Influence of machiavellianism, transparency and moral intelligence on integrity, leader effectiveness and organisational citizenship behaviour
Date
2018-12
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Abstract
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study was rooted in the need for organisations to utilise methods and
techniques which serve to better address unethical decision making and influences
within the organisation when employees are employed. Critical analysis of existing
bodies of research led to the identification of integrity-related behaviours, which
presented such behaviours as a possible means by which to address the abovementioned
need. Integrity was therefore selected as the primary focus of this study.
Further theorising led to Organisational Citizenship Behaviour (OCB) and leader
effectiveness emerging as outcomes of integrity-related behaviours within an
organisational context. The presence of OCB and leader effectiveness was therefore
seen as validating the existence of integrity.
The process of theorising then focused on constructs that influence integrity-related
behaviours in an organisation. Further research highlighted that the absence of
Machiavellianism and the presence of transparency and moral intelligence may
influence integrity-related behaviours comprehensively. Further theoretical
relationships were found between transparency and leader effectiveness; moral
intelligence and leader effectiveness; and moral intelligence and OCB. Additional
literature was researched and the conceptualisation of each construct and the
proposed relationships were examined. These relationships were constructed into a
theoretical structural model.
The overarching research hypothesis was therefore to determine the validity of the
influence of the selected integrity-related personality constructs (Moral Intelligence,
Machiavellianism and Transparency) on the construct of integrity, with OCB and
leader effectiveness as outcomes thereof. The theoretical structural model and
overarching substantive research hypothesis were supplemented by eight
substantive research hypotheses, which were used to validate and provide support
for the proposed relationships. In order to do so, the quantitative approach that was
followed was coupled with an explanatory research design and the use of Structural
Equation Modelling (SEM) to conduct the statistical analysis.
The following psychometric tests were used to measure the variables in the
structural model: Ethical Integrity Test (EIT), Leader Effectiveness Questionnaire
(LEQ), Organisational Citizenship Behaviour Scale (OCBS), the Moral Competence Inventory (MCI), the Transparency Scale, and the Organisational Machiavellianism Scale (OMS).
Respondents on these measures who were selected by means of convenience sampling completed the questionnaires via an email link as well as in paper-and-pen format. A total of 208 respondents were obtained. Once the data were analysed, significant relationships were found between Integrity and OCB; Integrity and leader effectiveness; moral intelligence and OCB; moral intelligence and leader effectiveness; moral intelligence and integrity; and transparency and leader effectiveness. Partial support was found for the postulated relationship between transparency and integrity (through Pearson correlation) whereas no support was obtained for the proposed relationship between Machiavellianism and integrity.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die studie is gegrond op die noodsaaklikheid vir organisasies om werknemers aan te stel wat etiese besluite kan neem en medewerkers ook sodanig kan beïnvloed. Na indiepte navorsing is integriteitsgedrag beklemtoon as ‘n moontlike benadering om onetiese gedrag en besluitneming te hanteer. Integriteit is dus die fokus van die studie. Verdere teoretisering het gelei tot die voorkoms van organisatoriese burgerskapgedrag (OBG) en leierdoeltreffendheid as positiewe gevolge van integriteit in ‘n bedryfskonteks. Die manifestasie van die twee uitkomste sal gevolglik die geldigheid van integriteit bekragtig. Die navorsing het verder gelei tot moontlike determinante van integriteit wat die afwesigheid van Machaivellianisme, asook die voorkoms van deursigtigheid en morele intelligensie behels. Verdere teoretiese verwanskappe is gepostuleer, naamlik tussen: deursigtigheid en leierdoeltreffendheid, morele intelligensie en leierdoeltreffendheid asook tussen morele intelligensie en OBG. Die gepostuleerde verwantskappe is vervolgens in ‘n strukturele model voorgestel. Die oorkoepelende navorsingshipotese was dus om die geldigheid van die invloed van die geselekteerde integriteitsverwante persoonlikheidseienskappe (morele intelligensie, Machaivellianisme en deursigtigheid) op die konstruk van integriteit asook die uitkomste van leierdoeltreffendheid en OBG te bepaal. Ag substantiewe navorsingshipoteses was toe ontwikkel om die gepostuleerde verwanskappe empiries te toets. Om hierdie hipoteses te toets, is ‘n kwantitatiewe benadering gevolg waarin ‘n verklarende navorsingsontwerp gebruik is. Dit was verder ondersteun deur die gebruik van strukturele vergelykingsmodellering (SEM) as 'n statistiese ontledingstegniek. Om die veranderlikes in die strukturele model te meet, is die volgende psigometriese toetse gebruik: Ethical Integrity Test (EIT), Leader Effectiveness Questionnaire (LEQ), Organisational Citizenship Behaviour Scale (OCBS), Moral Competence Inventory (MCI) , Transparency Scale en die Organisational Machiavellianism Scale (OMS). Die vraelyste is aan ‘n gerieflikheidsteekproef gestuur en 208 voltooide vraelyste is terug ontvang. Daar is gebruik gemaak van ‘n elektroniese vraelys sowel as ‘n hardekopie. Nadat die data ontleed is, is die volgende positiewe verwantskappe gevind: integriteit en OBG, integriteit en leierdoeltreffendheid, morele intelligensie en integriteit, morele intelligensie en OBG, deursigtigheid en leierdoeltreffendheid, morele intelligensie en leierdoeltreffendheid, asookdeursigtigheid en integriteit. Gedeeltelike ondersteuning is vir die gepostuleerde verwantskap tussen deursigtigheid en integriteit gevind (met behulp van Pearson korrelasies) maar geen ondersteuning is vir die gepostuleerde verwantskap tussen Machiavellianisme en integriteit gevind nie.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die studie is gegrond op die noodsaaklikheid vir organisasies om werknemers aan te stel wat etiese besluite kan neem en medewerkers ook sodanig kan beïnvloed. Na indiepte navorsing is integriteitsgedrag beklemtoon as ‘n moontlike benadering om onetiese gedrag en besluitneming te hanteer. Integriteit is dus die fokus van die studie. Verdere teoretisering het gelei tot die voorkoms van organisatoriese burgerskapgedrag (OBG) en leierdoeltreffendheid as positiewe gevolge van integriteit in ‘n bedryfskonteks. Die manifestasie van die twee uitkomste sal gevolglik die geldigheid van integriteit bekragtig. Die navorsing het verder gelei tot moontlike determinante van integriteit wat die afwesigheid van Machaivellianisme, asook die voorkoms van deursigtigheid en morele intelligensie behels. Verdere teoretiese verwanskappe is gepostuleer, naamlik tussen: deursigtigheid en leierdoeltreffendheid, morele intelligensie en leierdoeltreffendheid asook tussen morele intelligensie en OBG. Die gepostuleerde verwantskappe is vervolgens in ‘n strukturele model voorgestel. Die oorkoepelende navorsingshipotese was dus om die geldigheid van die invloed van die geselekteerde integriteitsverwante persoonlikheidseienskappe (morele intelligensie, Machaivellianisme en deursigtigheid) op die konstruk van integriteit asook die uitkomste van leierdoeltreffendheid en OBG te bepaal. Ag substantiewe navorsingshipoteses was toe ontwikkel om die gepostuleerde verwanskappe empiries te toets. Om hierdie hipoteses te toets, is ‘n kwantitatiewe benadering gevolg waarin ‘n verklarende navorsingsontwerp gebruik is. Dit was verder ondersteun deur die gebruik van strukturele vergelykingsmodellering (SEM) as 'n statistiese ontledingstegniek. Om die veranderlikes in die strukturele model te meet, is die volgende psigometriese toetse gebruik: Ethical Integrity Test (EIT), Leader Effectiveness Questionnaire (LEQ), Organisational Citizenship Behaviour Scale (OCBS), Moral Competence Inventory (MCI) , Transparency Scale en die Organisational Machiavellianism Scale (OMS). Die vraelyste is aan ‘n gerieflikheidsteekproef gestuur en 208 voltooide vraelyste is terug ontvang. Daar is gebruik gemaak van ‘n elektroniese vraelys sowel as ‘n hardekopie. Nadat die data ontleed is, is die volgende positiewe verwantskappe gevind: integriteit en OBG, integriteit en leierdoeltreffendheid, morele intelligensie en integriteit, morele intelligensie en OBG, deursigtigheid en leierdoeltreffendheid, morele intelligensie en leierdoeltreffendheid, asookdeursigtigheid en integriteit. Gedeeltelike ondersteuning is vir die gepostuleerde verwantskap tussen deursigtigheid en integriteit gevind (met behulp van Pearson korrelasies) maar geen ondersteuning is vir die gepostuleerde verwantskap tussen Machiavellianisme en integriteit gevind nie.
Description
Thesis (MCom)--Stellenbosch University, 2018.
Keywords
Decision making -- Moral and ethical aspects, Honesty, Organisational Citizenship Behaviour, UCTD, Machiavellianism (Psychology)