Entrepreneurial ethics : A behavioral approach to ethical dilemmas in entrepreneurship
(2026) In Lund Studies in Economics and Management- Abstract
- This dissertation investigates entrepreneurial ethics – a behavioral approach to ethical dilemmas in entrepreneurship. Specifically, the thesis investigates how the individual entrepreneurial decision-maker perceives and interprets conflicting ethical cues surrounding their work, and how that cognitive processing translates into entrepreneurial action and outcomes. Prior research on ethics in entrepreneurship has largely examined one ethical implication at a time (e.g., consequences, legality, or norm adherence) to propose what constitutes ethical and unethical entrepreneurial action; what ethics is. In contrast, this dissertation shifts focus to what ethics does.
Across four independent research papers (one qualitative case... (More) - This dissertation investigates entrepreneurial ethics – a behavioral approach to ethical dilemmas in entrepreneurship. Specifically, the thesis investigates how the individual entrepreneurial decision-maker perceives and interprets conflicting ethical cues surrounding their work, and how that cognitive processing translates into entrepreneurial action and outcomes. Prior research on ethics in entrepreneurship has largely examined one ethical implication at a time (e.g., consequences, legality, or norm adherence) to propose what constitutes ethical and unethical entrepreneurial action; what ethics is. In contrast, this dissertation shifts focus to what ethics does.
Across four independent research papers (one qualitative case study, two in-depth conceptual studies, and one experimental study), this thesis advances a nuanced and contextualized understanding of unethical entrepreneurial action by highlighting psychological and situational factors that can constrain ethical awareness and conduct. Drawing on rich literatures from entrepreneurship, behavioral (business) ethics, and psychology, the dissertation offers more empathetic explanations for how the entrepreneurial decision-maker can sometimes act against their own and broader moral standards. The resulting insights lay a foundation for future empirical inquiry into entrepreneurial ethics, as well as for developing preventive and corrective strategies that promote responsible entrepreneurial practice. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/45d1494a-56c3-4c0d-ade3-941c082f10e0
- author
- Vorholzer, Marina LU
- supervisor
- opponent
-
- Professor Ramoglou, Stratos, University of Bristol
- organization
- publishing date
- 2026
- type
- Thesis
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- Entrepreneurial ethics, Entrepreneurial cognition, Entrepreneurial action, Ethical decision-making, Moral judgment
- in
- Lund Studies in Economics and Management
- issue
- 179
- pages
- 84 pages
- publisher
- Lund University
- defense location
- EC3:108 (Karlssonsalen)
- defense date
- 2026-02-27 08:15:00
- ISSN
- 0284-5075
- ISBN
- 978-91-8104-851-3
- 978-91-8104-850-6
- project
- Cultural ideals in the entrepreneurship industry
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- 45d1494a-56c3-4c0d-ade3-941c082f10e0
- date added to LUP
- 2026-02-06 18:37:03
- date last changed
- 2026-04-13 14:34:45
@phdthesis{45d1494a-56c3-4c0d-ade3-941c082f10e0,
abstract = {{This dissertation investigates entrepreneurial ethics – a behavioral approach to ethical dilemmas in entrepreneurship. Specifically, the thesis investigates how the individual entrepreneurial decision-maker perceives and interprets conflicting ethical cues surrounding their work, and how that cognitive processing translates into entrepreneurial action and outcomes. Prior research on ethics in entrepreneurship has largely examined one ethical implication at a time (e.g., consequences, legality, or norm adherence) to propose what constitutes ethical and unethical entrepreneurial action; what ethics is. In contrast, this dissertation shifts focus to what ethics does.<br/><br/>Across four independent research papers (one qualitative case study, two in-depth conceptual studies, and one experimental study), this thesis advances a nuanced and contextualized understanding of unethical entrepreneurial action by highlighting psychological and situational factors that can constrain ethical awareness and conduct. Drawing on rich literatures from entrepreneurship, behavioral (business) ethics, and psychology, the dissertation offers more empathetic explanations for how the entrepreneurial decision-maker can sometimes act against their own and broader moral standards. The resulting insights lay a foundation for future empirical inquiry into entrepreneurial ethics, as well as for developing preventive and corrective strategies that promote responsible entrepreneurial practice.}},
author = {{Vorholzer, Marina}},
isbn = {{978-91-8104-851-3}},
issn = {{0284-5075}},
keywords = {{Entrepreneurial ethics; Entrepreneurial cognition; Entrepreneurial action; Ethical decision-making; Moral judgment}},
language = {{eng}},
number = {{179}},
publisher = {{Lund University}},
school = {{Lund University}},
series = {{Lund Studies in Economics and Management}},
title = {{Entrepreneurial ethics : A behavioral approach to ethical dilemmas in entrepreneurship}},
url = {{https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/files/241619704/Dissertation_Marina_Vorholzer_LUCRIS.pdf}},
year = {{2026}},
}