Final answer:
A strong norm that encourages high performance can become one that causes people to act unethically when the norm becomes too intense and rigid, and when there is a lack of oversight or accountability. Organizations can mitigate this by promoting an ethical culture.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a strong norm that encourages high performance becomes one that can cause people to act unethically depends on the specific context and circumstances. One possible scenario is when the norm of high performance becomes so intense and rigid that individuals feel pressured to engage in unethical behavior in order to meet or exceed expectations. For example, in a sales organization where there is a strong norm of achieving high sales targets, employees may resort to unethical practices such as deception or manipulation to meet their goals.
Another factor that can lead to a strong norm encouraging high performance becoming one that promotes unethical behavior is the absence of proper oversight or accountability mechanisms. When individuals feel that their actions will go unnoticed or unpunished, they may feel more inclined to act unethically to achieve desired outcomes.
To mitigate the risk of a norm promoting high performance turning into one that encourages unethical behavior, organizations should prioritize creating a strong ethical culture, where ethical conduct is valued and rewarded. This can be achieved through comprehensive ethics training, clear communication of expectations, and the establishment of feedback mechanisms that encourage reporting of unethical behavior.