Ethos is Destiny: Organizational Values and Compliance in Corporate Governance

Maria Fotaki (), Spyros Lioukas () and Irini Voudouris ()
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Maria Fotaki: Department of Management Science and Technology, Athens University of Economics and Business
Spyros Lioukas: Department of Management Science and Technology, Athens University of Economics and Business
Irini Voudouris: Department of Management Science and Technology, Athens University of Economics and Business

Journal of Business Ethics, 2020, vol. 166, issue 1, No 3, 19-37

Abstract: Abstract This paper investigates the effect of enacted ethical and instrumental values on corporate governance effectiveness. It further considers whether and how compliance with formal corporate governance codes influences the effect of these organizational values on governance effectiveness. Empirical evidence based on a sample of firms listed in the Athens Stock Exchange shows that strong ethical values are the key element for effective corporate governance, while instrumental values play a significant role only in the presence of compliance. Compliance, although not sufficient by itself, serves as a complementary mechanism strengthening the effects of ethical values and creating the conditions by which instrumental values can act in favor of corporate governance. The results highlight that governance benefits can emanate from maintaining high ethical standards as well as from synergies between compliance and a focus on organizational values. Overall, our findings provide important implications for managers regarding how to utilize behavioral along with structural governance mechanisms to enhance corporate governance. The findings add to the behavioral perspective of corporate governance bringing aspects of the social fabric into the corporate governance puzzle.

Keywords: Corporate governance; Enacted organizational values; Ethical values; Instrumental values; Compliance (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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DOI: 10.1007/s10551-019-04126-7

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