Attributes of ethical employees in Malaysian public sector: conceptual content analysis and pattern matching analysis

Abstract

This study aims to explore the attributes of ethical employees in public sector and to pattern match the attributes with human behavior, social and ethics theories. A qualitative research is used by focusing on first-order attributes (through interviews) and second-order concepts (using theories to explain the facts). This study revealed nine (9) attributes toward ethical employees which were honest, follow instruction, presence of duties, respect, Islamic value, virtue values, loyalty, attachment and financial planning. Among the related theories to these attributes are the virtue ethics theory, attachment theory, social bonding theory, social learning theory and AlGhazali Theory of Virtue. This study suggested nine (9) genuine attributes of ethical employees that may enhance the public trust as well as the community trust towards state government ruler.

Keywords: ethical employees; Malaysian public sector; content analysis; pattern matching data analysis