Title: Ethical leadership and ethical climate in the container shipping industry

Authors: Chin-Shan Lu; Szu-Yu Kuo; Yi-Tai Chiu

Addresses: Department of Logistics and Maritime Studies, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong ' Department of Transportation and Communication Management Science, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan City 701, Taiwan ' Department of Transportation and Communication Management Science, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan City 701, Taiwan

Abstract: This study examined ethical leadership and ethical climate in the container shipping context. Using data collected from 147 container shipping firms in Taiwan, exploratory factor analysis identified four dimensions underlying ethical climate attributes: rules, independent thinking, law and ethical code, and caring. Subsequent analysis indicated that respondent perceived the law and ethical code dimension to be performed higher than the rules, caring, and independent thinking dimensions in their employing organisations. A structural equation model was employed to examine the relationship between ethical leadership and ethical climate, and indicated that ethical leadership has a positive influence on ethical climate. Areas suggested for future research are presented in the final section of the paper.

Keywords: container shipping industry; ethical leadership; ethical climate; ethics; Taiwan; rules; independent thinking; law; ethical codes; caring; structural equation modelling; SEM.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSTL.2013.056834

International Journal of Shipping and Transport Logistics, 2013 Vol.5 No.6, pp.591 - 604

Received: 15 Oct 2012
Accepted: 12 Mar 2013

Published online: 28 Feb 2014 *

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