Benevolent leadership in not-for-profit organizations: Welfare orientation measures, ethical climate and organizational citizenship behaviour

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the relationships among the welfare constituents of benevolent leadership, ethical climate, and organizational citizenship behaviour (OCB) by examining the direct as well as the indirect impacts of benevolent leadership constructs on OCB mediated through the ethical work climate (EWC).

Design/methodology/approach

The data analysis for managerial responses obtained from eight not-for-profit organizations established that ethical sensitivity, spiritual wisdom, positive engagement, and community responsiveness as the welfare elements of benevolent leadership significantly influenced OCB both as proximal and distal outcome through the mediating effect of EWC found in the organizations.

Findings

This study substantiated the point that the welfare orientation exhibited by top and senior management as the core of benevolent leadership behaviour in not-for-profit organizations influenced the EWC and OCB among the organizational members that in turn would enable them to meaningfully engage themselves with the socially relevant projects and community development activities.

Originality/value

The application of benevolent leadership scale in not-for-profit organizations established its predictive validity in relation to ethical climate and OCB.

Citation

Ghosh, K. (2015), "Benevolent leadership in not-for-profit organizations: Welfare orientation measures, ethical climate and organizational citizenship behaviour", Leadership & Organization Development Journal, Vol. 36 No. 5, pp. 592-611. https://doi.org/10.1108/LODJ-12-2013-0164