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Keywords Ethics, Codes of practice, Perception, Judgement sampling, Accounting
Abstract
The purpose of this study is to determine if members of the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA) use the IMA Code of Ethics in recognizing and resolving ethical dilemmas. We accomplish this objective by examining the relationship between the IMA members' rating of IMA code elements as "possible guiding principles" and IMA members' ethical perception and judgment. This study also determines the relationships between IMA members' personal ethical philosophy, corporate ethical values, age, and certification, and IMA members' ethical perception and judgment. Thus the study uses an atomistic-- deontological approach to ethics as classified by Baker. The results indicate that a statistically significant relationship exists between IMA members' rating of IMA code elements and IMA members' ethical perception and judgment. Further, the study found only weak associations among IMA members' ethical perception and judgment, and personal ethical philosophy, corporate ethical values, age and certification.
The purpose of this study is to determine if members of the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA) use the IMA Code of Ethics in recognizing and resolving ethical dilemmas. This is important for several reasons. First, membership in the IMA and adherence to its code of ethics are largely voluntary. Does IMA membership provide sufficient motivation for its members to learn the IMA Code of Ethics and use it to recognize and resolve ethical dilemmas? Second, the IMA spent a good deal of resources in developing, adapting, and promoting its code of ethics. Were these resources well spent? Third, the IMA Code of Ethics is the only one exclusively devoted to the field of management accounting and the only guidance management accountants receive if they do not belong to other professional bodies. Is this guidance sufficient for management accountants to act in an ethical manner?
Background
Merz and Groebner (1981) first recommended that management accountants adopt a code of ethics. In 1983, The IMA (known then as the National Association of Accountants) officially issued a code of ethics entitled Standards of Ethical Conduct for Management Accountants (see The Institute of Management Accountants, 1983). In October 1985 the Executive Committee of the IMA voted unanimously to require all IMA members to comply with the Code of Ethics.
Donabedian (1993) developed...