Theories of Leadership and Management
Lecture & Articles Summary
,Lecture 1, Basis of Week 1
Black Box Mechanism: Theoretical Mechanisms
Earlier leadership research focused only on input → output relationships (Behaviorism) — what
leaders do (input) and what outcomes appear (output). But it ignored what happens in between
— the mechanisms (the “black box”) that explain how leader behavior translates into follower
or organizational outcomes.
What’s in the black box? Leader-focused research often directly links leader behaviors to
organizational outcomes (often related to followers), implicitly assuming a relationship of some
sort between leader’s and followers’ behaviors. However, such an approach often fails to
answer how, and why certain behaviors work.”
Opening the black box → identifying psychological or social processes that connect leader
actions to follower responses
Theoretical mechanisms: how and why leader’s
behaviors influence followers and outcomes. The
leader’s behavior does not directly produce the
outcome. It works through a mechanism that
shapes the follower’s reactions.
→ acts as a mediator
Moderator: variable changing the strength of a relationship between IV and DV
Mediation: the explanatory variable, explaining the relationship between IV and DV
2
,Lecture 1, Article 1 (Brown, 2005)
Social Learning Theory
Social Learning Theory: We learn by observing and imitating other people’s behavior. People
can learn new information and behaviors by watching other people. This is known as
observational learning or learning from observing a role model.
2 types:
1. Inhibition: You see someone else do something but you see a negative consequence so
you avoid doing that
2. Disinhibition: You observe somebody else engaging in behavior that goes well for them
so your inhibited behavior becomes disinhibited (previously restrained behavior turns
into something you would like to do).
Attention: notice nice behaviors of
others (they may be role models, eg.
leaders)
Retention: remember the behavior
Reproduction: copy or avoid that
behavior
Motivation: Motivation to perform
behavior (eg. rewards and punishments)
Examples of social learning = violence after boxing fights/children with a doll (treat them well
until they watch a video where they see adults fighting with them
→ Powerful mechanism for cultural transmission → over imitation, humans focus on copying
what they observe → the practice that is most effective is replicated and passed on.
Social Learning Theory and Ethical Leadership
Leadership ethics matter because unethical leadership damages trust and organizational health.
However, leadership has rarely focused on how leaders foster ethical conduct among followers.
Therefore, Brown (2005) proposes Social Learning Theory as a mechanism to explain how
leaders shape ethical behavior in followers.
3
, Social learning theory (Bandura): followers are more likely to behave in an ethical manner at
work when their leader demonstrates ethical behavior and attitudes and values as well.
❖ More ethical leaders = more ethical followers
❖ Leaders are powerful models because they have visibility, authority, and control over
rewards
Social Learning Theory as a Mediator
Leaders ethics (input) → followers observe, imitate (social learning) → followers ethical
behavior and outcomes (output).
Social learning is the mediating theoretical mechanism.
Method (Brown, 2005)
Brown created a 10-item Ethical Leadership Scale (ELS) to measure ethical leadership.
Study 1-6: scale development and validation
❖ Started with 48 items → narrowed to 10 key behaviors (eg. ‘listens to what employees
say’)
❖ Showed the scale was reliable and distinct from other types of leadership (e.g.
transformational)
Study 7: scale application
❖ Used the scale in a real organization
➢ Sample A: asked workers to rate their supervisors based on ethical leadership,
and leader honesty
➢ Sample B: asked workers to rate supervisor on idealize influence behavior
(charisma of leader)
4
Lecture & Articles Summary
,Lecture 1, Basis of Week 1
Black Box Mechanism: Theoretical Mechanisms
Earlier leadership research focused only on input → output relationships (Behaviorism) — what
leaders do (input) and what outcomes appear (output). But it ignored what happens in between
— the mechanisms (the “black box”) that explain how leader behavior translates into follower
or organizational outcomes.
What’s in the black box? Leader-focused research often directly links leader behaviors to
organizational outcomes (often related to followers), implicitly assuming a relationship of some
sort between leader’s and followers’ behaviors. However, such an approach often fails to
answer how, and why certain behaviors work.”
Opening the black box → identifying psychological or social processes that connect leader
actions to follower responses
Theoretical mechanisms: how and why leader’s
behaviors influence followers and outcomes. The
leader’s behavior does not directly produce the
outcome. It works through a mechanism that
shapes the follower’s reactions.
→ acts as a mediator
Moderator: variable changing the strength of a relationship between IV and DV
Mediation: the explanatory variable, explaining the relationship between IV and DV
2
,Lecture 1, Article 1 (Brown, 2005)
Social Learning Theory
Social Learning Theory: We learn by observing and imitating other people’s behavior. People
can learn new information and behaviors by watching other people. This is known as
observational learning or learning from observing a role model.
2 types:
1. Inhibition: You see someone else do something but you see a negative consequence so
you avoid doing that
2. Disinhibition: You observe somebody else engaging in behavior that goes well for them
so your inhibited behavior becomes disinhibited (previously restrained behavior turns
into something you would like to do).
Attention: notice nice behaviors of
others (they may be role models, eg.
leaders)
Retention: remember the behavior
Reproduction: copy or avoid that
behavior
Motivation: Motivation to perform
behavior (eg. rewards and punishments)
Examples of social learning = violence after boxing fights/children with a doll (treat them well
until they watch a video where they see adults fighting with them
→ Powerful mechanism for cultural transmission → over imitation, humans focus on copying
what they observe → the practice that is most effective is replicated and passed on.
Social Learning Theory and Ethical Leadership
Leadership ethics matter because unethical leadership damages trust and organizational health.
However, leadership has rarely focused on how leaders foster ethical conduct among followers.
Therefore, Brown (2005) proposes Social Learning Theory as a mechanism to explain how
leaders shape ethical behavior in followers.
3
, Social learning theory (Bandura): followers are more likely to behave in an ethical manner at
work when their leader demonstrates ethical behavior and attitudes and values as well.
❖ More ethical leaders = more ethical followers
❖ Leaders are powerful models because they have visibility, authority, and control over
rewards
Social Learning Theory as a Mediator
Leaders ethics (input) → followers observe, imitate (social learning) → followers ethical
behavior and outcomes (output).
Social learning is the mediating theoretical mechanism.
Method (Brown, 2005)
Brown created a 10-item Ethical Leadership Scale (ELS) to measure ethical leadership.
Study 1-6: scale development and validation
❖ Started with 48 items → narrowed to 10 key behaviors (eg. ‘listens to what employees
say’)
❖ Showed the scale was reliable and distinct from other types of leadership (e.g.
transformational)
Study 7: scale application
❖ Used the scale in a real organization
➢ Sample A: asked workers to rate their supervisors based on ethical leadership,
and leader honesty
➢ Sample B: asked workers to rate supervisor on idealize influence behavior
(charisma of leader)
4
