Title: Workgroup and social inclusion through a blend of responsible leadership with universal-diverse orientation and virtual interaction

Authors: Omar Khalid Bhatti; Muhammad Irfan

Addresses: Istanbul Medipol University, Istanbul, Turkey; Integrated Transit Trade Management System (ITTMS-CAREC), Pakistan ' Project Management Unit, Central Asian Regional Economic Cooperation – Regions Improving Border Services (PMU – CAREC-RIBS), Pakistan

Abstract: The study is quantitative and exploratory, using a sample of 800 respondents from eight diverse organisations. A dual-staged moderated mediation model was conceptualised entailing regression and inter-group analysis. The study was aimed at determining the role of universal-diverse orientation and virtual interaction in fostering an inclusive climate in diverse organisations. The study found that in the overall ambit of responsible leadership, help might be taken from virtual interaction and universal-diverse orientation for fostering inclusion. The study found that inclusive climate mediated the relationship between responsible leadership and workgroup as well as social inclusion via a dual-staged moderated mediation model. In the first stage, universal-diverse orientation moderated the relationship between responsible leadership and inclusive climate. In the second stage, virtual interaction moderated the relations between inclusive climate and, workgroup and social inclusion. The study re-affirms that leaders need to embrace universal-diverse orientation and embed it in organisational policies. Virtual interaction should be encouraged in organisations to integrate differences of a diverse workforce and strengthen the inclusive climate for better workgroup and social inclusion.

Keywords: responsible leadership; CSR; inclusion; universal-diverse orientation; UDO; virtual-interaction; diversity; responsibility; workgroup; social-inclusion; inclusive-climate; moderated mediation.

DOI: 10.1504/IJWOE.2025.144492

International Journal of Work Organisation and Emotion, 2025 Vol.16 No.1, pp.31 - 57

Received: 10 Mar 2024
Accepted: 11 May 2024
Published online: 17 Feb 2025 *

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