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The Moral Entrepreneur: A New Component of Ethical Leadership

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  • Muel Kaptein

    (RSM Erasmus University Rotterdam)

Abstract

Ethical leadership has become a popular subject of empirical research in recent years. Most studies follow Brown et al.’s (Organ Behav Hum Decis Process, 97:117–134, 2005) definition of ethical leadership, which consists of two components: the moral person and the moral manager. In this paper, I argue for a third relevant component: i.e., the moral entrepreneur who creates a new ethical norm. Viewing moral entrepreneurship as a new component of ethical leadership opens up avenues for studying various antecedents and outcomes of ethical leadership that have not been acknowledged so far, or at least, not adequately.

Suggested Citation

  • Muel Kaptein, 2019. "The Moral Entrepreneur: A New Component of Ethical Leadership," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 156(4), pages 1135-1150, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jbuset:v:156:y:2019:i:4:d:10.1007_s10551-017-3641-0
    DOI: 10.1007/s10551-017-3641-0
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    Cited by:

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    3. Rodgers, Waymond & Al Shammakhi, Badriya N. & Jeaneth, Johansson & Wincent, Joakim & Adams, Kweku, 2020. "DIY Entrepreneurship: a decision-pathway framework for ethical thought structures," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 161(C).
    4. Alenka Slavec Gomezel & Rok Stritar, 2023. "Does it pay to be an ethical leader in entrepreneurship? An investigation of the relationships between entrepreneurs’ regulatory focus, ethical leadership, and small firm growth," Review of Managerial Science, Springer, vol. 17(1), pages 155-173, January.
    5. Mohammad Daradkeh, 2023. "Navigating the Complexity of Entrepreneurial Ethics: A Systematic Review and Future Research Agenda," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(14), pages 1-30, July.
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    7. Fulford, Mark D. & Coleman, Robert A., 2021. "Maximizing the value of values-based leadership (VBL): A reconceptualization for leaders and organizations," Journal of Applied Leadership and Management, Hochschule Kempten - University of Applied Sciences, Professional School of Business & Technology, vol. 9, pages 61-72.
    8. Hyun-ju Choi, 2021. "Effect of Chief Executive Officer’s Sustainable Leadership Styles on Organization Members’ Psychological Well-Being and Organizational Citizenship Behavior," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(24), pages 1-29, December.
    9. Charles Spinosa & Matthew Hancocks & Haridimos Tsoukas & Billy Glennon, 2023. "Beyond Rational Persuasion: How Leaders Change Moral Norms," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 184(3), pages 589-603, May.
    10. Ernesto D’Avanzo & Mariangela Franch & Elio Borgonovi, 2021. "Ethics and Sustainable Management. An Empirical Modelling of Carroll’s Pyramid for the Italian Landscape," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(21), pages 1-19, November.
    11. Rochgiyanti Rochgiyanti & Deasy Arisanty & Karunia Puji Hastuti, 2023. "Entrepreneurship in Conflict Area: Etic Study on Swamp Buffalo Bredeer in South Kalimantan Province," Technium Social Sciences Journal, Technium Science, vol. 43(1), pages 502-517, May.
    12. , 沈德旻, 2019. "偶然力與科學素養對創業成功影響之相關研究," OSF Preprints bym7h, Center for Open Science.
    13. Afriyadi Cahyadi & József Poór & Katalin Szabó, 2022. "Pursuing Consultant Performance: The Roles of Sustainable Leadership Styles, Sustainable Human Resource Management Practices, and Consultant Job Satisfaction," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-20, March.
    14. Gustav Hägg & Vera Haataja & Agnieszka Kurczewska & Alexander McKelvie, 2024. "Entrepreneurial Responsibility: A Conceptual Framework to Understand Ethical Dualism Throughout the Entrepreneurial Process," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 48(4), pages 1110-1126, July.

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