Ideals Versus Actual Practice of Ethical Leadership: A Case Study Analysis of Public Sector Organizations in Pakistan

Abstract

Ethical leadership has gained much attention after several high-profile failures such as Enron and Worldcom. However, most studies have been conducted in Western contexts. Ethical leadership in Muslim countries, including Pakistan, is understudied. The present study aimed to explore the perceived ideals of ethical leadership held by employees working in a public sector organization in Pakistan and the extent to which these ideals manifest in practice. Using the single case of a public sector firm as the basis for our research methodology, collecting data through 38 semi-structured interviews, and analysing using open, axial and selective coding, we revealed that employees idealize accountability, fairness, honesty and people orientation are the key features of ethical leadership. However, the manifestation of these features is often absent from the leaders’ behaviours, actions and decisions. The findings carry important implications for policymakers in Pakistan and elsewhere that can help them curb managers’ unethical behaviours similar to the case study organizations.