Ethical Work Climate, Social Trust, and  Decision-Making in Malaysian Public  Administration: The Case of MECD Malaysia

Nur Anis Nordin; Nomahaza Mahadi; Sri Langgeng Ratnasari; Dio Caisar Darma

Mrs. Nur Anis Nordin Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, International Business School (IBS) https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4602-027X
Dr. Nomahaza Mahadi Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, International Business School (IBS) https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3941-5188
Dr. Sri Langgeng Ratnasari Universitas Riau Kepulauan, Graduate Program https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1183-2817
Mr. Dio Caisar Darma Department of Management, Sekolah Tinggi Ilmu Ekonomi Samarinda https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3287-7670

Keywords: public servants, social trust, surveys, MECD Malaysia, ethical work climate, moderated regression analysis

Abstract

Organisational dynamics all over the world have been unstable due to COVID-19. In public administration, public servants were required to serve the community professionally, without exception. This paper examines the role of social trust in influencing an ethical work climate and decision-making. MRA was used to analyse the relationship between rules and procedures, company interest, friendship, team play, and personal morality on the one hand, and social trust and decision-making on the other. Questionnaires were completed by all 349 employees at MECD Malaysia, which allowed for a comprehensive overview. Results show that company interest, friendship, team play, and personal morality were closely related to increasing social trust (p <0.05). Social trust also mediated a positive impact of company interest, friendship, team play, and personal morality on decision-making with p <0.05. Some less logical observations were made regarding the relationship between rules and procedures and both social trust and decision-making, as indicated by p> 0.05. Eight hypotheses were confirmed, while two were rejected. Social trust is not crucial in moderating and
advancing rules and procedures for decision-making. Finally, we suggest implications for studies related to ethical work climate practices in the public sector.

Author Biography

Mr. Dio Caisar Darma, Department of Management, Sekolah Tinggi Ilmu Ekonomi Samarinda

DIO CAISAR DARMA is active as an independent researcher in the fields of Macroeconomics, Development Economics, Management, and other fields related to economic issues. On several occasions, he is also active as a reviewer and editorial team at JPENSI: Jurnal Penelitian Ekonomi & Akuntansi (Sinta-5), JESYA: Jurnal Ekonomi dan Ekonomi Syariah (Sinta-5), RIC: Review of Innovation and Competitiveness (DOAJ), WSEAS Transactions on Systems and Control (Q4), WSEAS Transaction on Business and Economics (Q4), ESI: Entrepreneurship and Sustainability Issues, (Q1), Journal of Economics and Management Sciences (Crossref), BMS: Business Management and Strategy (RePEc, EconsPaper), SPATIUM (Q1), JSPSDS: Journal of Scientific Papers "Social development and Security" (DOAJ), and EFISIENSI: Kajian Ilmu Administrasi (Sinta-3).