Anomie and the Marketing Function: The Role of Control Mechanisms

Authors

Amit Saini, University of Nebraska - LincolnFollow
Mike Krush, University of Nebraska - LincolnFollow
Jean L. Johnson, Washington State University, Pullman, WAFollow

Date of this Version

2008

Comments

Published in Published in Journal of Business Ethics 83 (2008), pp. 845–862; doi 10.1007/s10551-007-9660-5 Copyright © 2008 Springer. Used by permission. http://www.springer.com/philosophy/ethics/journal/10551

Abstract

The theoretical notion of anomie is used to examine the impact of top management’s control mechanisms on the environment of the marketing function. Based on a literature review and in-depth field interviews with marketing managers in diverse industries, a conceptual model is proposed that incorporates the two managerial control mechanisms, viz. output and process control, and relates their distinctive influence to anomie in the marketing function. Three contingency variables, i.e., resource scarcity, power, and ethics codification, are proposed to moderate the relationship between control mechanisms and anomie. The authors also argue for the link between anomic environments and the propensity of unethical marketing practices to occur. Theoretical and managerial implications of the proposed conceptual model are discussed.