Two Perspectives On Organizational Wrongdoing

Organization wrongdoing can be viewed from two contrasting perspectives: one which views organizational wrongdoing as an abnormal phenomenon and one which views it as a normal phenomenon. Further, the causes of organizational wrongdoing can be understood from two approaches: a dominant outlook and an alternative one. Finally, there are eight different specific explanations of wrongdoing. Below I outline the two contrasting perspectives on wrongdoing, elaborate the two different approaches to understanding the causes of wrongdoing, and foreshadow the eight explanations of wrongdoing. I also indicate why I believe the explanations of wrongdoing that flow from the normal organizational wrongdoing perspective and that embrace the alternative approach to understanding wrongdoing are particularly worthy of greater attention and development. Following my discussion of the perspectives, approaches, and explanations that form the core of this book, I present a detailed description of an instance of organizational wrongdoing that illustrates the two different approaches to understanding the causes of wrongdoing. This description will serve both to solidify my characterization of the difference between the two approaches and introduce the type of evidence upon which I will draw when elaborating the explanations of wrongdoing considered in the book. I end the chapter with a few remarks about what I consider to be the book’s main message and my overarching objective in writing it. I suspect that some of the arguments that I develop in Normal Organizational Wrongdoing will run against the grain. So I will try to clarify my outlook and goals right from the start. OUP UNCORRECTED PROOF – FIRST PROOF, 23/9/2011, SPi