HAS THE INTERNET CHANGED PERCEPTIONS OF BUSINESS ETHICS?

摘要

The Internet influences almost all of the relationships in business including those betweenbusinesses and those between businesses and customers. This new medium may also affect anindividual’s perceptions of ethical dilemmas. This study seeks to compare responses to ethicalscenarios given in traditional situations to scenarios given in Internet-based situations. Fourmajor categories of ethical scenarios are examined (i.e. property, access, privacy and accuracy).Using the theory of planned behavior, each scenario is assessed in terms of behavioral intent,attitude, personal normative beliefs and perceived importance in order to determine if differencesexist between the traditional medium and the Internet medium. A research model is alsoemployed to test for differences in influencers on ethical behavioral intention given the medium.The study finds that intent to behave is remarkably similar between the two domains. However,when property issues are investigated, subjects respond differently on questions pertaining to thefactors that influence behavioral intent – attitude, personal normative beliefs and perceivedimportance.