Ethics as a Fabric: An Emotional Reflexive Sensemaking Process

The ethical sensemaking approach stands as an essential alternative to the dominant rational and objectivist paradigm of ethical decision-making in organizations. From this perspective, this research explores the intrapersonal interplay of emotions and reflexivity in ethical sensemaking. We analyzed...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Business ethics quarterly 2019-10, Vol.29 (4), p.461-489
Main Authors: Diochon, Pauline Fatien, Nizet, Jean
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Critical incidents
Decision making
Emotions
Ethical dilemmas
Ethics
Organizational change
Rationality
Reflexivity
Sensemaking
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Summary:The ethical sensemaking approach stands as an essential alternative to the dominant rational and objectivist paradigm of ethical decision-making in organizations. From this perspective, this research explores the intrapersonal interplay of emotions and reflexivity in ethical sensemaking. We analyzed thirtyseven semi-structured interviews conducted with executive coaches sharing a critical incident about an issue they framed as ethical. Our findings show that their ethical decisions unfolded over a three-phase emotional reflexive sensemaking process, where reflexivity allowed for the management of emotions in the form of emotional awareness, emotional unpacking, and emotional (dis)engagement. Therefore, we portray ethics as a fabric, produced through the knitting of emotions and reflexivity. And, while ethics certainly appear to be produced by the subject, we suggest a reciprocal relationship, whereby the very fabric of ethics contributes to the production of the ethical subject.
ISSN:1052-150X
2153-3326
DOI:10.1017/beq.2019.11