived employability and suggesting that UPB is an impulsive action rather than an intentional move.
How diverse are Shariah supervisory boards of Islamic banks? A global empirical survey
Purpose: This study aims to examine diversity in the composition of Shariah supervisory boards (SSBs) of Islamic banks (IBs). It investigates diversity from two perspectives: existing composition of SSBs and the regulatory frameworks and standards of selected Organisation of Islamic Cooperation countries. Diversity characteristics include education, nationality, gender and age. Design/methodology/approach: A list of all full-fledged Islamic commercial banks (FFICBs) globally has been carefully prepared and confirmed. Conventional banks with Islamic windows, non-commercial banks, takaful companies and other Islamic financial institutions are excluded. The available profiles of 428 SSB members have been scrutinised and analysed. These board members occupy 522 SSB positions in 238 FFICBs operating in 52 countries around the globe. From the regulatory perspective, 12 national and international Shariah governance frameworks and standards have been examined. Findings: Findings of this paper indicate various levels of diversity in SSBs of the reviewed IBs. The level of diversity in educational background and in the nationality of SSBs can be described as generally acceptable. However, a lack of diversity in gender and age among SSB members is evidently observed in IBs. While the lack of age diversity in SSBs may be relatively justified as a common trend in the composition of corporate boards, SSBs of IBs are seriously lagging behind in gender diversity. On the regulatory level, this study concluded that provisions on diversity as a requirement in SSBs are almost non-existent in the existing regulatory frameworks and standards. Research limitations/implications: The major limitation of this study is the lack of available information on the SSB members. Practical implications: This paper provides insights for IBs and policymakers concerned with the corporate governance of IBs and all Islamic financial institutions. First, it offers an excellent bird’s-eye view of the status of diversity in SSBs of IBs. Second, it motivates policymakers and standard-setting bodies to ensure, through the relevant regulatory frameworks, adequate levels of diversity in the composition of SSBs. Diversity in SSBs of IBs and Islamic financial institutions should be given special emphasis, not only in boards and top management positions but also in the workplace. This is of profound significance to the reputation of Islamic finance industry which has been recently under mounting pressure to translate the rhetoric about the Islamic finance industry being ethical, fair, just, equitable and inclusive into genuine implementations. Originality/value: To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first of its kind to examine the diversity of SSB members from the regulatory as well as from the implementation perspective.
Does stakeholder pressure matter in Islamic banks’ corporate social responsibility and financial performance?
Purpose: This study aims to examine the impact of stakeholder pressure on Islamic banks’ corporate social responsibility (CSR) practices and financial performance. Design/methodology/approach: A close-ended questionnaire was collected from 282 Islamic bank’s branch managers. Partial least square structural equation modeling was used to test the hypothesized model. Both measurement and structural models were found to be fit for this research. Findings: Results indicate that all components of stakeholder pressure (management, client, competitor, Sharia advisory board and community) have a significant positive impact on Islamic CSR. The findings of this study further revealed that Islamic CSR is a significant predictor of bank’s financial performance. Based on the present empirical results, this study suggests that Islamic bank managers should develop the best CSR practices to gain a competitive advantage and sustainable financial performance. Originality/value: Overall, this study contributes significantly to the Islamic bank CSR literature. However, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, few studies have been conducted to establish a link between firm performance and CSR in Islamic banks using a comprehensive model of stakeholder pressure.