Personal Ethics and Ethical Leadership in The Face of The Resolution of Dilemmas and Problematic Situations in Chilean Graduates

Abstract

Objective: The objective of this study is to investigate the relationship between personal ethics and deontological leadership in Chilean graduates, with the purpose of determining whether a high level of personal ethics in leaders influences the resolution of moral dilemmas and problematic situations in the institutional environment. Theoretical Framework: The research is based on concepts and theories about professional ethics, deontological leadership, and university ethics training. Theories and models such as Applied Ethics, Business Ethics and the deontological theory of ethics stand out. Method: A quantitative methodology with a survey design was adopted. 207 graduates of various careers from the Universidad Austral de Chile participated. Three instruments were used: the Ethical Leadership Questionnaire, the Ethical Dilemmas of Business Culture Questionnaire, and the Personal Ethics survey of collaborators. Data were analyzed with SPSS Statistics 23 and SPSS AMOS 23, performing exploratory and confirmatory factor analyzes. Results and Discussion: The results revealed that a high level of personal ethics is crucial to exercise effective deontological leadership. Significant differences in ethical perception between genders and ages were identified, suggesting that women and older professionals better manage ethical dilemmas. A negative correlation was observed between tolerance to unethical behaviors and the ability to solve ethical dilemmas. Implications of Research: Practical implications include the need to incorporate rigorous ethical training into university curricula to develop ethical leaders. Theoretically, the study contributes to the understanding of the relationship between personal ethics and deontological leadership, proposing that personal ethics is an essential precursor for ethical leadership in organizations. Originality/Value: This study contributes to the literature by empirically demonstrating the importance of personal ethics in deontological leadership. Their innovative approach and the discoveries made can influence training and professional practices in the educational and business field.