Final answer:
The true statement about organizational ethical role models is that co-workers can serve as ethical role models, not just those in superior authority positions. Ethical role models influence the ethical climate of an organization and can emerge from any level, challenging hierarchical views on authority and ethics in the workplace.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement about organizational ethical role models that is true is E. Co-workers can be ethical role models, especially when tthe manager is distant. Ethical role models can exist at any level of an organization and are not confined solely to positions of authority. The impact of ethical role models can in fact be profound, as they directly contribute to the shaping of a company's ethical climate and can influence their peers through day-to-day interactions and behavior, regardless of whether they have formal authority or not.
An understanding of business ethics emphasizes that ethical guidance in an organization is not exclusively a top-down process. For instance, lower-level employees who embody the company's values can set a powerful example for their peers and even their superiors. The real-life experiences within organizations often show that ethical leadership and role modeling can be a collective responsibility, challenging the theory of Normative Ethical Relativism which states that the predominant view within a culture is always correct.
The modern emphasis on flatter organizational structures and the evolving nature of managerial roles highlight the importance of interpersonal ethical influences in the workplace. The traditional hierarchy is being supplemented by more egalitarian relationships beween employees and managers, endorsing the idea that everyone in the organization can contribute to an ethical work environment.