Exploring the Role of Responsible Leadership in Business and Industry

The study of responsible leadership is in infancy stage. There is a huge demand for further understanding on responsible leadership, but most responsible leadership dimensions remain under researched. According to a common understanding among researchers, responsible leadership addresses both the existing gap in leadership theory as well as its practical challenges. Research indicated the need for more lucidity to the definition of responsible leadership, the values and behaviors of responsible leaders, the drivers of responsible leadership, and who should be included in the network of leader-stakeholder relationships. This qualitative, descriptive research study explored the role of responsible leadership by seeking clarity into the above areas and developing concepts and paradigms for preventing unethical business practices, using responsible leadership and the development, and implementation of responsible leadership in business and industry. The research data were collected through an online questionnaire, via the Fluid Surveys website, filled by eight diverse community members and recorded telephone interviews with three business leaders and five MBA graduates. The data were coded axially into different themes and subthemes using Microsoft Excel software, and qualitative analysis techniques of keyword in context (KWIC) and word counts. This research did not attempt to come up with any definitive answers, but provided further insight and information on the emerging field of responsible leadership as a research interest.