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INSTRUCTOR: 
Kyle Payne, S.M.ASCE

Purpose and Background

Unethical organizational behavior can be extremely costly. While generating many of the same costs associated with unethical organizational behavior, unethical pro-organizational behavior poses a unique challenge. It suggests that there is a “dark side” to construct thought to be productive, like organizational identification. Recent research suggests that individuals who identify highly with their organization are more likely to engage in unethical pro-organizational behavior and that moral disengagement mediates this relationship. Based on a sample of 281 professional engineers, this study attempts to validate these findings by testing a proposed theoretical model in which organizational identification is positively associated with unethical pro-organizational behavior and in which moral disengagement mediates this relationship. It also proposes two boundary conditions not yet examined in this context – professional identification and work engagement – and it further examines moral identity as a boundary condition. The study’s findings call into question previous findings that organizational identification by itself predicts unethical pro-organizational behavior. It validates previous findings of a significant relationship between moral identity and moral disengagement and a significant relationship between moral disengagement and unethical pro-organizational behavior. It also provides the first empirical evidence of a significant relationship between work engagement and moral disengagement. While pointing to variables that practitioners can manipulate to mitigate the risk of unethical pro-organizational behavior, the study highlights the complexity of predicting and responding to the dark side of organizational identification and suggests further research.

Benefits and Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this course, you will be able to:

• Explain the potential "dark side" of professional engineers identifying with their organization, particularly the risk that an engineer may behave unethically to benefit their organization.
• List factors that contribute to unethical behavior among professional engineers.
• Identify evidence-based interventions to mitigate the risk of unethical behavior among professional engineers.

Assessment of Learning Outcomes

Learning outcomes are assessed by responding to the post-session survey. If the course is taken OnDemand, there will also be a 10-question multiple choice post-test.

Who Should Attend?

• Civil Engineers
• Students

How to Earn your PDHs

This course is worth 1 PDH. To receive your certificate of completion, you will need to attend the live session and/or watch the recording(s) and complete the post-session survey. If the course is taken OnDemand, there will also be a 10-question multiple choice post-test.