A quantitative analysis of ethical leadership character traits and moral cognition among chief financial officer (CFO) leadership teams

Much evidence underscores the proposition that sustained economic progress requires the stewardship of corporate leaders who recognize their dependence on customer loyalty and investor confidence in a market driven economy. Such awareness encourages decisions that balance individual short-term profit against long-term viability to support a mutually beneficial symbiotic role between corporations and local, national, and global economies. More evidence is required to define the underpinnings of ethical leadership required to steward corporations toward mutual beneficence. Since chief financial officer (CFO) leadership teams play a central role in the economic impact of corporations, the purpose of this exploratory correlational study was to examine a model of ethical leadership proposed by Henry among CFO leadership teams. A purposeful sample of 98 CFO team members completed the Defining Issues Test (DIT) assessment of moral cognition and the ethical leadership character traits (ELCT) survey. Pearson correlation and linear regression analyses were used to confirm significant associations linking DIT scores to 5 of 6 ELCT subscales; Purpose Driven, Courage of Conviction, Whole Person Approach, Succession Planning Abilities, and Emotional Intelligence. Additional analyses indicated that DIT scores were also significantly linked to leadership style, gender, and affiliation in professional organizations. The study can contribute to positive social change by informing the educational curricula of professional programs, corporate recruiting protocols, and continuing professional education to help train and select leaders who will contribute to sustained economic growth.