Ethical Code and its Influence on the Employees’ Perception of Organizational Social Responsibility

  • Maja Mijatov University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Sciences, Department of Geography, Tourism and Hotel Management, Serbia
  • Aleksandra S. Dragin University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Sciences, Department of Geography, Tourism and Hotel Management, Serbia
  • Vladimir Stojanović University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Sciences, Department of Geography, Tourism and Hotel Management, Serbia
  • Anđelija Ivkov Džigurski University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Sciences, Department of Geography, Tourism and Hotel Management, Serbia
  • Milena Nedeljković Knežević University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Sciences, Department of Geography, Tourism and Hotel Management, Serbia
  • Kristina Košić University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Sciences, Department of Geography, Tourism and Hotel Management, Serbia

Abstract

Research Question: The research is oriented towards determining implementation of the ethical code in hotels, located within the National Park of Serbia, Kopaonik, and its effects on perception of organisational social responsibility dimensions among the hotel employees. Motivation: Application of the ethical code is the first step towards clarifying the standards of acceptable business practices to various stakeholders of the organization, including the employees (Supanti, Butcher, & Fredline, 2015). In this regard, this research is focused on identifying the manners in which the application and content of the ethical code can affect the perception of social responsibility. Idea: The ethical code and public discussion with employees on topics in the field of ethics might affect the perception of employees regarding the organisational social responsibility. In this way, it could contribute to development and strengthening of employees' awareness of the problems of the wider community, as well as business activities that might endanger or help society to overcome these specific problems. Besides, the idea was to research into the implementation of these ethical issues in the business operations in the National Park. Data and Tools: The survey research was conducted within popular tourism destination in Serbia, Kopaonik, on the sample of 211 hotel employees. Findings: The research results show that application of the ethical code shapes the perception of Legal and Economic dimension of organisational social responsibility. Also, the research results indicate the fact that the form in which the ethical code is applied shapes the employees’ perception of philanthropic, legal, economic and ethical dimensions of organisational social responsibility. In addition, results of the research indicate that the usage of the ethical code, as a means of information, shapes the employees’ perception of legal and ethical dimension of organisational social responsibility, while the organization of meetings on ethical issues shapes the employees’ perception of philanthropic dimension of organisational social responsibility. Contribution: The research results might have scientific and practical application as guidelines for improving the business performance in the operation of numerous organizations in the field of tourism, primarily in hotels, but also among the others in the tertiary sector.

Author Biographies

Maja Mijatov, University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Sciences, Department of Geography, Tourism and Hotel Management, Serbia

Maja Mijatov, PhD, is a Research Assistant at the Faculty of Sciences – Department of Geography, Tourism and Hotel Management (University of Novi Sad). Her main fields of interest are business ethics, corporate social responsibility, organisational behaviour, human resources, management. She is an author and co-author of different papers presented at the conferences and within different academic publications. Currently she is a member of the international project GLOBE 2020, as one of four researchers from Serbia, while she also was a member of the project approved by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development of the Republic of Serbia.

Aleksandra S. Dragin, University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Sciences, Department of Geography, Tourism and Hotel Management, Serbia

Aleksandra Dragin, PhD, is a Full Professor at the Faculty of Sciences, University of Novi Sad. Her research field includes human resources with specific interests in tourism, local communities, demographic transition and social responsibility activities. She published 198 scientific bibliographic units. She participated in numerous research activities, scientific conferences, seminars, round tables around the globe. She has participated as a member, expert, coordinator, reviewer or secretary in 24 projects. She is a member of the Commission for the 21 adoption of standards in the field of Tourism and related services at the Institute for Standardization of Serbia (ISO / TC 228).

Vladimir Stojanović, University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Sciences, Department of Geography, Tourism and Hotel Management, Serbia

Vladimir Stojanović, PhD, is a Full Professor at the Faculty of Sciences (Department of Geography Tourism and Hotel Management), University of Novi Sad. He is a human geographer. His research field covers sustainable development in tourism, local communities in nature protection and ecotourism. He participated in numerous research activities, scientific projects, conferences, seminars. He is a member of the National Council for Tourism Development of the Republic of Serbia.

Anđelija Ivkov Džigurski, University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Sciences, Department of Geography, Tourism and Hotel Management, Serbia

Anđelija Ivkov-Džigurski, PhD, is a Full professor and a chairman of the Chair of Social Geography at the Department of Geography, Tourism and Hotel Management, Faculty of Sciences (University of Novi Sad). She conducts research in Geography and Tourism Geography and lectures in various geography and tourism subjects. From 2005 until today, Andjelija Ivkov-Džigurski has been a supervisor on 166 final papers (10 PhD dissertations). She is an author of 216 scientific papers, 15 books (1 student’s book, 3 handbooks and 11 monographs) and 1 tourist guide. Since 2006 she organized, together with students, 49 charity events. She has been involved in 34 projects so far. Since 2007, she has been a Chairman of the Serbian commission for standards in tourism and related services (ISO/TC 228) at the Institute for standardization of Serbia.

Milena Nedeljković Knežević, University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Sciences, Department of Geography, Tourism and Hotel Management, Serbia

Milena Nedeljković Knežević, PhD, is a Full Professor at the Faculty of Sciences, University of Novi Sad. She obtained a PhD in Human resource management in 2009 at the Faculty of Technical Sciences, University of Novi Sad. She defended her second PhD dissertation in 2016, in the area of Behavioral economics at the Faculty of Economics and the Faculty of Philosophy (interdisciplinary), University of Novi Sad. Her research interests are within the area of management, management of human resources, organizational behaviour and  entrepreneurship.

Kristina Košić, University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Sciences, Department of Geography, Tourism and Hotel Management, Serbia

Kristina Košić, PhD, is a Full Professor at the Faculty of Sciences - Department of Geography, Tourism and Hotel Management (University of Novi Sad). From October 2015 she has been a Chairman of Tourism at the Department of Geography, Tourism and Hotel management. Her main fields of interest are rural and spa tourism. She is an author and co-author of different papers presented at the conferences and within different academic publications. She was a manager of the IPA project, but she also was a staff member within several research projects financed by the Ministry of Science or other Serbian Institutions.

Published
2022-12-15
How to Cite
Mijatov, M., Dragin, A., Stojanović, V., Ivkov Džigurski, A., Nedeljković Knežević, M., & Košić, K. (2022). Ethical Code and its Influence on the Employees’ Perception of Organizational Social Responsibility. Management:Journal Of Sustainable Business And Management Solutions In Emerging Economies, 27(3), 11-21. doi:10.7595/management.fon.2021.0021
Section
Articles