Foster School of Business
University of Washington
Box: 353226
Seattle, WA 98195-3200
The biggest secret of business ethics is that there is nothing new to be taught. The biggest lie of business ethics is that there is nothing new to be learned.
Featured Research
Coercing employees to be “good soldiers” can trigger deviant behaviors
Christmas cheer? The hidden toll of friendly customer service
Hunger drives unethical acts, but only in the quest for food
Personal beliefs + corporate culture produce unethical behavior
Moral compass can shift depending on organizational role, expectations
Mental fatigue doesn’t always make us more likely to act unethically
Scott J. Reynolds
- Professor of Business Ethics Chair of the Department of Management and Organization
Michael G. Foster Endowed Professor
Education
- PhD University of Minnesota (2002)
- MOB Brigham Young University (1995)
- BS Brigham Young University (1993)
Academic Expertise
- corporate social responsibility
- ethical decision making
- ethics
Current Research
- Ethical decision making
Positions Held
- At the University of Washington since 2002
Selected Publications
- “Mindful but forgetful: The negative effect of trait mindfulness on memories of immoral behavior“Journal Article:Reynolds, S. J., Eliseo, M., Watkins, T. & Miriam, M., (in press). Business & Society Review,
- “For the sake of the ingroup: The double-edged effects of collectivism on workplace unethical behavior“Journal Article:Chen, C., Sheldon, O., Chen, M., & Reynolds, S. J., (in press). Business Ethics Quarterly,
- “The unintended consequences of empowering leadership: Increased deviance for some followers“Journal Article:Yam, K. C., Reynolds, S. J., Zhang, P. C. & Su, R. K., (2022). Journal of Business Ethics, Vol. 181(3), pp. 683-700.
- “Threat of racial and economic inequality increases preference for algorithm decision-making“Journal Article:Bigman, Y. E., Yam, K. C., Marciano, D., Reynolds, S. J. & Gray, K., (2021). Computers in Human Behavior, Vol. 122(106859),
- “Overcoming the psychological barriers of CSR“Journal Article:Reynolds, S. J., (2021). Organizational Dynamics, Vol. 50(2), pp. 1-7.
- “The study of behavioral ethics within organizations“Journal Article:Mitchell, M. S., Reynolds, S. J. & Treviño, L. K., (2020). Personnel Psychology, Vol. 73(1), pp. 5-17.
- “The dark side: Giving context and meaning to a growing genre of ethics-related research.“Journal Article:Reynolds, S. J. & Bae, E., (2019). Business and Society 360, Emerald Publishers Vol. 3, pp. 239-258.
- “Turning good soldiers into bad apples: Examining when and why citizenship behavior leads to deviance“Journal Article:Yam, K. C., Klotz, A. C., He, W., & Reynolds, S., (2017). Academy of Management Journal, Vol. 60, pp. 1-24.
Working Papers
- “Morality in the Age of Robots: A Model of Individual Moral Behavior within Advanced Human-Machine Interactions,” with U. Kahn.
- “The skeptical advocate: Incorporating the normative into behavioral ethics research.”
- “The moral self.”
Honors and Awards
- Master Ethics Teacher, Wheatley Institution, Brigham Young University, 2019
- TMMBA Faculty of the Quarter, 2018, 2017, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2010
- Lex N. Gamble Family Award for Excellence in Case Development and Curriculum Innovation, 2014
- University of Washington Distinguished Graduate Mentor Nominee, 2008
- Dean’s Junior Faculty Research Award, 2007
Courses Taught
- I teach courses on Ethical Leadership in several of our MBA programs. Ethical leaders are able to effectively handle and resolve individual, managerial and organizational issues with moral content. In these courses, I use readings, cases, and discussions to help our students develop their knowledge and abilities in each of these three areas.