THE EFFECT OF ETHICAL ACCOUNTING PRACTICES ON ORGANIZATIONAL PRODUCTIVITY IN OSUN STATE, NIGERIA

ABSTRACT

This study examines the effect of ethical accounting practices on organizational productivity in Osun state, Nigeria. To achieve this objective, data was collected from primary and secondary sources. The secondary sources were from textbooks, journals, magazine, public and academic libraries and unpublished thesis. The primary source adopts descriptive research design questionnaire while data were collected from 176 respondents cutting across organisations in Osun State. Our hypotheses were tested using Chi-square (X2) and all were supported by extant literatures. Results show that effective performance of service industry was dependent on code of ethics [X2cal = 18.082 > t0.05 = 7.815] and that the compliance level of established code of ethics for service industry was high [X2cal = 13.801 > t0.05 = 7.815]. Our findings therefore suggested that there should be specific procedures to always identify and deal with the issues of ethical misconduct; and it is important for organizations to increase punitive measures to violators of ethical codes. 

TABLE OF CONTENT

Title Pagei

Declarationiii

Certificationiv

Dedicationv

Acknowledgementsvi

Abstractvii

Table of Contentvii

List of Tablesviii

CHAPTER ONE

Introduction 1

Background to the study 1

Statement of problem 5

Objectives of the study 7

Research questions/hypothesis 7

Significance of the study 8

Scope of the study 9

Limitations of the study 10

Definition of terms 10

CHAPTER TWO

Introduction 13

What is ethics 13

Historical Overview of Ethics 13

Ethics deals with the character and conduct and morals of human beings. It deals with good or bad, right or wrong behavior 16

The ethical question is closely linked to human existence 16

Heynes (1986) is of the opinion that ethics has to do with 

the actions of man  16

Hondeghem (1998) 17 

Evaluation criteria 17

Basic approaches to ethical behaviour 19

Utilitarian approach 19

Individual approach 20

Justice approach 20

Integrative social contract approach 20

Ethical standards in the accounting profession 20 

Integrity 21

Objectivity 21

Confidentiality 21

Independence 21

Technical standards 21 

The nature and scope of financial reporting21

Relevance 23

Faithful presentation23

Understandability23

Comparability24

Timeliness24

Approaches to theories of financial reports24

Empirical studies 24

Effective organizational culture 27

Forms of unethical behaviour in the organization 28 

Monitoring unethical behavior and imposing penalty 30

Strategies to promote business ethics 31

Evaluating Ethical Behaviour 31 

Educating Employees 32

Protecting Employees 32

Top managers 32 

Organizations 33

CHAPTER THREE

Research design 34

Sources of data collection 34

Primary source of data 34

Secondary source of data 34

Population of the study 35

Sample design and determination of sample size 35

Method of data collection 36

Questionnaire design, distribution and collection of response 36

Method of data analysis 37

CHAPTER FOUR

Data presentation 39

Test of hypotheses 42 

Hypothesis one 42

Hypothesis two  43

CHAPTER FIVE

Summary  45

Conclusion 45

Recommendation 46 

Reference 48