International Journal of Sport Management

Examining the Relationship Between Ethical Leadership and Moral Judgments of Sport Managers

Andrew Rudd, Sarah Stokowski

Abstract: The frequency of unethical behavior in the sport milieu has led to calls for improved ethical leadership and fostering of stronger ethical climates. However, to date, little is known empirically concerning the influences of ethical leadership and ethical climate on ethical outcomes among sport organization subordinates. As a result, a study was conducted to assess the influence of ethical leadership and ethical climate on the moral judgments of sport organization employees. In addition, we examined the relationship between ethical leadership and ethical climate as well as the mediating effect of ethical climate between ethical leadership and moral judgment. The results showed that ethical leadership had almost no relationship with moral judgment. However, ethical leadership was related positively to ethical climate and ethical climate was related positively to moral judgment. Lastly, ethical climate mediated the relationship between ethical leadership and moral judgment. The potential reasons for these relationships are discussed.

Citation: Rudd, A., & Stokowski, S. (2021). Examining the relationship between ethical leadership and moral judgments of sport managers. International Journal of Sport Management, 22(3), 197-220.

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