摘要：This study assessed the asymmetry in the causal and dispositional attributions for a company’s
failures and successes from the perspective of an external observer in the context of morality- vs.
competence-related events. Eight hundred respondents participated in a five-factor experiment
within a covariation model. We found asymmetry in the attributions of successes and failures in
that company factors were found to have contributed more to successes than failures. Successful
companies were perceived as open, innovative and stable, whereas unsuccessful companies were
viewed as less innovative and unstable. This study contributes to the knowledge of how observers
react to the successes and failures of companies with respect to two broad categories of attribution
targets.
