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Transformational Leaders’ In-Group versus Out-Group Orientation: Testing the Link Between Leaders’ Organizational Identification, their Willingness to Engage in Unethical Pro-Organizational Behavior, and Follower-Perceived Transformational Leadership

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  • David Effelsberg
  • Marc Solga

Abstract

To further the debate on the ethical dimension of transformational leadership (TFL) from a virtue ethics perspective, this study focused on leaders’ in-group orientation as well as their in-group versus out-group orientation in situations of conflict between organizational interests and broader ethical values. More precisely, the current study captured leaders’ organizational identification (OI) as well as their willingness to engage in unethical pro-organizational behavior (UPB) and tested the relations between these attitudes and follower-perceived TFL behavior. In total, the leadership behaviors of 112 middle- and top-level managers were evaluated by 900 direct-reports. Results showed leaders’ organizational identification to be positively related to TFL. However, we found no relation between leaders’ willingness to engage in unethical pro-organizational behavior and TFL. Implications regarding the ethical dimension of TFL are discussed. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2015

Suggested Citation

  • David Effelsberg & Marc Solga, 2015. "Transformational Leaders’ In-Group versus Out-Group Orientation: Testing the Link Between Leaders’ Organizational Identification, their Willingness to Engage in Unethical Pro-Organizational Behavior, ," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 126(4), pages 581-590, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jbuset:v:126:y:2015:i:4:p:581-590
    DOI: 10.1007/s10551-013-1972-z
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. 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.
    2. 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.
    3. Juan Pablo Araya-Orellana, 2022. "Assessment of the Leadership Styles in Public Organizations: an Analysis of Public Employees Perception," Public Organization Review, Springer, vol. 22(1), pages 99-116, March.
    4. Xue Zhang & Liang Liang & Guyang Tian & Yezhuang Tian, 2020. "Heroes or Villains? The Dark Side of Charismatic Leadership and Unethical Pro-organizational Behavior," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(15), pages 1-16, July.
    5. Yan Huang & Xin Liu & Jaehyoung Kim & Sanggyun Na, 2022. "Effects of Idiosyncratic Deals, Psychological Contract, Job Satisfaction and Environmental Turbulence on Unethical Pro-Organizational Behavior," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(23), pages 1-14, November.
    6. Ezgi Erbas Kelebek & Esra Alniacik, 2022. "Effects of Leader-Member Exchange, Organizational Identification and Leadership Communication on Unethical Pro-Organizational Behavior: A Study on Bank Employees in Turkey," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(3), pages 1-17, January.
    7. M. Joseph Sirgy & Richard J. Estes & Don R. Rahtz, 2018. "Combatting Jihadist Terrorism: A Quality-of-Life Perspective," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 13(4), pages 813-837, December.

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