Skip to Main Content
HBS Home
  • About
  • Academic Programs
  • Alumni
  • Faculty & Research
  • Baker Library
  • Giving
  • Harvard Business Review
  • Initiatives
  • News
  • Recruit
  • Map / Directions
Faculty & Research
  • Faculty
  • Research
  • Featured Topics
  • Academic Units
  • …→
  • Harvard Business School→
  • Faculty & Research→
Publications
Publications
  • April 2011
  • Article
  • Harvard Business Review

Ethical Breakdowns: Good People often Let Bad Things Happen. Why?

By: Max H. Bazerman and Ann E. Tenbrunsel
  • Format:Print
ShareBar

Abstract

Companies are spending a great deal of time and money to install codes of ethics, ethics training, compliance programs, and in-house watchdogs. If these efforts worked, the money would be well spent. But unethical behavior appears to be on the rise. The authors observe that even the best-intentioned executives may be unaware of their own or their employees' unethical behavior. Drawing from extensive research on cognitive biases, they offer five reasons for this blindness and suggest what to do about them: (1) Ill-conceived goals may actually encourage negative behavior. Brainstorm unintended consequences when devising them, (2) Motivated blindness makes us overlook unethical behavior when remaining ignorant is in our interest. Root out conflicts of interest, (3) Indirect blindness softens our assessment of unethical behavior when it's carried out by third parties. Take ownership of the implications when you outsource work, (4) The slippery slope mutes our awareness when unethical behavior develops gradually. Be alert for even trivial infractions and investigate them immediately, and (5) Overvaluing outcomes may lead us to give a pass to unethical behavior. Examine good outcomes to ensure they're not driven by unethical tactics.

Keywords

Ethics; Moral Sensibility; Corporate Accountability; Corporate Governance; Leadership; Behavior; Conflict of Interests

Citation

Bazerman, Max H., and Ann E. Tenbrunsel. "Ethical Breakdowns: Good People often Let Bad Things Happen. Why?" Harvard Business Review 89, no. 4 (April 2011).
  • Find it at Harvard
  • Purchase

About The Author

Max H. Bazerman

Negotiation, Organizations & Markets
→More Publications

More from the Authors

    • Spring 2025
    • Journal of Law, Medicine & Ethics

    An Insider’s Perspective on How to Reduce Fraud in the Social Sciences

    By: Max Bazerman
    • February 2025
    • Faculty Research

    Slice Labs: Creating a Fraud-Free Online Insurance Platform

    By: Amit Goldenberg, Max Bazerman and Ruth Page
    • February 2025
    • Faculty Research

    Slice Labs: Creating a Fraud-Free Online Insurance Platform (B)

    By: Amit Goldenberg, Max Bazerman and Ruth Page
More from the Authors
  • An Insider’s Perspective on How to Reduce Fraud in the Social Sciences By: Max Bazerman
  • Slice Labs: Creating a Fraud-Free Online Insurance Platform By: Amit Goldenberg, Max Bazerman and Ruth Page
  • Slice Labs: Creating a Fraud-Free Online Insurance Platform (B) By: Amit Goldenberg, Max Bazerman and Ruth Page
ǁ
Campus Map
Harvard Business School
Soldiers Field
Boston, MA 02163
→Map & Directions
→More Contact Information
  • Make a Gift
  • Site Map
  • Jobs
  • Harvard University
  • Trademarks
  • Policies
  • Accessibility
  • Digital Accessibility
Copyright © President & Fellows of Harvard College.