Beware the politically skilled maverick: political skill interacts with maverickism to predict unethical decision-making

Abstract

Purpose

Across two studies, the current research investigates whether individuals high in maverickism, which incorporates tendencies of creativity, risk-taking, goal-orientation and disruption are likely to make poorer ethical decisions and whether political skill promotes or hinders good ethical judgment.

Design/methodology/approach

Participants completed an online questionnaire and an ethical dilemma.

Findings

Results with UK (Study 1, N = 300) and Australian workers (Study 2, N = 217) revealed that political skill significantly moderated the maverickism-unethical decision-making relationship. Unethical decision-making was highest for those high in maverickism and political skill.

Research limitations/implications

Results highlight that for individuals high in maverickism, political skill facilitates rather than reduces the breaching of ethical norms.

Practical implications

Results show that while political skill has traditionally been seen as adaptive in organizations, being politically skilled can contribute to engaging in unethical behavior.

Originality/value

This research provides a new and interesting view of how being politically skilled can negatively impact ethical behavior and identifies another individual difference variable, maverickism, which predicts unethical behavior.

Citation

Gardiner, E. and Debrulle, J. (2021), "Beware the politically skilled maverick: political skill interacts with maverickism to predict unethical decision-making", Management Decision, Vol. 59 No. 8, pp. 1990-2004. https://doi.org/10.1108/MD-05-2019-0630