The ethical compass: A case study on the positive effects of ethical organizational identity within a social enterprise

This thesis contributes to identity research by expanding the concept of ethical organizational identity. Ethical organizational identity is said to be present when ethical values and beliefs make up the company's distinctive character. Specifically, this research aims to clarify why some companies develop an ethical organizational identity and if this ethical organizational identity can contribute to achieving organizational objectives. The findings indicated that the origin of ethical organizational identity lies in a strong founder vision and the ethical beliefs that underlie this vision. The essential factor in building a strong and coherent ethical organizational identity is to ensure that this identity remains central to the company's people, processes, and procedures. The case study confirmed that ethical organizational identity positively contributes to organizational performance by directly influencing members behavior and by influencing the processes that guide members behavior.