Volume 21 / Issue 2 / Pages: 25-42 / Papers in the same Issue

The Effect of Ethical Culture on Innovative Work Behaviour in Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises

Seini, H.

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Abstract: This study examines innovative work behaviour through the lens of ethical culture, conceptualized as an eight-dimensional construct based on the Corporate Ethical Virtues (CEV) model. Adopting a quantitative approach, data were collected with a questionnaire administered to a sample of 647 employees from 123 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Cameroon. The results of multiple linear regression analyses indicate that several dimensions of ethical culture significantly promote innovative work behaviour. Specifically, six dimensions exhibit a positive and statistically significant effect: ethical clarity, supervisor ethical congruence, ethical feasibility, ethical support, ethical transparency, and ethical discussability. In contrast, two dimensions "management ethical congruence" and "ethical sanctionability" do not show a significant effect on innovative work behaviour. The study offers relevant managerial implications for SME leaders seeking to foster innovative behaviours among their employees.

Keywords: ethical culture, innovative work behaviour, employees, smes

DOI: 10.69864/ijbsam.21-2.201

Type: Research Paper // Submitted: 2026-04-29 // Accepted: 2026-07-21 // Published: 2026-08-25

Download Citation: BibTex // PDF Downloads: 312 // PDF Filesize: 486Kb

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