Business Ethics & Promoting Sustainable Social Initiatives (Leadership, Culture and Social Responsibility)

Abstract

The aim of this thesis is to investigate the impact of transformational, transactional, and laissez-faire (Full Range Leadership Theory) and authentic leadership styles on corporate social responsibility (CSR) and organizational culture as a mediator variable in the relationships between them. Data were collected from 254 respondents in 12 investment corporations in 4 industries (oil and gas, construction, telecommunications, and foods) in Erbil-Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Both the MLQ and ALQ scales were used, and the statistical appropriateness of the EFA was examined for testing the theoretical model and proving the reliability of the study constructs. Multiple and simple linear regression analysis with ANOVA analysis of variance techniques was applied to examine the study hypotheses and verify the relationships among leadership styles, CSR, and organizational culture. The study's findings revealed that most of the behaviors of transformational and authentic leadership have a positive effect on the dimensions of CSR as well as the dimensions of organizational culture.  Also, organizational culture dimensions showed a positive effect on the dimensions of CSR. While transactional leadership results showed most dimensions had a negative effect on the dimensions of CSR and a positive effect on the dimensions of organizational culture, laissez-faire results indicated a negative effect on all dimensions of CSR and a negative effect on all dimensions of organizational culture. The results of mediation indicated a partial mediation impact of organizational culture in the relationship between transformational and authentic leadership styles and CSR. Also, it was revealed that organizational culture had a full mediation in the relationship between transactional leadership, laissez-faire, and CSR. Lastly, the study concluded by offering several implications and recommendations for concerned parties and future research.