Outline the two individual characteristics that play a role in determining whether a person behaves ethically

What will be an ideal response?

Answer: Values and personality are the two individual characteristics that play a role in determining whether a person behaves ethically. Each person comes to an organization with a relatively entrenched set of personal values, which represent basic convictions about what is right and wrong. An individual's values develop from a young age based on what he or she sees and hears from parents, teachers, friends, and others. Thus, employees in the same organization often possess very different values. Values are broad and cover a wide range of issues.
Two personality variables that influence an individual's actions according to his or her beliefs about what is right or wrong are ego strength and locus of control.
Ego strength measures the strength of a person's convictions. People with high ego strength are likely to resist impulses to act unethically and instead follow their convictions. Individuals high in ego strength are more likely to do what they think is right and be more consistent in their moral judgments and actions than those with low ego strength.
Locus of control is the degree to which people believe they control their own fate. People with an internal locus of control believe they control their own destinies. They are more likely to take responsibility for consequences and rely on their own internal standards of right and wrong to guide their behavior. They are also more likely to be consistent in their moral judgments and actions. People with an external locus believe what happens to them is due to luck or chance. They are less likely to take personal responsibility for the consequences of their behavior and more likely to rely on external forces.