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The trickle-down effect of responsible leadership on unethical pro-organizational behavior: The moderating role of leader-follower value congruence

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  • Cheng, Ken
  • Wei, Feng
  • Lin, Yinghui

Abstract

This study aims to explore how and when responsible leadership flows down the organizational hierarchy to reduce unethical pro-organizational behavior (UPB). Drawing on social learning theory, we hypothesize that high-level leader responsible leadership restrains UPB through low-level leader responsible leadership and that leader-follower value congruence moderates the trickle-down effect of responsible leadership on UPB. Based on the multiphase and multilevel data from 120 sales team supervisors and 426 insurance salespeople in China, we found that low-level leader responsible leadership mediated the impact of high-level leader responsible leadership on UPB. Moreover, high- and low-level leader value congruence significantly moderated the relationship between high- and low-level leader responsible leadership as well as the indirect effect of low-level leader responsible leadership. Similarly, low-level leader-employee value congruence moderated the relationship between low-level leader responsible leadership and UPB as well as the indirect effect of low-level leader responsible leadership. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.

Suggested Citation

  • Cheng, Ken & Wei, Feng & Lin, Yinghui, 2019. "The trickle-down effect of responsible leadership on unethical pro-organizational behavior: The moderating role of leader-follower value congruence," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 102(C), pages 34-43.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jbrese:v:102:y:2019:i:c:p:34-43
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jbusres.2019.04.044
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    5. Wu, Jinnan & Mei, Wenjuan & Liu, Lin & Ugrin, Joseph C., 2020. "The bright and dark sides of social cyberloafing: Effects on employee mental health in China," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 112(C), pages 56-64.
    6. Ken Cheng & Qianlin Zhu & Yinghui Lin, 2022. "Family-Supportive Supervisor Behavior, Felt Obligation, and Unethical Pro-family Behavior: The Moderating Role of Positive Reciprocity Beliefs," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 177(2), pages 261-273, May.
    7. Madhurima Mishra & Koustab Ghosh & Dheeraj Sharma, 2022. "Unethical Pro-organizational Behavior: A Systematic Review and Future Research Agenda," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 179(1), pages 63-87, August.
    8. Changqin Yin & Yajun Zhang & Lu Lu, 2021. "Employee-Oriented CSR and Unethical Pro-Organizational Behavior: The Role of Perceived Insider Status and Ethical Climate Rules," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(12), pages 1-16, June.
    9. Zhao, Hongdan & Zhao, Siyong & Chen, Yuanhua & Yu, Xiaoyu, 2023. "Bystanders’ reactions to leader knowledge hiding: The roles of moral disengagement and moral identity," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 165(C).
    10. Hong Tian & Danni Suo, 2021. "The Trickle-Down Effect of Responsible Leadership on Employees’ Pro-Environmental Behaviors: Evidence from the Hotel Industry in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(21), pages 1-17, November.
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