Perceptions of ethical culture: Compliance and training of Air Force contingency contracting officers

Ethics violations continue to plague the acquisition world, despite increased awareness. This study examined three constructs (ethical culture, perceived effectiveness of ethics training, and the perceived effectiveness of the compliance program) of a random sample of 97 Air Force contingency contracting professionals. The purpose was to describe the relationships and determine if a correlation existed. Analysis showed a positive correlation between ethical culture and program effectiveness (r = .32; p < .01). Additionally, descriptive statistics and qualitative data indicated training effectiveness could be improved. Based on these results, Air Force organizations should strive for a positive ethical culture while monitoring the effectiveness of its training and compliance programs.