The Impact of Perceived Ethical Leadership on Employees' Predisposition to Behave Ethically: a Case Study Within a South Afric
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by South East Academic Libraries System (SEALS) THE IMPACT OF PERCEIVED ETHICAL LEADERSHIP ON EMPLOYEES’ PREDISPOSITION TO BEHAVE ETHICALLY: A CASE STUDY WITHIN A SOUTH AFRICAN-BASED FINANCIAL INSTITUTION BY Rudzani Magau 216790034 Submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree: MASTER IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION In the Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences at the Nelson Mandela University Supervisor: Dr B. Robinson April 2019 DECLARATION BY CANDIDATE NAME : Magau Rudzani STUDENT NUMBER : 216790034 QUALIFICATION : Master in Business Administration TITLE OF PROJECT : The impact of perceived ethical leadership on employees’ predisposition to behave ethically: A case study within a South African-based financial institution. DECLARATION: In accordance with Rule G5.6.3, I hereby declare that the above-mentioned treatise is my own work and that it has not previously been submitted for assessment to another University or for another qualification. SIGNATURE : DATE : 31 January 2019 2019 – Magau R – Nelson Mandela University – MBA I ABSTRACT Ethical leaders consistently set ethical principles within the institution and act in accordance with them; hence, leaders should be a key source of ethical guidance for employees. As the business world is constantly evolving, leaders increasingly are required to ethically lead across different sectors. Current literature on ethical leadership and its influence of employees reflects mostly a Western, European and Asian-based private-sector perspective, pointing toward a compliance-oriented understanding of ethical and unethical leadership. This study examined how perceived ethical orientation of a leader has an impact on employees’ predisposition to behave ethically within a South African context. Qualitative data was collected as the study adopted the interpretivist paradigm, which made it easier for participants to use descriptive words and qualifying statements to express the level of influence their leaders had on their ethical orientation. The target population of the study included all staff of the institution; and participants were chosen using the purposive sampling method. Data was collected from 12 employees using semi-structure interviews. Thereafter, thematic analysis was used to identify and organise participants’ experiences into themes that established the basis for the study findings. These findings confirmed that perceived leader ethical orientation has an impact on employees’ predisposition to behave ethically. The study found that ethical leaders had a track record of being consistent, honest, trustworthy, truthful and credible, and being a role model. In addition, the study also found that unethical leaders are easily identifiable by their perpetual inability to uphold principles of integrity, reliability, rationality, and social justice and fairness. The researcher concluded that the moral identity of the leader has an influence on followers’ predisposition to behave ethically or unethically. The implications of this study are that ethical morals, by their very nature, are transferable from one person to the other and ethical leadership was one antecedent through which this transfer 2019 – Magau R – Nelson Mandela University – MBA II takes place. However, ethical leadership was not the only apparatus that influenced employees’ ethical predisposition and these afford opportunities for future research. Key concepts: Ethics, leadership, ethical leadership, unethical leadership, ethical behaviour and unethical behaviour. 2019 – Magau R – Nelson Mandela University – MBA III ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS To Almighty God, I thank you for the wisdom, courageousness and an understanding that you have blessed me with, which made it possible to complete this qualification. You have indeed made my path straight and renewed my strength throughout the journey. Glory be unto you Almighty God. Proverbs 3: 6 and Proverbs 30: 8-9. The completion of this treatise would not have been possible without the support, guidance and encouragement of the following: - My late mother, it is with sadness that you left us during the course of this journey; however your love, words of encouragement and support are engraved in my heart. I will forever be grateful for your unfailing love and all the sacrifices you have made to see us grow. Love you Mom. Proverbs 1: 8b. - Dr B. Robinson, thank you for your guidance, encouragement, constructive and timely feedback and an understanding throughout the preparation and completion of this study. - My group members, Lloyd, Bram, Mlu, Sam and all classmates, lecturers, doctors and professors for contributing immeasurably to my learning and development. - Mbeki Mkhize, a brother and mentor, I thank you for planting the seed to commence on this journey and for nurturing it throughout. If it was not for you, I would not have started this journey as earlier as I did. Thank you. - To all the colleagues who participated in this study, thank you for your valuable input, support and taking time off your respective schedules and meeting me for the interviews. - To my family, brothers and friends, thank you for your support and understanding in losing my companionship during the period of my studies. - To Naledi Bangaza, I appreciate the time and effort in reviewing my work and challenging my pattern of thinking in writing this study. To you all, may God richly bless you and keep you safe. Numbers 6: 24-26. 2019 – Magau R – Nelson Mandela University – MBA IV TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER 1 ............................................................................................................... 1 SCOPE OF THE STUDY ........................................................................................... 1 1.1. INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................... 1 1.2. PROBLEM STATEMENT .............................................................................. 3 1.3. LITERATURE REVIEW ................................................................................. 4 1.4. GAPS IDENTIFIED IN EXISTING LITERATURE .......................................... 8 1.5. RESEARCH OBJECTIVES ........................................................................... 9 1.5.1. Primary objective .................................................................................... 9 1.5.2. Secondary objectives ............................................................................. 9 1.6. RESEARCH QUESTIONS ............................................................................ 9 1.7. SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY ............................................................... 10 1.8. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY ................................................................... 11 1.8.1. Research paradigm .............................................................................. 11 1.8.2. Research approach .............................................................................. 11 1.8.3. Sampling design ................................................................................... 12 1.8.4. Data collection ...................................................................................... 12 1.8.5. Ethical considerations ........................................................................... 12 1.8.6. Data analysis method ........................................................................... 13 1.8.7. Method of reporting and synthesis ........................................................ 13 1.9. DEFINITION OF CONCEPTS ..................................................................... 13 1.9.1. Ethics .................................................................................................... 14 1.9.2. Leadership ............................................................................................ 14 1.9.3. Ethical leadership ................................................................................. 15 1.9.4. Ethical behaviour .................................................................................. 15 1.9.5. Unethical behaviour .............................................................................. 16 1.10. OUTLINE OF THE STUDY ......................................................................... 16 1.11. CONCLUSION ............................................................................................ 17 CHAPTER 2 ............................................................................................................. 18 LITERATURE REVIEW ............................................................................................ 18 2019 – Magau R – Nelson Mandela University – MBA V 2.1. INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................... 18 2.2. PHILOSOPHICAL VIEWS OF ETHICAL BEHAVIOUR ............................... 18 2.2.1. Utilitarian view ...................................................................................... 19 2.2.2. Individualism view ................................................................................. 19 2.2.3. Justice view .......................................................................................... 20 2.2.4. Moral rights view ................................................................................... 20 2.3. PREDOMINANT ATTRIBUTES OF ETHICAL LEADERSHIP ..................... 20 2.3.1. Integrity ................................................................................................