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The Role of Leadership in Creating Virtuous and Compassionate Organizations: Narratives of Benevolent Leadership in an Anatolian Tiger

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Abstract

This study explores the role and potential of benevolent leadership in creating virtuous and compassionate organizations. A number of small and medium enterprises in Turkey, also called “The Anatolian Tigers”, have been experimenting with new ways of incorporating care and compassion at work. The study uses narrative inquiry to explore how benevolent leadership enhances collective performance and wellbeing in Anatolian Tigers. The paper reviews and integrates four streams of research associated with creating common good in organizations: Spirituality, morality, positivity, and community, and links each of these elements to creating virtuous and compassionate organizations through narrative inquiry. The paper proposes that benevolent leadership can contribute to the long-term health and sustainability of organizations through its four elements: spiritual depth, ethical sensitivity, positive engagement, and community responsiveness.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Norwich Business School, University of East Anglia, UEA London, 102 Middlesex Street, London, E1 7EZ, UK

    Fahri Karakas

  2. McGill University Desautels Faculty of Management, 1001 Sherbrooke Street West, Montreal, QC, H3A 1G5, Canada

    Emine Sarigollu

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  1. Fahri Karakas
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Correspondence to Fahri Karakas.

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Karakas, F., Sarigollu, E. The Role of Leadership in Creating Virtuous and Compassionate Organizations: Narratives of Benevolent Leadership in an Anatolian Tiger. J Bus Ethics 113, 663–678 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-013-1691-5

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