The purpose of this paper is to: (a) offer rationale for the importance of an increasingly important organizational management topic – the wisdom of top managers – what we call executive wisdom; (b) develop a theoretical framework for the construct, including core components and outcomes, and (c) provide implications for practice. The research in several related literatures is reviewed and synthesized to provide the foundation for the development of this theoretical framework. Applying the extant literature on wisdom to the specific context of a top-level business manager, we argue that there are four foundational characteristics of executive wisdom: (1) Knowledge, developed by prior learning and experience, (2) moral maturity, (3) reflective strategic decision-making, and (4) ability to manage uncertainty. Executives possessing such characteristics are: (a) able to make enlightened strategic judgments that are (b) implemented as principled actions. The effectiveness of such implementation is contingent upon, among other moderators, the executive's leadership skills. We view each of the characteristics as necessary but not sufficient to possess and benefit from executive wisdom. The principled actions undertaken by those possessing executive wisdom will, when compared to other executives, have a greater likelihood of leading to valued outcomes indicative of organizational effectiveness, including enhanced stakeholder trust and loyalty, reputational capital, and stronger financial and social performance. We believe that the main arguments developed in this paper will help improve managers’ understanding of how to become a wise executive and to realize the benefits of doing so. From a theory perspective, this paper adds to the growing body of literature in a new and increasingly valued area of research.

Te Ao Māori, or the Māori world, locates Māori philosophy, ethics and knowledge (wisdom) in a central role, and is therefore foundational to Māori thinking and practice. In this article, we present an example of pragmatic leadership, using the epistemological and ontological space of kaupapa Māori, a perspective that represents practice guided by the wisdom of Te Ao Māori. To do so, we draw from narrative shared by 22 Māori practitioners involved in leadership roles in a wide range of organisations to illustrate key features of Māori leadership practice. We argue that this approach offers a unique contribution and deeper understanding to the contemporary and instrumental representation of pragmatic leadership. Such a perspective allows researchers to explore leadership practices, particularly those that may be heavily influenced by culturally specific behaviours. In regards to practitioners, it provides foundation for innovative leadership practices grounded on giving weight to more deeply contextualised processes and relations. The consequences are widespread not only for researchers and practitioners of leadership, but also for a perception of indigenous leadership that is true to the indigenous logics in which they are grounded and reflective of good practice.

Typically most studies of individual employees perceptions of the work place adopt multiple regression models (ordinary least squares [OLS]) which ignore inherent clustering in their data. However, such an approach does not supply unbiased and accurate answers to research questions. This study intends to simulate three data alternatives – weighted, disaggregated (individual level), and aggregated (organizational level) using the OLS and multilevel models to compare the results of different research designs. To answer the research questions, the current study investigates the impact of individual and organizational factors on job satisfaction, using a 2000 USA National Partnership for Reinventing Government survey. This study presents the methodological misuse and measurement errors of the previous research and presents guidelines for future research.

This paper outlines a new approach to cultural awareness training, the Individual Differences Approach to Diversity Awareness (IDADA). IDADA is distinguished from other approaches in three ways: (a) it eliminates the need to characterise cultures, (b) it addresses unfair discrimination of any kind (e.g., weight, height, attractiveness), (c) it teaches employees to become aware of how their attitudes affect organisational performance, and (d) it focuses on job requirements. Initial evidence supports the validity of the model. The paper also introduces a new measure of diversity-openness called the Ideal Employee Inventory. Preliminary reliability and validity evidence for the measure is provided.

Both managers and the staff they supervise bring unconscious and unresolved personal issues into their relationships in the workplace. This phenomenon is called ‘transference’. Transference generally interferes with the positive working relationships that are essential to achieving organizational objectives. This article provides a conceptual framework for differentiating transference from other complex emotional interactions that can occur in the workplace as well as a set of clear action steps for how the manager can respond to transference constructively. Examples of both staff and manager transference are presented to illustrate how managers can detect and then respond effectively to transference. It is noted that managers are not psychotherapists; knowledge about transference should therefore be used with caution. It is a manager's job is to help staff to succeed with their work, not to help them resolve personal problems.

Behavioral integrity refers to the consistency of an individual's words and actions. This consistency facilitates trust. Nevertheless, an individual's behavioral integrity often changes, to various extents, with one's surroundings. This study employs social contracts and scenarios to examine the underlying behavioral assumptions made by a specific gender within definite contexts in Taiwan. This study demonstrates that gender differences exist in behavioral integrity with contextual variations. Males under conformity pressures in public possess higher behavioral integrity, but exhibit lower behavioral integrity in private under pressure to protect themselves. This knowledge helps improve understanding within organizations as well as workplace communication between genders.

Viewing organizational citizenship behavior (OCB) engagement from the time–cost perspective, this study not only investigates the direct effect of person–organization (P–O) fit on OCB but also examines the moderating effect of time evaluation on the effective magnitude of P–O fit on OCB. Specifically, I hypothesized that the positive relationship between P–O fit and OCB will be strengthened (weakened) if employees have a higher future- (present-) orientation time perspective. A sample of 262 bank financial specialists with supervisor-rated dependent variables is used to examine the hypothesized relationships. Research findings suggest that P–O fit can predict OCB engagement. I also found that time evaluation plays a moderating role in the relationship between P–O fit and OCB such that P–O fit will have a weaker predictive power if the employees have a higher present-orientation time perspective. The research results provide further understanding of why employees engage in OCB.