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Ethical leadership and ambidexterity in young firms: examining the CEO-TMT Interface

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Listed:
  • Yan Ling

    (Oakland University)

  • Michelle Hammond

    (Oakland University)

  • Li-Qun Wei

    (Hong Kong Baptist University)

Abstract

To enrich the knowledge of the value of ethical leadership in a more entrepreneurial setting, we focus on technology-based young firms and theorize through the lens of CEO-TMT interface whether and how founder-CEOs’ ethical leadership influences young firms’ ambidexterity. We argue that founder-CEOs’ ethical leadership can enhance young firms’ ambidexterity in an indirect way, through promoting top management team (TMT) members’ advice-seeking behavior and team satisfaction. Data from a multi-source and time-lagged survey of founder-CEOs and all TMT members in 81 Chinese technology-based young firms supported our predictions. We discuss the theoretical and practical implications of our study to the extant research.

Suggested Citation

  • Yan Ling & Michelle Hammond & Li-Qun Wei, 2022. "Ethical leadership and ambidexterity in young firms: examining the CEO-TMT Interface," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 18(1), pages 25-48, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:intemj:v:18:y:2022:i:1:d:10.1007_s11365-020-00695-6
    DOI: 10.1007/s11365-020-00695-6
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