Title: A 12-step process of white-collar crime

Authors: Ruth McKay, Carey Stevens, Jae Fratzl

Addresses: Sprott School of Business, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, Ontario K1S 5B6, Canada. ' Carey Stevens and Associates, 59 Paula Crescent, Ottawa, Ontario K2H 8Y8, Canada. ' Artworks Counselling and Psychotherapy, Box 133 Oro, Ontario L0L 2X0, Canada

Abstract: This paper examines the psychopathology of the white-collar criminal acting as a corporate leader. It looks at the impact of a leader|s behaviour on other employees and the organisational culture developed during his or her reign. We propose a 12-step process to explain how an organisation can move from a legally operating organisation to one in which unethical behaviour is ignored and wrong doing promoted. Events from Enron, Barings Bank, WorldCom and other corporations provide examples of this process.

Keywords: white-collar crime; corporate leadership; business ethics; psychopathology; reluctant participants; whistleblowers; organisational culture; unethical behaviour; addiction models; Enron; Barings Bank; WorldCom; business governance; economic crime prevention.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBGE.2010.029552

International Journal of Business Governance and Ethics, 2010 Vol.5 No.1/2, pp.14 - 25

Published online: 30 Nov 2009 *

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