Purpose

This research aims to develop and test a conceptual model for shaping small and medium enterprise (SME) employees' avoidance behaviour towards using pirated software. The model specifies the components of morality, spirituality, emotional intelligence and ethical values that influence employees' avoidance behaviour towards using pirated software.

Design/methodology/approach

A conceptual framework was developed and tested on the basis of information technology and management literature by using data from 275 influential and active employees of SMEs. Data were collected via a survey and analysed through covariance-based structural equation modeling (CB-SEM).

Findings

In the context of SMEs, employees' avoidance behaviour towards using pirated software is motivated by significant moral antecedents. Moral equity and judgement significantly influence employees' avoidance behaviour towards using pirated software when moral emotion mediates such a relationship. In addition, individual spirituality significantly moderates the relationship between moral equity and moral emotion. Employees' emotional intelligence optimises the strength of the relationship between moral judgement and moral emotion. Employees' likelihood to engage in unethical behaviour decreases when they exhibit strong ethical values in the relationship between moral emotion and their behaviour towards using pirated software.

Research limitations/implications

This study offers theoretical support for employees' avoidance behaviour towards using pirated software. The findings of this cross-sectional work have limited generalisability. Single-country data may not be generalised to SME employees in other countries. Thus, cross-country analysis and additional measures and antecedents must be developed and identified in the future.

Practical implications

Policymakers and managers should consciously review the proposed seven-component model that causes SME employees to avoid the use of pirated software. Ethical standards that lessen the use of pirated software can be improved if managers and policymakers understand the components of moral equity and judgement that influence moral emotions.

Originality/value

This study is the first to examine the specific antecedents of the ethical standards and avoidance behaviours of SME employees towards the use of pirated software. As such, it provides a foundation for further studies on this critical area and software piracy in the context of SMEs in an emerging economy, which is limited in current literature.

中文翻译：

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避免使用盗版软件的行为：在中小企业员工身上测试一个七成分模型

目的

本研究旨在开发和测试用于塑造中小企业 (SME) 员工避免使用盗版软件的行为的概念模型。该模型详细说明了影响员工避免使用盗版软件的行为的道德、精神、情商和道德价值观的组成部分。

设计/方法/方法

在信息技术和管理文献的基础上，利用来自 275 名有影响力和活跃的中小企业员工的数据，开发和测试了一个概念框架。通过调查收集数据，并通过基于协方差的结构方程建模 (CB-SEM) 进行分析。

发现

在中小企业的背景下，员工对使用盗版软件的回避行为是由重要的道德前因驱动的。当道德情感调节这种关系时，道德公平和判断显着影响员工对使用盗版软件的回避行为。此外，个体灵性显着调节道德公平与道德情感之间的关系。员工的情商优化了道德判断和道德情感之间关系的强度。当员工在道德情感和他们使用盗版软件的行为之间表现出强烈的道德价值观时，他们从事不道德行为的可能性就会降低。

研究限制/影响

本研究为员工避免使用盗版软件的行为提供了理论支持。这项横断面工作的结果具有有限的普遍性。单一国家的数据可能无法推广到其他国家的中小企业员工。因此，未来必须制定和确定跨国分析和额外的措施和前因。

实际影响

政策制定者和管理者应有意识地审查建议的七组件模型，该模型使中小企业员工避免使用盗版软件。如果管理者和决策者了解影响道德情感的道德公平和判断的组成部分，那么减少盗版软件使用的道德标准就可以得到改善。

原创性/价值

本研究首次考察了中小企业员工使用盗版软件的道德标准和回避行为的具体前因。因此，它为在当前文献中有限的新兴经济体中的中小企业背景下进一步研究这一关键领域和软件盗版提供了基础。