Inculcating the ethos of public‐sector codes of ethics in Sweden: a longitudinal approach

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the measures put in place by the largest public sector organizations in Sweden in order to communicate the ethos of their codes of ethics to their employees.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper is based upon a longitudinal survey approach.

Findings

In the public sector organizations of Sweden the use of regulations and staff support is rather modest in respect to the inculcation of codes of ethics artefacts into the organisations. This longitudinal approach indicates an overall increase across the examined areas in the usage of measures to support the ethos of public sector codes of ethics.

Research limitations/implications

The artefacts to support the ethos inherent in public sector codes of ethics are rarely explored in the literature. This paper helps to fill this gap with the present longitudinal approach.

Practical implications

One could speculate that society at large and its public sector organizations may have been influenced not only by the scandalous happenings of recent years in Swedish business, but also by the impact of an Anglo‐Saxon style of “corporatisation”, whereby public authorities take on the form of a corporation or business brought on by globalisation.

Originality/value

The present paper may be used as a point of reference for further research efforts.

Citation

Svensson, G. and Wood, G. (2009), "Inculcating the ethos of public‐sector codes of ethics in Sweden: a longitudinal approach", Corporate Governance, Vol. 9 No. 2, pp. 175-188. https://doi.org/10.1108/14720700910946613