Distributive justice moderating the effects of self-sacrificial leadership

Authors: David De Cremer; Marius van Dijke; Arjan Bos

Source: Leadership and Organization Development Journal, Volume 25, Number 5, 2004 , pp. 466-475(10)

Publisher: Emerald Group Publishing Limited

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Abstract:

This study examined the interactive effect of distributive justice and leader self-sacrifice on employees' organizational commitment and autocratic leadership perceptions (ALP). We propose that positive leadership styles like self-sacrifice will have a stronger impact on employees' attitudes and judgments when organizational outcomes are perceived and experienced as unfavorable or more negative. One such outcome that may turn out unfavorable is distributive justice. Findings indeed showed that leader self-sacrifice positively influenced organizational commitment and negatively ALP, but only when distributive justice was low (i.e. perceptions of unfair outcomes).

Keywords: Leadership; Justice; Organizational Behaviour; Autocratic Management; Perception

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/01437730410544773

Publication date: 2004-05-01