Integrity and work : a theoretical and empirical approach to integrity in working life from an organizational psychology perspective

Article One: A Theoretical Approach to Integrity in Working Life This transdiciplinary review addresses the topic of integrity in working life, investigating published literature, synthesized in an organizational psychology perspective, with the purpose of arriving at a psychological definition of the phenomenon of integrity. In addition, a model depicting the process of attaining integrity that can be used to improve working conditions in the contemporary organization was developed. Attaining and preserving integrity was found to be a result of both individual and environmental factors, requiring the individual to take an active role in the integrity process. Further, it was found that integrity is a psychological state of being, signified by feelings of control, order and understanding of one s surroundings, the experience of congruence in the self and in relation to the environment and a harmonious feeling of wholeness and genuineness in one s daily conduct. Article Two: An Empirical Approach to Integrity in Working Life Exploring the Integrity of Nurses This study examines the concept of integrity in the working life of nurses. The aim is to identify what integrity at work means to a group of workers which aspects that can enhance or damage the feeling of integrity and how this relates to the Integrity Process Model (Aagaard & Gavén, 2006). Semi structured interviews were conducted with nine female nurses, exploring their experiences and thoughts on own integrity. Analysis was carried out using QSR NVivo. Results suggest that role awareness and clarity, co-determination, structural openness, the ability to be oneself (personal genuineness), being seen by supervisors and colleagues, having confidence, experience and a sense of professional autonomy preserves integrity. Lack of time, status differences, a silence inducing climate, patient behavior and, indirectly, an impractical physical lay-out of the hospital may hinder the preservation of integrity. Collegial support and personal coping strategies were identified as mediators between the damaging and enhancing factors