To what extent does the corporate persona impinge upon the ethical self? An insight into the legal sector and the oil and gas industry in Singapore

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Jeyaraj, Indumathi (2017) To what extent does the corporate persona impinge upon the ethical self? An insight into the legal sector and the oil and gas industry in Singapore. [Dissertation (University of Nottingham only)]

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Abstract

Ethical dilemmas, set within the corporate landscape, potentially involves a conflict between two forces, one being the corporate persona that one assumes and the other being one’s ethical self. The central tenet of the dissertation is to explore the extent to which the corporate self impinges upon one’s ethical self. Its focus has been streamlined to consider the realities of working in the legal sector and the oil and gas (O&G) industry in Singapore. Kantian ethics, more specifically, Kant’s second formulation of the categorical imperative, dictates that a person ought not to be treated as the means to an end but rather an end in itself. Gleaning from this, it is interesting to consider whether the ethical self is respected in the work realm.

The research methodology employed involved semi-structured interviews to gain insights on the prevailing corporate culture in each of the chosen industries. Questions were designed to delve into the ethical dilemmas which individuals in the legal sector and the O&G industry are confronted with. Beyond striving to shed light on ethical conflicts that often tend to get overlooked, the study also seeks to situate these ethical dimensions within the broader landscape of organisational influences.

The study has demonstrated that while both the legal sector and the O&G industry do not entail an ethical demise of the individual subject, the corporate persona’s impingement upon one’s ethical self seems to be more pronounced in the O&G industry than in the legal sector. This has been ascertained in light of the defensive stance of the O&G industry, thereby illuminating that the corporate persona seems to prevail.

Item Type: Dissertation (University of Nottingham only)
Keywords: Ethical self; Corporate Persona; Organisational Ethics; Ethical dilemmas; Legal Sector; Oil and Gas Industry; Singapore
Depositing User: Jeyaraj, Indumathi
Date Deposited: 11 Apr 2018 10:07
Last Modified: 17 Apr 2018 14:38
URI: https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/id/eprint/46000

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