Organizational corruption imposes a steep cost on society, easily dwarfing that of street crime. We examine how corruption becomes normalized, that is, embedded in the organization such that it is more or less taken for granted and perpetuated. We argue that three mutually reinforcing processes underlie normalization: (1) institutionalization, where an initial corrupt decision or act becomes embedded in structures and processes and thereby routinized; (2) rationalization, where self-serving ideologies develop to justify and perhaps even valorize corruption; and (3) socialization, where naive newcomers are induced to view corruption as permissible if not desirable. The model helps explain how otherwise morally upright individuals can routinely engage in corruption without experiencing conflict, how corruption can persist despite the turnover of its initial practitioners, how seemingly rational organizations can engage in suicidal corruption and how an emphasis on the individual as evil doer misses the point that systems and individuals are mutually reinforcing.
27 Feb 2026
Conceptual Research: Multidisciplinary Insights for Marketing
Conceptual research is fundamental to advancing theory and, thus, science. Conceptual articles launch new research streams, resolve conflicting findings, explain new phenomena, and integrate divergent research areas. Yet, compared with other disciplines, marketing publishes little conceptual research. This article provides a multidisciplinary perspective of conceptual research to help increase the quality and quantity of conceptual research in marketing. First, the authors compare conceptual research approaches across marketing, management, psychology, and sociology to synthesize existing conceptual research frameworks. Second, using citation analyses, the authors provide insights into the academic impact of conceptual research across disciplines, across marketing domains, and over time; they also assess its impact outside of academia. Third, to assist researchers, the article offers a step-by-step process or "how to" guide for developing high-impact conceptual research, based on insights from the multidisciplinary analysis and interviews with conceptual researchers from different disciplines. Fourth, drawing on the interviews and keyword analysis of recent conceptual marketing articles, the authors suggest emerging opportunities for conceptual research and discuss how to increase the value of conceptual papers for practitioners.
22 Feb 2026
Recommendations for Creating Better Concept Definitions in the Organizational, Behavioral, and Social Sciences
Despite the importance of establishing good, clear concept definitions in organizational research, the field lacks a comprehensive source that explains how to effectively develop and articulate a concept's domain. Thus, the purpose of this article is to explain why clear conceptual definitions are essential for scientific progress and provide a concrete set of steps that researchers can follow to improve their conceptual definitions. First, we define what is meant by a concept, describe the functions served by concepts in scientific endeavors, and identify problems associated with a lack of conceptual clarity. Then we explain why it is so difficult to adequately define concepts. Next, we provide a series of recommendations for scholars in the organizational, behavioral, and social sciences who are either trying to define a new concept or revise the definition of one that already exists in the field. Following this, we provide some examples that generally meet the criteria for a good conceptual definition. We conclude with a set of questions that authors, reviewers, and editors can use as a guide for evaluating concept definitions.
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