Abstract

GROBLER, Anton  and  JOUBERT, Yvonne T.. The relationship between hope and optimism, ethical leadership and person-organisation fit. S. Afr. j. econ. manag. sci. [online]. 2020, vol.23, n.1, pp.1-11. ISSN 2222-3436.  http://dx.doi.org/10.4102/sajems.v23i1.2872.

BACKGROUND: Ethical leadership is viewed as a challenge globally, with person-organisation fit, as well as hope and optimism, being regarded as an essential element of employee well-being and, ultimately, productivity. AIM: The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between the employees' perceived ethical leadership in the organisation and the employees' person-organisation fit, hope and optimism. SETTING: Employees of 30 organisations in South Africa were sampled and there were 1663 respondents. METHODS: A typical positivist methodology - based on an empirical approach, using a cross-sectional design and the quantitative analysis of the data obtained from the surveys - was utilised in this study. RESULTS: It was found that there is a strong, positive relationship between ethical leadership and hope and optimism (as a composite construct). It was further found that person-organisation fit mediates this relationship. CONCLUSION: Recommendations were made to enhance hope and optimism from an institutional (including human resources) as well as leadership level. Recommendations were also made for further research.

Keywords : Ethical leadership; Hope; Micro; meso; macro levels; Optimism; Person-organisation fit.

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