Role of Ethical Leadership in Enhancing Organizational Citizenship Behavior: Evidence from the Japan

Purpose: To aim of the study was to analyze the role of ethical leadership in enhancing organizational citizenship behavior: evidence from the Japan. Methodology: This study adopted a desk methodology. A desk study research design is commonly known as secondary data collection. This is basically collecting data from existing resources preferably because of its low cost advantage as compared to a field research. Our current study looked into already published studies and reports as the data was easily accessed through online journals and libraries. Findings: The study found that ethical leadership positively impacts organizational citizenship behavior (OCB) in Japan. Leaders who demonstrate integrity and fairness foster trust, encouraging employees to engage in behaviors that benefit the organization. Ethical leadership strengthens organizational culture and motivates employees to exceed job expectations, enhancing overall performance. Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: Social exchange Theory (SET), transformational leadership theory & ethical leadership theory may be used to anchor future studies on the role of ethical leadership in enhancing organizational citizenship behavior: evidence from the Japan. In practice, the study highlights the importance of integrating ethical leadership into organizational cultures to enhance OCB. Japanese companies should prioritize ethical leadership development programs aimed at fostering leadership behaviors such as honesty, transparency, and accountability. From a policy perspective, the study provides insights for policymakers in Japan to implement organizational and corporate governance policies that emphasize ethical leadership as a key driver of positive employee behavior. Policymakers should encourage regulations that incentivize ethical practices within corporate settings, thereby promoting a culture of responsibility and integrity.