Ethical Leadership Research Articles

The Affective Processes of Ethical Leadership: The Role of Moral Emotions

The Affective Processes of Ethical Leadership: The Role of Moral Emotions

Inducing employee performance among state-owned enterprises, through employee ethical behaviour and ethical leadership

PurposeThis study aims to examine how ethical leadership enhances the relationship between employee ethical behaviour and the job performance of employees in state-owned enterprises (SOEs).Design/methodology/approachThis study was a survey, with data collected using a structured questionnaire. The study focused on employees from SOEs in Ghana. The sample covers 238 employees drawn from 10 SOEs. Data was analyzed using structural equation modelling.FindingsThe study concludes that employee ethical behaviour positively influenced the job performance of employees of SOEs in Ghana. The effect of ethical leadership on employee job performance was positively significant. Finally, ethical leadership positively moderated the effect of employee ethical behaviour on the job performance of employees of SOEs.Research limitations/implicationsFuture research should look at identifying the specific behaviours of ethical employees that influence improved job performance. Also, future research could conduct a comparative study of private-owned enterprises and SOEs.Practical implicationsAttention should also be paid to ethical leadership, as it strongly enhanced both employee job performance and the quality of employee ethical behaviour required for increased job performance of employees.Originality/valueExtant studies have paid limited attention to understanding how the interaction between employee ethical behaviour and ethical leadership will enhance employee job performance.

Principals’ leadership skills to meet the national strategy for education in basic schools

The objective of this study is to investigate the principals' leadership skills in elementary schools to meet the national educational strategy outcomes based on the teachers' views. A quantitative- descriptive approach was applied. The questionnaire was used to collect data. The validity of the questionnaire was measured and the reliability results using Cronbach alpha were 0.948 for educational leadership skills and 0.859 for educational outcomes. The questionnaire was distributed in both male and female schools. A random sample of 385 teachers was included. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and structural equation modeling to measure the effects of different variables. The findings indicated that the teachers in the sample had five to fifteen years of experience. The teachers showed principals in the elementary schools have moderate educational leadership (3.39). The results showed that the highest trait that existed among the principals was crisis management with a high-weight regression coefficient (0.693), visionary leadership (0.653) and ethical leadership (0.601). The effect of adaptability, communication skills and strategic planning was less. The least common traits among the principals of elementary schools were emotional intelligence and decision-making skills. The research suggested establishing a programme for elementary school principals to develop their leadership skills in order to support the achievement of national educational objectives.

The Impact of Realism on U.S. Foreign Policy during the Trump Presidency

Purpose: This article explored the impact of realism on American foreign policy during the Trump administration, striving to answer whether Trump adopted a realist stance or employed a unique blend of realism to enhance American interests on the global stage. Methodology: Centering on theoretical analysis and historical context, this study investigated the alignment of Trump's controversial personality and his "America First" slogan with the quest for national interests and power dynamics. This paper spotlighted Trump's unorthodox implementation of realism by exploring specific global issues, such as security strategies, trade policies, and diplomatic methods. Findings: This paper underscored Trump's deviation from traditional realism and adopting an unconventional realist approach. Particular emphasis was placed on this approach's implications for global power dynamics and the ethical dimensions of U.S. foreign policy. This study pinpointed noteworthy results from Trump's unique fusion of realism, providing insights into its effects on international relations. Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: This research contributed to theoretical comprehension and practical implications for future American foreign policy. It illuminated the Trump administration's unorthodox implementation of realism and its ramifications for international cooperation. Moreover, this paper advocated for a balanced approach incorporating strategic pragmatism with ethical leadership to efficiently tackle intricate global challenges and uphold the United States' role in the international arena.

Predictors of Reducing Workplace Deviant Behavior Among Employees of Islamic Educational Institutions

This study uses a range of variables that can affect the likelihood of deviant conduct among employees in the workplace to contribute to workplace deviance. This study aims to investigate, using Social Exchange Theory as a framework, the effects of Workplace Deviant Behavior on Organizational Commitment, Workplace Spirituality, Ethical Leadership, Organizational Justice, and Job Satisfaction. This research is a quantitative research using the sample quota technique used as a non-random sample method based on the quota set by the researcher. This study had 432 respondents, with 216 employees from 3 Islamic Universities in Purwokerto City calculated with regard to a 5% margin of error when applying the Slovin formulaand the results reached 208 people. In this study, hardfile and softfile questionnaire questionnaires (Google fromulir) were used in research sampling. Data collection using Likert scale-based questionnaire, then data tested using Smart PLS Application. The results showed that although Organizational Commitment and Woekplace Spirituality showed a direct negative influence, it was not significant on Workplace Deviant Behavior. Conversely, Workplace Deviant Behavior is negatively but significantly influenced by Organizational Justice and Job Satisfaction. Furthermore, there is a minor but favorable correlation between ethical leadership and workplace deviant behavior.

The impact of ethical leadership on KM practices and performance

AbstractRecent advancements in leadership research emphasise the influential role of ethical leadership in shaping positive employee behaviour. However, there remains unclear the precise impact of ethical leadership on organisational performance and its interaction with knowledge creation and knowledge networks. Drawing on both the knowledge‐based view and the ethical leadership literature, this study asserts a positive influence of ethical leadership on both organisational performance and knowledge creation. Furthermore, we propose that knowledge creation positively impacts knowledge networks, which, in turn, exert a positive influence on organisational performance. To validate these propositions, we employ structural equation modelling on a dataset comprising 205 Turkish firms. Our study contributes to the (ethical) leadership literature as one of the initial attempts to examine the relationship between ethical leadership and organisational performance while considering the roles of knowledge creation and knowledge networks.

An ethical leadership assessment center pilot: Assessing and developing moral person and moral manager dimensions

AbstractEthical leaders are those who exemplify moral behavior personally, as well as those who facilitate follower ethical behavior. Although recent attention has been given to the ethical leadership construct, there remains a lack of innovation regarding the assessment and development of ethical leaders in organizations. To address these issues, a pilot study was conducted to examine the convergent validity of an ethical leadership assessment center, as well as the efficacy of using assessment center feedback to foster ethical leadership. Assessees completed a battery of pre tests, a virtual business simulation with a novel exercise, and a set of post tests. Half of the assessees were randomly assigned to a feedback condition, whereas the other half did not receive feedback until after the post tests were completed. Due to low statistical power, quantitative results were inconclusive. Nevertheless, qualitative insights were gained that point to implications for validating assessment center methodologies when assessing and developing ethical leadership.

Watchdog or Lapdog? South African Broadcasting Corporation News in the Coverage of the 2021 Local Government Elections

ABSTRACT The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) post-1994 was transformed into a public service broadcaster, to advance the course of democracy. The SABC newsroom continued to navigate modern technology, although with challenges. Also, the heads of news at the SABC were mainly political deployees who promoted the African National Congress (ANC)-led government's mandate, ignoring the interests of the citizenry. Using the social responsibility theory, this paper argues that the appointment of the new head of news in 2018 revived the SABC’s mandate and the institution performed well in the 2021 local government elections. Drawing on semi-structured interviews with SABC journalists and recorded programmes for news and current affairs for six weeks during the election period, this qualitative study's findings attest that the journalists felt more protected from censorship and political interference, which promoted a culture of ethical performance. However, the SABC newsroom convergence process still appeals to the elite at the expense of its radio platforms. This paper argues that SABC needs to invest more in its radio platforms. Ethical leadership is another crucial ingredient for the SABC to perform its watchdog role, instead of operating as a lapdog of the ANC or politicians from other parties.

Empirical Research on Ethical Leadership and Knowledge Workers’ Innovative Behaviour: The Mediating Role of Job Autonomy

Introduction: This research studied the mediating role of job autonomy in the relationship between ethical leadership and knowledge workers’ innovative behaviour based on self-determination theory. Data were collected from 377 knowledge workers in the IT industry in Sichuan, Henan, and Guangdong province, China. A conceptual model was constructed and tested with the statistical software SMART-PLS. This paper concludes that job autonomy effectively mediates ethical leadership and knowledge workers’ innovative behaviour. The findings also reveal the strong and positive impact of ethical leadership on knowledge workers’ innovative behaviour. This paper enriched the leadership literature and extended the understanding of the predictors of employee innovative behaviour Objective: To investigate the impact of ethical leadership on knowledge workers’ innovative behaviour. To study the relationship between ethical leadership and job autonomy. To examine the impact of job autonomy on knowledge workers’ innovative behaviour. To investigate the mediating effect of job autonomy between ethical leadership and knowledge workers’ innovative behaviour. Theoretical Framework: Knowledge workers are highly skilled workers with professional knowledge, good education, or experience in their respective fields (Davenport, 2006). According to Correia & Dierendonck (2010), three core elements underpin the global meaning framework of knowledge workers: first, knowledge workers perceive their work as a calling; second, they have a strong desire for membership within a community of peers; third, they demand autonomy. These elements are in consistency with SDT. Method: This research used a quantitative approach to test the hypothesis, a closed questionnaire to collect the data, and SMART PLS version 4 to analyze the data. The survey questions were translated into Chinese with a back-translation approach (Brislin, 1986), as the respondents were all Chinese. Results and Discussion: Due to the single source, we first test common method bias. We adopted a full collinearity assessment approach to check the common method bias (Kock, 2015; Kock and Lynn, 2012). In this approach, the constructs were regressed on a new dummy variable with random values. As shown in table 4.1, the variance inflation factor (VIF) is lower than 3.3 (Kock, 2015), the model is indicated free of common method bias. Research Implications: The study constructed a research model to investigate the mediating effect of job autonomy between ethical leadership and knowledge workers' innovative behaviour. Management in knowledge-intensive industries, like the IT industry, can gain inspiration from the research to develop proper management strategies to promote knowledge workers’ innovative behaviour while guarding the ethical line.

ETHICAL LEADERSHIP IN FAMILY BUSINESS IN THE AGE OF DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION

Family firms have long been a mainstay of the world economy because of their distinctive combination of custom, long-term vision, and close-knit ownership structures. But these well-established businesses face a difficult battle from the digital revolution. In order to be competitive, family companies need to embrace digital transformation as technology redefines customer behaviour and changes entire industries. The ethical leadership required for this transformation journey must strike a balance between the demands of a fast evolving digital landscape and the family's core values. Families-run enterprises, the foundation of many economies, are at a crossroads. The digital era, characterized by swift technical progress and changing customer needs, demands a change to guarantee their sustained prosperity. Family-owned businesses have particular difficulties as a result of this shift since they have to balance their enduring traditions and values with the needs of the digital age. It becomes clear that ethical leadership is essential for negotiating this challenging environment. It investigates the complex interrelationships among family companies, digital revolution, and ethical leadership. Family businesses, with its unique fusion of agility and tradition, find themselves at a turning point in the digital age. This shift calls for a fresh emphasis on ethical leadership and offers both opportunities and challenges. We look at how ethical decision-making in the digital sphere might be guided by fundamental family business principles. This entails dealing with concerns including cybersecurity, algorithmic bias, and data privacy. The study goes on to discuss tactics for guaranteeing accountability among all parties involved, encouraging openness, and cultivating an ethical culture within the family business. Family businesses may secure long-term sustainability, bolster their competitive advantage, and cultivate trust with clients and staff by employing ethical leadership in the digital era. Keywords: Family Business Management, Ethical Leadership, Family Business, Ethics, Digital Transformation, etc

The effect of academic top executives on corporate social responsibility: potential motivation and its outcomes

This paper investigates whether there is ethical or opportunistic motivation behind academic top executives’ (ATEs) engagement in corporate social responsibility (CSR) by exploring how ATEs relate to CSR practices and their consequences on corporate misbehavior and performance. We find that firms run by ATEs invest more in CSR. Moreover, CSR firms with ATEs are unlikely to be involved in corporate fraud and aggressive tax avoidance, especially when firms have low institutional ownership and fewer analysts and are located in low law enforcement and socially dishonest environments. We also document that the CSR performance brought by ATEs is positively associated with subsequent firm performance. Overall, our study suggests that academic experience has important implications for understanding executives’ ethical leadership and driving firms’ ethical CSR.

The double‐edged sword of ethical leadership: Investigating when and why ethical leadership promotes versus inhibits team performance

AbstractAlthough previous studies pointed towards a positive association of ethical leadership and team performance, we suggest that ethical leadership may have unintended, paradoxical effects on interpersonal dynamics within the team, and, ultimately, team performance. Drawing on social information processing theory, we propose that ethical leadership can be a mixed blessing, with paradoxical impacts on team performance via two distinct pathways—task and relationship conflicts, contingent upon the team's informal power disparity. Specifically, we propose that ethical leadership has a positive indirect effect on team performance via reducing relationship conflict but a negative indirect effect on team performance via suppressing task conflict. Those indirect effects are more pronounced when the team has a more egalitarian power structure among their members. Results from a three‐wave field study, in which we surveyed 90 work teams in China, provided support for our conceptual model. Our findings reveal the benefits and costs of ethical leadership and the importance of examining informal power disparity in this leadership process.

Qualitative analysis of the factors associated with whistleblowing intentions among athletes from six European countries.

Although whistleblowing is thought to represent an effective mechanism for detecting and uncovering doping in sport, it has yet to become a widely adopted practice. Understanding the factors that encourage or discourage whistleblowing is of vital importance for the promotion of this practice and the development of pedagogical material to enhance the likelihood of whistleblowing. The current study employed a qualitative methodology to explore the personal and organisational factors that underpin intentions to blow the whistle or that may lead to engagement in whistleblowing behaviours in sport. Thirty-three competitive athletes across a range of sports took part in a semi-structured interview which sought to explore what they would do should they encounter a doping scenario. Content analysis revealed that whistleblowing is a dynamic process characterised by the interaction of a range of personal and organisational factors in determining the intention to report PED use. These factors included moral reasoning, a desire to keep the matter "in-house", perceived personal costs, institutional attitudes to doping, and social support. Analysis revealed a number of "intervening events", including a perceived lack of organisational protection (e.g., ethical leadership) within some sporting sub-cultures, which present an important obstacle to whistleblowing. The intention to report doping was underpinned by a "fairness-loyalty trade-off" which involved athletes choosing to adhere to either fairness norms (which relate to a sense that all people and groups are treated equally) or loyalty norms (which reflect preferential treatment towards an in-group) when deciding whether they would blow the whistle. The promotion of fairness norms that emphasise a group's collective interests might encourage athletes to view whistleblowing as a means of increasing group cohesiveness and effectiveness and thereby increase the likelihood of this practice.

Multicultural values: meeting point of two forces in developing Islamic education

Purpose The purpose of this study is to investigate the integration of entrepreneurial spirit and multicultural values in Islamic education, particularly within the context of pesantren, and to understand its implications for educational practices and outcomes. Design/methodology/approach This study adopts a qualitative research approach, using literature review and analysis of empirical data to explore the intersection of entrepreneurial spirit and multicultural values in Islamic education. It incorporates findings from multiple sources, including scholarly articles, books and empirical studies, to provide a comprehensive understanding of the topic. Findings The findings reveal that the integration of entrepreneurial spirit and multicultural values in Islamic education empowers students economically, fosters innovation in teaching methods and promotes character development and business ethics. Moreover, it emphasizes appreciation for diversity, cross-cultural collaboration and social responsibility within the educational context. This integration creates an inclusive learning environment conducive to the development of entrepreneurial skills, innovation and ethical leadership. Research limitations/implications Generalizability: the findings of this study may be limited in their generalizability due to the focus on specific multicultural Islamic educational institutions, potentially limiting the applicability of the results to broader educational contexts. Sample size and diversity: the study’s sample size and diversity may impact the representativeness of the findings. Future research could aim for larger and more diverse samples to enhance the robustness of the results. Methodological constraints: the reliance on certain research methods, such as surveys and interviews, may introduce biases or limitations in data collection. Researchers should consider using a variety of methodologies to triangulate findings and ensure comprehensive understanding. Time constraints: the study’s timeframe may have constrained the depth of analysis and limited the exploration of the long-term effects of entrepreneurship education on student development. Future research could adopt longitudinal approaches to address this limitation. Cultural context: the findings are contextualized within the cultural and educational landscape of multicultural Islamic institutions, which may limit their transferability to other cultural or religious contexts. Researchers should consider examining similar phenomena in diverse cultural settings. Resource constraints: resource limitations may have impacted the scope and depth of the research. Future studies could seek additional resources to conduct more extensive investigations and analyses. Bias and subjectivity: despite efforts to minimize bias, researchers’ subjectivity and potential biases in data interpretation and analysis cannot be entirely eliminated. Researchers should acknowledge and address their own biases transparently. Ethical considerations: the study may have encountered ethical challenges related to participant consent, confidentiality and cultural sensitivity. Future research should prioritize ethical guidelines and considerations to ensure the protection and well-being of participants. Addressing these limitations in future research endeavors can contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of the role and impact of entrepreneurship education in multicultural Islamic educational settings. Practical implications Practically, the study informs educational institutions, especially pesantren, about the benefits of integrating entrepreneurial spirit and multicultural values into their curriculum and pedagogical approaches. It offers insights into effective strategies for fostering entrepreneurship, innovation and intercultural competence among students. Social implications The integration of entrepreneurial spirit and multicultural values in Islamic education has broader societal implications. It cultivates a generation of socially responsible and inclusive leaders capable of addressing global challenges with creativity and empathy. By promoting cultural understanding and collaboration, it contributes to building more harmonious and resilient communities. Originality/value This study is original in its comprehensive exploration of the intersection between entrepreneurial spirit and multicultural values in Islamic education, particularly within the context of pesantren. It offers fresh insights into how these dimensions can be integrated synergistically to enhance educational practices and outcomes.

Empirical Research on Ethical Leadership and Knowledge Workers’ Innovative Behaviour: The Mediating Role of Job Autonomy

Introduction: This research studied the mediating role of job autonomy in the relationship between ethical leadership and knowledge workers’ innovative behaviour based on self-determination theory. Data were collected from 377 knowledge workers in the IT industry in Sichuan, Henan, and Guangdong province, China. A conceptual model was constructed and tested with the statistical software SMART-PLS. This paper concludes that job autonomy effectively mediates ethical leadership and knowledge workers’ innovative behaviour. The findings also reveal the strong and positive impact of ethical leadership on knowledge workers’ innovative behaviour. This paper enriched the leadership literature and extended the understanding of the predictors of employee innovative behaviour Objective: To investigate the impact of ethical leadership on knowledge workers’ innovative behaviour. To study the relationship between ethical leadership and job autonomy. To examine the impact of job autonomy on knowledge workers’ innovative behaviour. To investigate the mediating effect of job autonomy between ethical leadership and knowledge workers’ innovative behaviour. Theoretical Framework: Knowledge workers are highly skilled workers with professional knowledge, good education, or experience in their respective fields (Davenport, 2006). According to Correia & Dierendonck (2010), three core elements underpin the global meaning framework of knowledge workers: first, knowledge workers perceive their work as a calling; second, they have a strong desire for membership within a community of peers; third, they demand autonomy. These elements are in consistency with SDT. Method: This research used a quantitative approach to test the hypothesis, a closed questionnaire to collect the data, and SMART PLS version 4 to analyze the data. The survey questions were translated into Chinese with a back-translation approach (Brislin, 1986), as the respondents were all Chinese. Results and Discussion: Due to the single source, we first test common method bias. We adopted a full collinearity assessment approach to check the common method bias (Kock, 2015; Kock and Lynn, 2012). In this approach, the constructs were regressed on a new dummy variable with random values. As shown in table 4.1, the variance inflation factor (VIF) is lower than 3.3 (Kock, 2015), the model is indicated free of common method bias. Research Implications: The study constructed a research model to investigate the mediating effect of job autonomy between ethical leadership and knowledge workers' innovative behaviour. Management in knowledge-intensive industries, like the IT industry, can gain inspiration from the research to develop proper management strategies to promote knowledge workers’ innovative behaviour while guarding the ethical line.

Building blocks of good governance: Fostering an ethical work climate in public sector organizations

AbstractPromoting an ethical work environment in public‐sector organizations is crucial for good governance, particularly in developing countries that face internal and external pressures to modernize their public service and combat corruption. This study examined the mechanisms by which an ethical environment in public‐sector organizations is enhanced by investigating the role that employee public service motivation (PSM) as well as ethical leadership plays in the workplace. Utilizing first‐hand data collected in 2022 through a survey of public employees working at the Jordanian ministries and public sector agencies, the study showed that public employees in Jordan enjoy a high level of PSM, which was positively correlated with an ethical work environment. This relationship was, however, improved when mediated by ethical leadership, indicating the importance of ethical leadership as an organizational intervention to promote a more ethical workplace. The implications, contributions, and limitations of the study were further discussed.

Generating the Moral Agency to Report Peers’ Counterproductive Work Behavior in Normal and Extreme Contexts: The Generative Roles of Ethical Leadership, Moral Potency, and Psychological Safety

Generating the Moral Agency to Report Peers’ Counterproductive Work Behavior in Normal and Extreme Contexts: The Generative Roles of Ethical Leadership, Moral Potency, and Psychological Safety

Kepemimpinan Etis,Apa Itu dan Mengapa Itu Penting?

The research aims at exploring the influence of ethical leadership on employees’ behaviors on an individual level. It first studies the research that has been done on ethical leadership in order to provide an overview, and then explores the potential outcomes triggered by the phenomenon on employees’ behaviors. A quantitative analysis was employed with a survey of 131 respondents realized via emailing and social media.The study suggests that ethical leadership influences different variables both positively and negatively. One the one hand, it influence positively related with moral awareness, job satisfaction, motivation, and prosocial behaviors. On the other hand, ethical leadership is negatively related with organizational misbehaviors and counterproductive work behaviors.

Ethical Leadership and Followers’ Performance: The Mediation of Relational Identification

Ethical Leadership and Followers’ Performance: The Mediation of Relational Identification

The Nature of Moral Realism vs. Anti-Realism and Its Implications for Moral Discourse and Practice

Purpose: The general objective of this study was to explore the nature of moral realism vs. anti-realism and its implications for moral discourse and practice. Methodology: The study adopted a desktop research methodology. Desk research refers to secondary data or that which can be collected without fieldwork. Desk research is basically involved in collecting data from existing resources hence it is often considered a low cost technique as compared to field research, as the main cost is involved in executive’s time, telephone charges and directories. Thus, the study relied on already published studies, reports and statistics. This secondary data was easily accessed through the online journals and library. Findings: The findings reveal that there exists a contextual and methodological gap relating to the nature of moral realism vs. anti-realism and its implications for moral discourse and practice. Preliminary empirical review revealed that individuals' beliefs about moral realism vs. anti-realism significantly influenced their moral reasoning and behaviors, with proponents of moral realism exhibiting absolutist moral judgments while those endorsing anti-realism demonstrated greater moral flexibility. Cultural and ideological variations in these beliefs were evident, reflecting diverse societal norms and values. Longitudinal studies revealed the developmental origins of these beliefs, emphasizing the importance of early moral education. Overall, the study highlighted the complex interplay between philosophical perspectives on morality and real-world implications, advocating for informed and culturally sensitive approaches to moral discourse and practice. Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: The Kohlberg's Stages of Moral Development, Social Identity theory and Cultural Relativism may be used to anchor future studies on the nature of moral realism vs. anti-realism. The study provided valuable recommendations for theory, practice, and policy. It contributed to theoretical advancements in moral philosophy by integrating empirical evidence with philosophical insights, thereby refining existing theories and generating new avenues for exploration. The findings had practical implications for educators, policymakers, and practitioners, emphasizing the importance of ethical education, interdisciplinary collaboration, and ethical leadership practices. Policy recommendations highlighted the need for contextually sensitive approaches to addressing ethical issues, while ethical practice emphasized fostering open dialogue and ethical reflexivity in professional settings. The study also identified future research directions, suggesting the importance of longitudinal and interdisciplinary studies to further advance our understanding of morality and ethics. Keywords: Moral Realism, Anti-Realism, Moral Discourse, Beliefs, Philosophy, Ethics, Interdisciplinary, Collaboration, Ethical Leadership, Professional Practice