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The influence of ethical values on transformational leadership and ethical climate in organisations : an exploratory study

Thesis (MComm)--Stellenbosch University, 2003. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: South African organisations are facing fierce international competition, and to
survive in the long-term it is necessary that they be led by leaders that will
move them towards their vision in an ethical manner. While society
condemns and the media extensively report fraud involving millions of rands
by top executives, the truth of the matter is that more money is probably lost
through low productivity, idleness and the wasting of resources through
mismanagement (Mal an & Smit, 2001 ). In this study it is believed the cause
of this problem is ultimately one of leadership. Leaders fail to direct and
influence their subordinates to work with efficiency and integrity in order to
achieve the organisation's objectives (Malan & Smit, 2001). Solutions for
these problems must be found in order to build organisations that will prosper
in the future. This study hopes to offer part of the solution.
The main objective of this study was to establish whether there is a
relationship between transformational leadership and the development of an
ethical climate in organisations. One of the objectives of this study was to
establish whether there was a direct relationship between altruism and
transformational leadership. Another goal of this research was to establish
whether integrity had a moderating effect on the relationship between transformational leadership and ethical climate. A model was developed to
illustrate these relationships, which was tested in the South African context.
A literature study of the role of transformational leadership, ethical values of
altruism and integrity, and ethical climate in organisational performance was
conducted. The relationship between these constructs has also been
analysed in the literature study.
A questionnaire consisting of five sections was compiled to test the
hypotheses resulting from the structural models. These questionnaires were
distributed to various organizations in the Cape Town area. The sample
comprised 200 persons, each of whom had to complete the questionnaire.
Section A was designed to give an indication of the demographics of the
participants. Section B measured transformational leadership, based on Bass
and Avolio's Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire (MLQ). Section C was
compiled in accordance with Victor & Cullen's Ethical Climate Questionnaire
(ECQ), which measured respondents' perceptions of their work climate.
Section D measured altruism, based on Langley's Value Scale. Section E
measured integrity and was based on Butler's Conditions of Trust Inventory.
The statistical analysis was conducted through correlation and regression
analyses. The results revealed that altruism positively correlates with
transformational leadership, and that transformational leadership in turn has a
positive relationship with ethical climate. No convincing empirical support
could be found for the proposition that integrity moderated the effect of
leadership on ethical climate. However, many new and interesting insights
were gained through the results.
Conclusions were drawn from the results obtained and recommendations are
made for future research. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Suid-Afrikaanse organisasies staar strawwe internasionale kompetisie in die
gesig. Om in die langtermyn te oorleef, is dit nodig dat hulle gelei word deur
organisatoriese leiers wat hulle op 'n etiese wyse na hul strategiese doelwitte
sal lei. Alhoewel die gemeenskap miljoene rande se bedrog deur
topbestuurders veroordeel en die media ekstensief daaroor verslag lewer, is
dit 'n feit dat meer geld waarskynlik verloor word deur lae produktiwiteit,
sloerdery en die vermorsing van hulpbronne as gevolg van wanbestuur
(Malan & Smit, 2001 ). Met hierdie studie word aangevoer dat die oorsaak van
hierdie probleem uiteindelik een van leierskap is. Leiers misluk om hul
ondergeskiktes te bestuur en te be'invloed om sodoende effektief en met
integriteit op te tree, ten einde die organisasie se doelwitte te bereik (Malan &
Smit, 2001 ). Oplossings moet vir hierdie probleme gevind word ten einde
organisasies te bou wat in die toekoms sal floreer. Hierdie studie poog om
voorstelle te maak om hierdie probleme te help oplos.
Die hoofdoelwit vir hierdie studie was om vas te stel of daar 'n verband tussen
transformasionele leierskap en die ontwikkeling van 'n etiese klimaat in
organisasies is. Een van die doelwitte van hierdie studie was om te bepaal of
daar 'n direkte verband tussen altru'isme en transformasionele leierskap is. 'n Verdere doelwit was om te bepaal of integriteit 'n modererende effek op die
verband tussen transformasionele leierskap en 'n etiese klimaat het. 'n Model
is ontwikkel om hierdie verwantskappe te illustreer, en is in die SuidAfrikaanse
konteks getoets.
'n Literatuurstudie oor die rol van etiese waardes, veral die kernwaardes van
altru'isme en integriteit, transformasionele leierskap en 'n etiese
organisasieklimaat in organisatoriese prestasie is onderneem. Die verband
tussen hierdie konsepte is ook in die literatuurstudie ontleed.
'n Vraelys, bestaande uit vyf afdelings, is opgestel om die hipoteses
voortvloeiend uit die strukturele modelle te toets. Hierdie vraelyste is
uitgedeel aan verskillende organisasies in die Kaapstad-omgewing. Die
steekproef het uit 200 mense bestaan. Afdeling A van die vraelys was
ontwerp om 'n aanduiding van die demografie van die respondente te gee.
Afdeling B het transformasionele leierskap gemeet, gebaseer op Bass en
Avolio se 'Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire' (MLQ). Afdeling C was
opgestel in terme van Victor en Cullen se 'Ethical Climate Questionnaire'
(ECQ), wat respondente se indrukke van hulle werksklimaat gemeet het.
Afdeling D het altru'isme gemeet, gebaseer op Langley se 'Value Scale.'
Afdeling E het integriteit gemeet en het Butler se 'Conditions of Trust
Inventory' as basis gebruik.
Die statistiese analise was uitgevoer deur middel van korrelasie- en regressieontledings.
Die resultate het getoon dat altruĀ·isme positief met
transformasionele leierskap korreleer en dat transformasionele leierskap op
sy beurt 'n positiewe verband met etiese klimaat toon. Geen oortuigende
empiriese gronde kon gevind word vir die stelling dat integriteit die effek van
leierskap op etiese klimaat modereer nie. Die resultate het nietemin heelwat
nuwe en interessante insigte aan die lig gebring.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/53651
Date12 1900
CreatorsScheps, Anja
ContributorsEngelbrecht, A. S., Theron, C. C., Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Economic & Management Sciences. Dept. of Industrial Psychology.
PublisherStellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Source SetsSouth African National ETD Portal
Languageen_ZA
Detected LanguageEnglish
TypeThesis
Format148 , [14] leaves
RightsStellenbosch University

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