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Harnessing Transformational Leadership to Curb Unethical Pro-Group Behavior: Roles of Group Potency and Leader–Organization Fit

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 January 2026

Mingyun Huai
Affiliation:
Harbin Institute of Technology, China
Xingyu Pang*
Affiliation:
East China University of Science and Technology, China
Lida L. Zhang
Affiliation:
University of Macau, China
Jiping Li
Affiliation:
Frankfurt School of Finance & Management, Germany
Long W. Lam
Affiliation:
University of Macau, China
*
Corresponding author: Xingyu Pang; Email: pxy631@tongji.edu.cn

Abstract

Previous research mainly emphasizes relational factors that drive employees to engage in unethical behaviors to benefit their group, overlooking the role of ability-related mechanisms. However, understanding the ability-related mechanisms not only deepens our insight into unethical pro-group behaviors but also informs effective strategies for reducing such behaviors. Drawing upon social cognitive theory, we propose that employees who perceive low group potency are more likely to engage in unethical pro-group behaviors. In this regard, transformational leadership can reduce these unethical behaviors by increasing employees’ perception of group potency. Furthermore, we suggest that this effect is particularly salient when employees perceive a high leader–organization fit. We conducted an experiment and a multi-source, multi-wave field study to empirically test this theoretical model. Our research contributes to the literature on behavioral ethics and transformational leadership and provides practical implications for reducing unethical pro-group behaviors in the workplace.

摘要

摘要

针对员工亲团队不道德行为, 现有研究多聚焦于关系性因素的影响, 而较少关注与能力相关的机制。然而, 对能力相关机制的探讨不仅能深化对其前因的理解, 也能为制定干预策略提供新视角。基于社会认知理论, 本文提出, 当员工感知到较低的群体效能时, 更可能采取亲团队不道德行为; 而变革型领导能够通过提升员工群体效能感知来减少此类行为。此外, 在员工感知到较高的领导—组织匹配时, 变革型领导的影响更为显著。通过一项实验研究以及一项多来源、三阶段的问卷调查研究, 本文系统验证了上述理论模型。此研究不仅丰富了行为伦理与变革型领导相关领域的文献, 也为在工作场所减少员工亲团队不道德行为提供了实践启示。

Information

Type
Article
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2026. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of International Association for Chinese Management Research.

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