IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/kap/jbuset/v132y2015i4p831-844.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

How Leader Alignment of Words and Deeds Affects Followers: A Meta-analysis of Behavioral Integrity Research

Author

Listed:
  • Tony Simons
  • Hannes Leroy
  • Veroniek Collewaert
  • Stijn Masschelein

Abstract

Substantial research examines the follower consequences of leader (mis)alignment of words and deeds, but no research has quantitatively reviewed these effects. This study examines extant research on behavioral integrity (BI) and contrasts it with two other constructs that focus on (mis)alignment: moral integrity and psychological contract breaches. We compare effect sizes between the three constructs, and find that BI has stronger effects on trust, in-role task performance and citizenship behavior (OCB) than moral integrity and stronger effects on commitment and OCB than psychological contract breach. These stronger attitudinal consequences run counter to our initial expectations, but they provide evidence of important conceptual distinctions and mechanisms that we articulate. BI theory suggests that BI’s greater performance impact is due to the notion that BI affects communication clarity in addition to attitudes. Results of meta-analytic structural equation modeling are consistent with this proposed dual path of BI’s impact. We highlight avenues for future research on BI and discuss how our findings inform the broader research on leader (mis)alignment. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2015

Suggested Citation

  • Tony Simons & Hannes Leroy & Veroniek Collewaert & Stijn Masschelein, 2015. "How Leader Alignment of Words and Deeds Affects Followers: A Meta-analysis of Behavioral Integrity Research," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 132(4), pages 831-844, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jbuset:v:132:y:2015:i:4:p:831-844
    DOI: 10.1007/s10551-014-2332-3
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1007/s10551-014-2332-3
    Download Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s10551-014-2332-3?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Michael Palanski & Surinder Kahai & Francis Yammarino, 2011. "Team Virtues and Performance: An Examination of Transparency, Behavioral Integrity, and Trust," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 99(2), pages 201-216, March.
    2. Brown, Michael E. & Trevino, Linda K. & Harrison, David A., 2005. "Ethical leadership: A social learning perspective for construct development and testing," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Elsevier, vol. 97(2), pages 117-134, July.
    3. Tony Simons, 2002. "Behavioral Integrity: The Perceived Alignment Between Managers' Words and Deeds as a Research Focus," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 13(1), pages 18-35, February.
    4. Shao, Ruodan & Aquino, Karl & Freeman, Dan, 2008. "Beyond Moral Reasoning: A Review of Moral Identity Research and Its Implications for Business Ethics," Business Ethics Quarterly, Cambridge University Press, vol. 18(4), pages 513-540, October.
    5. Yoon Jik Cho & Hanjun Park, 2011. "Exploring the Relationships Among Trust, Employee Satisfaction, and Organizational Commitment," Public Management Review, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 13(4), pages 551-573, May.
    6. Meyer, John P. & Gagnè, Maryléne, 2008. "Employee Engagement From a Self-Determination Theory Perspective," Industrial and Organizational Psychology, Cambridge University Press, vol. 1(1), pages 60-62, March.
    7. Palanski, Michael E. & Yammarino, Francis J., 2007. "Integrity and Leadership:: Clearing the Conceptual Confusion," European Management Journal, Elsevier, vol. 25(3), pages 171-184, June.
    8. Rangapriya Kannan-Narasimhan & Barbara Lawrence, 2012. "Behavioral Integrity: How Leader Referents and Trust Matter to Workplace Outcomes," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 111(2), pages 165-178, December.
    9. Reynolds, Scott J. & Dang, Carolyn T. & Yam, Kai Chi & Leavitt, Keith, 2014. "The role of moral knowledge in everyday immorality: What does it matter if I know what is right?," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Elsevier, vol. 123(2), pages 124-137.
    10. Anne Davis & Hannah Rothstein, 2006. "The Effects of the Perceived Behavioral Integrity of Managers on Employee Attitudes: A Meta-analysis," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 67(4), pages 407-419, September.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Skarlicki, Daniel & Lo, Kin & Rogo, Rafael & Avolio, Bruce J. & DeHaas, CodieAnn, 2023. "The role of CEO accounts and perceived integrity in analysts’ forecasts," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Elsevier, vol. 176(C).
    2. Lyubykh, Zhanna & Alonso, Natalya M. & Turner, Nick, 2024. "Beyond allies and recipients: Exploring observers’ allyship emulation in response to leader allyship," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Elsevier, vol. 181(C).
    3. Samuel Ogbeibu & Abdelhak Senadjki & Jude Emelifeonwu & Paramjeet Singh Vohra, 2020. "Inspiring Creativity in Diverse Organizational Cultures: An Expatriate Integrity Dilemma," FIIB Business Review, , vol. 9(1), pages 28-41, March.
    4. He Peng & Feng Wei, 2020. "How and When Does Leader Behavioral Integrity Influence Employee Voice? The Roles of Team Independence Climate and Corporate Ethical Values," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 166(3), pages 505-521, October.
    5. K. Praveen Parboteeah & Matthias Weiss & Martin Hoegl, 2024. "Ethical Climates Across National Contexts: A Meta-Analytical Investigation," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 189(3), pages 573-590, January.
    6. Kai D. Bussmann & Anja Niemeczek, 2019. "Compliance Through Company Culture and Values: An International Study Based on the Example of Corruption Prevention," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 157(3), pages 797-811, July.
    7. Kennedy, Jessica A. & Schweitzer, Maurice E., 2018. "Building trust by tearing others down: When accusing others of unethical behavior engenders trust," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Elsevier, vol. 149(C), pages 111-128.
    8. He Peng & Feng Wei, 2018. "Trickle-Down Effects of Perceived Leader Integrity on Employee Creativity: A Moderated Mediation Model," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 150(3), pages 837-851, July.
    9. Gretchen R. Vogelgesang & Craig Crossley & Tony Simons & Bruce J. Avolio, 2021. "Behavioral Integrity: Examining the Effects of Trust Velocity and Psychological Contract Breach," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 172(1), pages 175-190, August.
    10. Jan Schilling & Birgit Schyns & Daniel May, 2023. "When Your Leader Just Does Not Make Any Sense: Conceptualizing Inconsistent Leadership," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 185(1), pages 209-221, June.
    11. Ziya Ete & Olga Epitropaki & Qin Zhou & Les Graham, 2022. "Leader and Organizational Behavioral Integrity and Follower Behavioral Outcomes: The Role of Identification Processes," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 176(4), pages 741-760, April.
    12. Kieliszek, Anastasia, 2021. "A Signaling Theory Perspective on Building Supportive Responses to Organizational Change: An Experimental Study," Junior Management Science (JUMS), Junior Management Science e. V., vol. 6(4), pages 700-744.
    13. Martin Eisend, 2019. "Morality Effects and Consumer Responses to Counterfeit and Pirated Products: A Meta-analysis," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 154(2), pages 301-323, January.
    14. Michael J. Wynes, 2022. "“Just Say You’re Sorry”: Avoidance and Revenge Behavior in Response to Organizations Apologizing for Fraud," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 178(1), pages 129-151, June.
    15. Tasneem Fatima & Usman Raja & Muhammad Abdur Rahman Malik & Sadia Jahanzeb, 2020. "Leader–member exchange quality and employees job outcomes: a parallel mediation model," Eurasian Business Review, Springer;Eurasia Business and Economics Society, vol. 10(2), pages 309-332, June.
    16. Luminita Enache & Hila Fogel‐Yaari & Heather Li, 2022. "Signalling long‐term focus through textual emphasis on innovation: are firms putting their money where their mouth is?," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 62(3), pages 3791-3836, September.
    17. Jen-Shou Yang & Li-Ching Tsai, 2023. "The moderating effects of trustor characteristics and the cost of being trusted on the relationship between felt trust and OCB intention," Review of Managerial Science, Springer, vol. 17(7), pages 2417-2441, October.
    18. Byung-Jik Kim & Min-Jik Kim & Tae-Hyun Kim, 2021. "“The Power of Ethical Leadership”: The Influence of Corporate Social Responsibility on Creativity, the Mediating Function of Psychological Safety, and the Moderating Role of Ethical Leadership," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(6), pages 1-16, March.
    19. Yurou Liu & Jinyang Liu, 2024. "Social Integrity and Stock Price Crash Risk," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 190(3), pages 703-721, March.
    20. Nicole Celestine & Catherine Leighton & Chris Perryer, 2020. "A Multifocal and Integrative View of the Influencers of Ethical Attitudes Using Qualitative Configurational Analysis," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 162(1), pages 103-122, February.
    21. Christian Schnee, 2017. "Understanding a Leader’s Behaviour: Revisiting the Role of Reputation Management in Leadership Research," Corporate Reputation Review, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 20(1), pages 27-39, February.
    22. Yongjun Choi & David J. Yoon & Dongkyu Kim, 2020. "Leader Behavioral Integrity and Employee In-Role Performance: The Roles of Coworker Support and Job Autonomy," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(12), pages 1-14, June.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. He Peng & Feng Wei, 2020. "How and When Does Leader Behavioral Integrity Influence Employee Voice? The Roles of Team Independence Climate and Corporate Ethical Values," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 166(3), pages 505-521, October.
    2. Ziya Ete & Olga Epitropaki & Qin Zhou & Les Graham, 2022. "Leader and Organizational Behavioral Integrity and Follower Behavioral Outcomes: The Role of Identification Processes," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 176(4), pages 741-760, April.
    3. He Peng & Feng Wei, 2018. "Trickle-Down Effects of Perceived Leader Integrity on Employee Creativity: A Moderated Mediation Model," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 150(3), pages 837-851, July.
    4. Vincent Giolito, 2015. "Toward a unified "Theory Y" of leadership: Leader self-awareness, ethics and integrity as key attributes of positive leadership," Working Papers CEB 15-043, ULB -- Universite Libre de Bruxelles.
    5. Ariail, Donald L. & Khayati, Amine & Shawver, Tara, 2021. "Perceptions by employed accounting students of ethical leadership and political skill: Evidence for including political skill in ethics pedagogy," Journal of Accounting Education, Elsevier, vol. 55(C).
    6. Michael Palanski & Kristin Cullen & William Gentry & Chelsea Nichols, 2015. "Virtuous Leadership: Exploring the Effects of Leader Courage and Behavioral Integrity on Leader Performance and Image," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 132(2), pages 297-310, December.
    7. Hannes Leroy & Michael Palanski & Tony Simons, 2012. "Authentic Leadership and Behavioral Integrity as Drivers of Follower Commitment and Performance," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 107(3), pages 255-264, May.
    8. Cambier, Fanny & Poncin, Ingrid, 2020. "Inferring brand integrity from marketing communications: The effects of brand transparency signals in a consumer empowerment context," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 109(C), pages 260-270.
    9. Shenjiang Mo & Junqi Shi, 2017. "Linking Ethical Leadership to Employee Burnout, Workplace Deviance and Performance: Testing the Mediating Roles of Trust in Leader and Surface Acting," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 144(2), pages 293-303, August.
    10. David Prottas, 2013. "Relationships Among Employee Perception of Their Manager’s Behavioral Integrity, Moral Distress, and Employee Attitudes and Well-Being," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 113(1), pages 51-60, March.
    11. Alan Lawton & Iliana Páez, 2015. "Developing a Framework for Ethical Leadership," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 130(3), pages 639-649, September.
    12. Yurou Liu & Jinyang Liu, 2024. "Social Integrity and Stock Price Crash Risk," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 190(3), pages 703-721, March.
    13. K. Michele Kacmar & Reginald Tucker, 2016. "The Moderating Effect of Supervisor’s Behavioral Integrity on the Relationship between Regulatory Focus and Impression Management," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 135(1), pages 87-98, April.
    14. Yinghong Susan Wei & Hugh O’Neill & Nan Zhou, 2020. "How Does Perceived Integrity in Leadership Matter to Firms in a Transitional Economy?," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 167(4), pages 623-641, December.
    15. Yongjun Choi & David J. Yoon & Dongkyu Kim, 2020. "Leader Behavioral Integrity and Employee In-Role Performance: The Roles of Coworker Support and Job Autonomy," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(12), pages 1-14, June.
    16. Martha Andrews & K. Kacmar & Charles Kacmar, 2015. "The Interactive Effects of Behavioral Integrity and Procedural Justice on Employee Job Tension," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 126(3), pages 371-379, February.
    17. Fuan Li & Sixue Zhang & Xuelian Yang, 2018. "Moral Integrity and Relationship Commitment: An Empirical Examination in a Cross-Cultural Setting," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 151(3), pages 785-798, September.
    18. Gretchen R. Vogelgesang & Craig Crossley & Tony Simons & Bruce J. Avolio, 2021. "Behavioral Integrity: Examining the Effects of Trust Velocity and Psychological Contract Breach," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 172(1), pages 175-190, August.
    19. Effron, Daniel A. & Lucas, Brian J. & O’Connor, Kieran, 2015. "Hypocrisy by association: When organizational membership increases condemnation for wrongdoing," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Elsevier, vol. 130(C), pages 147-159.
    20. S. Hansen & Bradley Alge & Michael Brown & Christine Jackson & Benjamin Dunford, 2013. "Ethical Leadership: Assessing the Value of a Multifoci Social Exchange Perspective," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 115(3), pages 435-449, July.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:kap:jbuset:v:132:y:2015:i:4:p:831-844. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.