Title: Ethical leadership, public service motivation, and organisational citizenship behaviours in Vietnam: a mediated model

Authors: Nguyen Thi Quynh Trang; Lê Đình Minh Trí; Alăng Thớ

Addresses: University of Economics and Law, Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam; International University, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam ' Office of Graduate Affairs, Marketing Department, School of Business, International University, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam ' Marketing Department, School of Business, International University, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Abstract: This study investigates how each dimension of public service motivation (PSM) mediates the relationship between ethical leadership and specific types of organisational citizenship behaviour in Vietnamese public organisations. Applying structural equation modelling analysis with SmartPLS to a sample of 636 valid responses, we find that compassion and self-sacrifice mediate the link between ethical leadership and individual-directed citizenship behaviours (OCBI), whereas commitment to public values mediates the link between ethical leadership and organisation-directed citizenship behaviours (OCBO). Moreover, whereas attraction to public service and commitment to public values directly predict OCBO, compassion and self-sacrifice predict OCBI. This study also establishes a positive association between ethical leadership and all dimensions of the PSM construct. Our findings not only shed new light on the PSM construct but also offer actionable insights for human resource management in the public sector, highlighting the critical importance of ethical leadership in fostering a motivated and engaged workforce.

Keywords: compassion; ethical leadership; organisational citizenship behaviours; OCBs; public service attraction; public values commitment; self-sacrifice; Vietnam.

DOI: 10.1504/JIBED.2025.148647

Journal for International Business and Entrepreneurship Development, 2025 Vol.17 No.1, pp.87 - 111

Received: 04 Mar 2025
Accepted: 04 Apr 2025
Published online: 17 Sep 2025 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article