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The Moral Entrepreneur: A New Component of Ethical Leadership

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  • Muel Kaptein

    (RSM Erasmus University Rotterdam)

Abstract

Ethical leadership has become a popular subject of empirical research in recent years. Most studies follow Brown et al.’s (Organ Behav Hum Decis Process, 97:117–134, 2005) definition of ethical leadership, which consists of two components: the moral person and the moral manager. In this paper, I argue for a third relevant component: i.e., the moral entrepreneur who creates a new ethical norm. Viewing moral entrepreneurship as a new component of ethical leadership opens up avenues for studying various antecedents and outcomes of ethical leadership that have not been acknowledged so far, or at least, not adequately.

Suggested Citation

  • Muel Kaptein, 2019. "The Moral Entrepreneur: A New Component of Ethical Leadership," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 156(4), pages 1135-1150, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jbuset:v:156:y:2019:i:4:d:10.1007_s10551-017-3641-0
    DOI: 10.1007/s10551-017-3641-0
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    3. Hyun-ju Choi, 2021. "Effect of Chief Executive Officer’s Sustainable Leadership Styles on Organization Members’ Psychological Well-Being and Organizational Citizenship Behavior," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(24), pages 1-29, December.
    4. Tayyaba Ahmed Fatima & Dr. Danish Ahmed Siddiqui, 2020. "Ethical Leadership and Organizational Citizenship Behaviour: the Mediating Role of Ethical Climate, Trust, and Justice," International Journal of Human Resource Studies, Macrothink Institute, vol. 10(1), pages 70103-70103, December.
    5. Rodgers, Waymond & Al Shammakhi, Badriya N. & Jeaneth, Johansson & Wincent, Joakim & Adams, Kweku, 2020. "DIY Entrepreneurship: a decision-pathway framework for ethical thought structures," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 161(C).
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    7. Ernesto D’Avanzo & Mariangela Franch & Elio Borgonovi, 2021. "Ethics and Sustainable Management. An Empirical Modelling of Carroll’s Pyramid for the Italian Landscape," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(21), pages 1-19, November.
    8. Alenka Slavec Gomezel & Rok Stritar, 2023. "Does it pay to be an ethical leader in entrepreneurship? An investigation of the relationships between entrepreneurs’ regulatory focus, ethical leadership, and small firm growth," Review of Managerial Science, Springer, vol. 17(1), pages 155-173, January.
    9. Mohammad Daradkeh, 2023. "Navigating the Complexity of Entrepreneurial Ethics: A Systematic Review and Future Research Agenda," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(14), pages 1-30, July.
    10. Rochgiyanti Rochgiyanti & Deasy Arisanty & Karunia Puji Hastuti, 2023. "Entrepreneurship in Conflict Area: Etic Study on Swamp Buffalo Bredeer in South Kalimantan Province," Technium Social Sciences Journal, Technium Science, vol. 43(1), pages 502-517, May.
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