Fight All Four Types of Organizational Corruption For Best Results

Most managers actively try to stop corrupt behavior in the workplace, but may not be addressing all four sources of organizational corruption. Today’s best managers know the four types of corruption: 1) an individual acting for their own personal gain, 2) an individual acting corruptly for the company’s gain, 3) a group of employees acting for their own personal benefit, and 4) a group of employees acting corruptly to benefit the company. Stopping group behaviors, such as collusion, may be harder to stop than individual corrupt practices. Hiring more ethical employees and training all employees about the four types of corruption can help lessen corrupt behavior.

Source: Pinto, J., Leana, C. R., & Pil, F. K. 2008. Corrupt organizations or organizations of corrupt individuals? Two types of organization-level corruption. Academy of Management Review, 33, 685-709.