Exploring the Role of the Dominant Coalition in Creating an Ethical Culture for Internal Stakeholders

Abstract

Through 28 elite interviews with CEOs (6) and CCOs (22), this study examined the role of leadership and internal communication in building an ethical communication climate and ethical organizational culture. Internal communications is viewed as central to creating organizational culture that creates positive engagement for internal stakeholder or employees. Based upon a review of the literature and these research findings, results indicated that CEOs should use authentic leadership style. Importantly, CCOs can enhance the role of ethics in the organization by enacting a conscience counselor role on ethics for the dominant coalition, creating ethical discussion around the core values of the organization, and creating stakeholder engagement in internal relations around ethics through discussion, modeling exemplar behavior, and reward or incentive systems. Attention to these activities helps to foster an organizational culture that is ethically engaged and optimally strategic and proactive, rather than simply equating ethics with matters of legal compliance.