A diagnose for virtuous structures: Unethical behavior in the field of door-to-door selling.

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2021-12-22
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en
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Over the years, the occupation of door-to-door sellers has gotten a terrible reputation. Most homeowners experience door-to-door sellers as unpleasant. Even the Dutch government has addressed the issue regarding the unethical behavior of door-to-door sellers. Studies show that ethical behavior can be influenced by personal character traits or organizational variables. The latter is where this research is focused on, and in particular organizational structures. Through the theory on virtuous structures of Vriens, Achterbergh and Gulpers (2016) a diagnose has been made of the organizational structure of a student sales bureau in a student city in the Netherlands. This diagnose has been made through a qualitative research approach using a single case study. The data in this research is gathered through interviews with current and former employees of the student sales bureau. The results of the study show that the organizational structure does not support the development and exercise of a moral character. In addition to that, is the organizational structure not the only element influencing the (un-)ethical behavior of the door-to-door sellers. Elements that were influencing the ethical behavior were: the pay-for-performance system, culture and strategy of the organization and personal character traits.
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Faculteit der Managementwetenschappen