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The Danger of Blindly Following: Examining the Relationship Between Authoritarian Leadership and Unethical Pro-organizational Behaviors

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 March 2021

Fangzhou Liu ,
Jian Liang  and
Mo Chen
Fangzhou Liu*
Affiliation:
Xi'an Jiaotong University, China
Jian Liang*
Affiliation:
Tongji University, China
Mo Chen
Affiliation:
Harbin Institute of Technology, China
*
Corresponding authors: Fangzhou Liu ([email protected]) and Jian Liang ([email protected])
Corresponding authors: Fangzhou Liu ([email protected]) and Jian Liang ([email protected])
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Abstract

Researchers have paid much attention to the performance implications of authoritarian leadership. However, less effort has been devoted to exploring its ethical consequences at work. Drawing on the social cognitive theory of morality, this study explores the indirect relationship between authoritarian leadership and subordinates’ unethical pro-organizational behaviors (UPB) via displacement of responsibility. A vignette-based experimental study (Study 1) and a time-lagged field study (Study 2) were conducted to test our hypotheses. Consistent findings were accumulated for the indirect relationship between authoritarian leadership and UPB through displacement of responsibility (both Study 1 and 2). Furthermore, this indirect relationship was stronger among employees with low level of moral efficacy (Study 2). We conclude this study by discussing the theoretical and practical implications of these findings.

摘要

摘要

近年来，研究者对威权领导的绩效影响进行了大量的研究，但却很少关注到威权领导可能会产生的道德后果。基于道德的社会认知理论，本文探讨了威权领导与下属的亲组织不道德行为之间通过责任转移的间接关系，并通过一项情景实验研究（研究1）和一项两阶段的问卷调查（研究2）验证了本文的假设。研究结果显示，威权领导通过责任转移间接地影响了下属的亲组织不道德行为(研究1和2）。并且，这种间接关系在道德效能水平较低的员工中更强（研究2）。最后，本文讨论了这些发现更广的理论意义以及现实意义。

Аннотация

АННОТАЦИЯ

В научных исследованиях много внимания уделяется проблеме влияния авторитарного руководства на производительность. Однако, меньше усилий было потрачено на изучение влияния авторитарного руководства на рабочий процесс с точки зрения этики. На основании социально-когнитивной теории морали, данное исследование изучает косвенную взаимосвязь между авторитарным руководством и неэтичным про-организационным поведением подчиненных посредством смещения ответственности. Для проверки наших гипотез были проведены экспериментальное исследование с использованием метода виньеток (Работа 1) и полевое ретроспективное исследование (Работа 2). В результате исследований были сделаны последовательные выводы относительно непрямой взаимосвязи между авторитарным руководством и неэтичным про-организационным поведением подчиненных посредством смещения ответственности (Работы 1 и 2). Более того, эта косвенная взаимосвязь была сильнее среди сотрудников с низким уровнем моральной эффективности (Работа 2). В заключение, мы обсуждаем теоретическое и практическое значение результатов исследований.

Resumen

RESUMEN

Los investigadores han prestado mucha atención a las implicaciones en el desempeño del liderazgo autoritario. Sin embargo, se ha dedicado menos esfuerzo a explorar sus consecuencias en el trabajo. Basándose en la teoría social cognitiva de la moralidad, este estudio explora la relación indirecta entre liderazgo autoritario y los comportamientos poco éticos a favor de la empresa (UPB por sus siglas en inglés) mediante el desplazamiento de la responsabilidad. Se llevo a cabo un estudio experimental basado en viñetas (estudio 1) y un estudio de campo con desfase temporal (estudio 2) para probar nuestras hipótesis. Se acumularon hallazgos consistentes para la relación indirecta entre el liderazgo autoritario y los comportamientos poco éticos a favor de la empresa mediante el desplazamiento de la responsabilidad (tanto en el estudio 1 como el 2). Además, esta relación indirecta fue más fuerte entre empleados con niveles menores de eficacia moral (estudio 2). Concluimos este estudio discutiendo las implicaciones teóricas y prácticas de estos hallazgos.

Keywords

authoritarian leadershipdisplacement of responsibilitymoral efficacyunethical pro-organizational behaviors威权领导责任转移亲组织不道德行为道德效能感авторитарное руководствосмещение ответственностиморальная эффективностьнеэтичное про-организационное поведениеliderazgo autoritariodesplazamiento de responsabilidadeficacia morallos comportamientos poco éticos a favor de la empres
Type
Article
Information
Management and Organization Review , Volume 17 , Issue 3 , July 2021 , pp. 524 - 550
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2021. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of The International Association for Chinese Management Research

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Footnotes

ACCEPTED BY Deputy Editor Xu Huang

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