Corruption and Organization in Asian Management Systems

From an organizational viewpoint, research on corruption is both a frontier and a challenging issue~in Asian management systems. Corruption is rampant in many Asian countries but organization theorists are surprisingly silent in addressing what impact corruption has on an organization and its operations. Contrary to the belief of some that corruption is necessary for business survival and growth in Asia, we argue that corruption is an evolutionary hazard, a strategic impediment, a competitive disadvantage, and an organizational deficiency. In this article we explain why an organizational perspective of corruption is an important research agenda in Asian management, outline how corruption differs from interpersonal business networking, and illustrate why corruption impedes organizational development.

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