This study examines the importance of good and ethical leadership in transforming the Kuwaiti economy. The study provides important insights into the concepts related to good and ethical leadership in a non-Western environment and enriches our knowledge in this sector of the management field. The research contributes to knowledge on leadership in Kuwait (an Arab, Islamic country) by conceptualizing a framework on virtuous leadership, which emphasises the instrumental nature that factors such as morals play in shaping the leaders' qualities and behaviours. The research indicates that whilst the content of leadership may not change significantly, the context of leadership is important and is able to alter the quality and behaviour of leaders, especially in respect to their moral integrity. The research finds that moral judgement enable leaders to assess such things as right and wrong and move beyond themselves to be able to better understand the needs of others. The research is based on a constructionist approach within which 40 leaders from Kuwaiti organisations were interviewed, in the banking, investment, and real estate and services sectors. The findings indicate that it was possible to classify leaders into those that displayed ethically questionable behaviours, for example; those who sought personal gains or seemingly unfair competitive advantage from those defined as virtuous leaders who for example advocated a well-lived life and good character and looked beyond simply profit maximization, in order to serve the greater good. The implications of the research relate closely to the way in which management education, development and leadership practice are managed.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bl.uk/oai:ethos.bl.uk:582104 |
| Date | January 2013 |
| Creators | Alazmi, Terki |
| Publisher | University of Leeds |
| Source Sets | Ethos UK |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
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