In this article, the authors introduce the concept of moral reflection and test several contextual variables thought to affect how much an individual engages in Business-Relevant Moral Reflection (BRMR). We find that the degree of organizational centralization is negatively related to BRMR and that organizational norms are positively related to BRMR. Additionally, we find that the greater importance an individual places on both pragmatic and moral values the more she or he thinks about business ethics.
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