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Ethical leadership and employee pro-social rule-breaking behavior in China

Author

Listed:
  • Jinqiang Zhu

    (Minzu University of China)

  • Shiyong Xu

    (Renmin University of China)

  • Kan Ouyang

    (Shanghai University of Finance and Economics)

  • David Herst

    (Florida Atlantic University)

  • Elaine Farndale

    (Pennsylvania State University
    Tilburg University)

Abstract

Chinese people generally show flexibility in obeying formal rules and emphasize rules in terms of virtue. In such a cultural background, we explore the effects of ethical leadership and ethical idealism on employee pro-social rule-breaking behavior (PSRB). Our study incorporates individual traits and situational factors to present a holistic view of the antecedents of pro-social rule-breaking behavior. Our findings shed light on a new cognitive mechanism—perceived norms—of social cognitive theory and show the boundary condition—moral idealism—of social cognitive theory.

Suggested Citation

  • Jinqiang Zhu & Shiyong Xu & Kan Ouyang & David Herst & Elaine Farndale, 2018. "Ethical leadership and employee pro-social rule-breaking behavior in China," Asian Business & Management, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 17(1), pages 59-81, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:pal:abaman:v:17:y:2018:i:1:d:10.1057_s41291-018-0031-0
    DOI: 10.1057/s41291-018-0031-0
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Armin Pircher Verdorfer & Brigitte Steinheider & David Burkus, 2015. "Exploring the Socio-moral Climate in Organizations: An Empirical Examination of Determinants, Consequences, and Mediating Mechanisms," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 132(1), pages 233-248, November.
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    Cited by:

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    2. Xiao Chen & Jian Peng & Xue Lei & Yanchun Zou, 0. "Leave or stay with a lonely leader? An investigation into whether, why, and when leader workplace loneliness increases team turnover intentions," Asian Business & Management, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 0, pages 1-24.
    3. Fan Wang & Man Zhang & Anupam Kumar Das & Haolin Weng & Peilin Yang, 2020. "Aiming at the Organizational Sustainable Development: Employees’ Pro-Social Rule Breaking as Response to High Performance Expectations," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(1), pages 1-17, December.
    4. Jianfeng Jia & Jiaqi Yan & Yahua Cai & Yipeng Liu, 2018. "Paradoxical leadership incongruence and Chinese individuals’ followership behaviors: moderation effects of hierarchical culture and perceived strength of human resource management system," Asian Business & Management, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 17(5), pages 313-338, December.
    5. Han Ren & Zhengqiang Zhong & Charles Weizheng Chen & Chris Brewster, 2023. "Two-way in-/congruence in three components of paternalistic leadership and subordinate justice: the mediating role of perceptions of renqing," Asian Business & Management, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 22(2), pages 643-668, April.
    6. Sajid Rahman Khattak & Muhammad Zada & Muhammad Nouman & Shams Ur Rahman & Muhammad Fayaz & Rezwan Ullah & Guido Salazar-Sepúlveda & Alejandro Vega-Muñoz & Nicolás Contreras-Barraza, 2022. "Investigating Inclusive Leadership and Pro-Social Rule Breaking in Hospitality Industry: Important Role of Psychological Safety and Leadership Identification," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(14), pages 1-14, July.
    7. Yushan Wu & Qinghua Fu & Sher Akbar & Sarminah Samad & Ubaldo Comite & Mirela Bucurean & Alina Badulescu, 2022. "Reducing Healthcare Employees’ Burnout through Ethical Leadership: The Role of Altruism and Motivation," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(20), pages 1-17, October.
    8. Youngsam Cho & Mannsoo Shin & Tejinder K. Billing & Rabi S. Bhagat, 2019. "Transformational leadership, transactional leadership, and affective organizational commitment: a closer look at their relationships in two distinct national contexts," Asian Business & Management, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 18(3), pages 187-210, July.
    9. Yunyue Yang & Jie Li & Tomoki Sekiguchi, 0. "How supervisors respond to employee voice: an experimental study in China and Japan," Asian Business & Management, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 0, pages 1-31.
    10. Yanyan Lv & Xiaoguang Liu & Guomin Li & Yongrok Choi, 2020. "Managerial Pro-Social Rule Breaking in the Chinese Organizational Context: Conceptualization, Scale Development, and Double-Edged Sword Effect on Employees’ Sustainable Organizational Identification," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(17), pages 1-23, August.
    11. Yunyue Yang & Jie Li & Tomoki Sekiguchi, 2021. "How supervisors respond to employee voice: an experimental study in China and Japan," Asian Business & Management, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 20(1), pages 1-31, February.

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