Assignment Prompt & Instructions
There are two assignments in this post, purpose of statement and review of literature
– ## ReviewofLiteratureandAnnotationsofSources.docx
– ## Researchtopicmodule1.docx
– ## PurposeStatement.docx
**## ReviewofLiteratureandAnnotationsofSources.docx**
Review of Literature and Annotations of Sources [due Sept. 5]
·
**Due** Friday by 11:59pm
·
**Points** 70
·
**Submitting** a file upload
·
**Available** Aug 21 at 12am – Sep 10 at 11:59pm
**First**
**Project Prospectus Context:** For Applied Project Prospectus, you will start collecting research through the library on your topic. Refer back to the Topic and Outline assignment. This assignment will provide sources for the
**knowledge areas** and possible problem. For the assignment, you will collect sources (minimum of 5 each) on the three knowledge areas and annotate them. This evidence collection and annotation will help to draft the Review of Literature. Refer to the
**🛑** [**Applied Project Prospectus.**](https://asu.instructure.com/courses/227852/pages/applied-project-prospectus)
**Purpose:** Identify sources for the Project Prospectus and provide an annotation
**Task:** Identify sources for the problem and knowledge areas. You will only provide the annotations for the knowledge areas.
**Organize by knowledge areas.**
1. Identify 3 knowledge areas. *These should be the ones identified in the Brainstorm Topic assignment. These knowledge areas should be broad!
2. Identify 5 sources to support each knowledge area for a total of 15.
3. Provide the Reference (citation) in APA format with an annotation of each source.
**Second**
Use the annotations to
synthesize the sources for a review of literature that is required for the Project Prospectus.
**Purpose**: Accomplish
Course Outcome #3:
Produce a literature review.
**Task:** Write Review of Literature in APA style with a minimum of 15 peer-reviewed sources.
**Writing the Review of Literature:** All paragraphs should have a topic sentence (what the paragraph is about) to guide the reader. The evidence (citations- minimum of 5 per area) should support the topic sentence. Remember to Synthesize the information. This link may help:
[https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/conducting_research/research_overview/synthesizing_sources.htmlLinks to an external site.](https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/conducting_research/research_overview/synthesizing_sources.html)
**Sections to include:**
**Introduction**
Highlight the problem and introduce the Review of Literature with the knowledge areas.
**Knowledge area #: Add area**
Introduce the knowledge area, describe the knowledge area, synthesize the sources, explain how the knowledge area justifies your problem and/or approach. Describe how the knowledge area has been successfully executed in other organizations.
**Knowledge area #2: Add area**
Introduce the knowledge area, describe the knowledge area, synthesize the sources, explain how the knowledge area justifies your problem and/or approach. Describe how the knowledge area has been successfully executed in other organizations.
**Knowledge area #3: Add area**
Introduce the knowledge area, describe the knowledge area, synthesize the sources, explain how the knowledge area justifies your problem and/or approach. Describe how the knowledge area has been successfully executed in other organizations.
**Summary & Conclusions**
Summarize the key insights from the literature and how they relate to the problem at hand. Discuss any gaps in literature or areas that have not been fully explored. This can help justify the need for your applied project. Identify potential implications for organizational leadership practice.
**References**
Minimum of 15 in APA. Use hanging indent and alphabetical order.
**NOTE: the expectation is that each paragraph will have a minimum of 7 sentences.**
**Grading:** the introduction and summary & conclusions are worth 5 points each and the knowledge areas and references are worth 10 points each. Attach the annotated sources as an appendix. This is worth 20 points for a total grade of 70. The grading criteria: correct, complete, clear, organized, detail, style, and writing.
Rubric
**## Researchtopicmodule1.docx**
2
**The role of organizational culture in moderating the relationship between ethical leadership and employee decision-making in multinational corporations.**
Thaddeus Cain
Arizona State University
August 29, 2025
**The role of organizational culture in moderating the relationship between ethical leadership and employee decision-making in multinational corporations.**
**I. Introduction**
**Background and Significance of the Study**
Ethical leadership has become increasingly important in contemporary organizations, especially as ethical scandals continue to undermine trust and legitimacy across industries. Leaders are often viewed as role models who set the ethical tone, but their effectiveness depends heavily on the organizational culture in which they operate.
**Statement of the Problem**
Despite widespread recognition of the importance of ethical leadership, ethical scandals continue to erode stakeholder trust and damage organizational legitimacy. Prior research has primarily focused on identifying the traits and behaviors of ethical leaders, yet less is known about how organizational culture influences the effectiveness of those leadership practices. This study addresses the limited understanding of how organizational culture moderates the relationship between ethical leadership and employee decision-making.
**Purpose of the Study**
The purpose of this study is to examine how organizational culture shapes the impact of ethical leadership on employee decision-making within multinational corporations. By exploring this interaction, the study seeks to provide insight into how organizations can better align leadership development and cultural practices to promote ethical behavior at all levels.
**Research Questions**
1. How does ethical leadership influence employee decision-making?
2. In what ways does organizational culture strengthen or weaken the effects of ethical leadership?
3. What cultural characteristics foster the most effective alignment between ethical leadership and ethical decision-making?
**II. Literature Review**
**Knowledge Area 1: Leadership Theory/Approach**
Ethical leadership is grounded in theories of moral management, social learning, and transformational influence. Prior studies highlight behaviors such as fairness, integrity, and role-modeling. However, most of this literature treats leadership as an individual-level phenomenon, neglecting how organizational context shapes leader effectiveness.
**Knowledge Area 2: Organizational Context / Culture**
Organizational culture provides the norms, values, and practices that guide employee behavior. Culture can either reinforce or undermine ethical leadership. For example, cultures emphasizing short-term profit may weaken ethical influence, while values-based cultures amplify it. Current research has not fully examined these interactions, leaving a gap that this study will address.
**Knowledge Area 3: Outcomes / Dependent Variables**
Employee decision-making is a critical outcome of leadership and culture. Previous studies link ethical leadership to trust, reduced misconduct, and stronger ethical choices. However, measurement methods vary widely, and few studies integrate both leadership and cultural influences on decision-making.
**III. Conceptual Framework**
This study proposes a framework where ethical leadership influences employee decision-making, with organizational culture acting as a moderating variable. In supportive cultures, ethical leadership is expected to strongly promote ethical choices; in unsupportive cultures, its impact may be diminished.
**IV. Methodology (Preview)**
This study will adopt a mixed-methods design. Quantitative data will be collected through surveys measuring leadership style, cultural dimensions, and employee decision-making across multinational corporations. Qualitative data from interviews will provide deeper insight into cultural influences. The sample will include employees and managers across departments. Data will be analyzed using regression for moderation effects and thematic coding for qualitative responses.
**V. Implications**
Theoretically, the study will contribute to ethical leadership literature by integrating cultural moderators into existing frameworks. Practically, it will guide organizations in designing leadership development and cultural policies that reinforce ethical behavior. This can improve stakeholder trust and organizational legitimacy.
**VI. Conclusion**
This research will investigate how organizational culture moderates the relationship between ethical leadership and employee decision-making in multinational corporations. By addressing this gap, the study aims to provide both theoretical advancement and practical guidance for organizations committed to ethical leadership.
**## PurposeStatement.docx**
Purpose Statement & Research Questions [due Sept 5]
·
**Due** Friday by 11:59pm
·
**Points** 40
·
**Submitting** a file upload
·
**Available** Aug 21 at 12am – Sep 10 at 11:59pm
**NOTE: Refer to the Research Topic and Outline assignment for the research problem. Hopefully, you found sources. This assignment will cover the Purpose Statement & Scope; Project Context; Project Rationale; and Research Questions. Refer to the 🛑** [**Applied Project Prospectus.**](https://asu.instructure.com/courses/227852/pages/applied-project-prospectus)
**Purpose**: Identify the problem, purpose/scope, and research questions for the Project Prospectus
Refer to the research topic and outline as well as the review of literature
**Task:** provide the Headings and content:
**Purpose Statement and Scope (10 points)**
Purpose
Use this formula to draft your purpose statement: The purpose of this project is to [achieve what] in order to [solve/address what? E.g. leadership challenge or opportunity], contributing to [broader organizational outcome].
Scope
Describe the scope with the following information: inclusion/exclusion, and stakeholders.
**Project Context (10 points)**
Organizational Overview
Brief description of the organization (size, industry, structure). Need evidence (citations).
Industry and Sectors
Describe the industry and sectors and other relevant information needed to situate your project in a broader context. Need evidence (citations).
Project Trends
Describe the trends related to project (past, present, and projected). Need evidence (citations).
External Factors
Brief description of the external factors.(e.g., PESTLE, SWOT, or gap). Need evidence (citations).
Internal Factors
Describe the internal factors (e.g., culture, team dynamics, or leadership style). Need evidence (citations).
**Project Rationale (15 points)**
Problem Identification
Describe the
problem including support from citations. Background of the problem in the organization. NOTE: this should be the same problem in the purpose statement.
Problem Statement
Articulate the issue, why important, impact, and consequences if not addressed. Use support from citations. Be explicit: The problem addressed in this project is…
Rationale of Project
Detailed rationale that defines the leadership problem, its impact on the organization, and how addressing it will contribute to organizational goals. Use support from citations.
**Research Questions (5 points)**
Determine question type and draft 1-4 research questions based on the purpose of the project.
**Grading:** correctness, complete, clear, organized, detail, style, and writing.
————- Additional Guidelines for this assignment ——————–
Provide the following sections:
**1. Purpose Statement***
The purpose is the focus or aim of the project. The purpose will guide the entire prospectus! The purpose has the deliverable, leadership problem and larger outcome.
**Use the template:** **The purpose of this project is to [achieve what] in order to [solve/address what leadership challenge] contributing to [broader organizational outcome.]**
***NOTE: A clear purpose is essential to meet the criteria of the prospectus!**
**Let’s break down the purpose statement:**
· [achieve what]– you want to achieve the tangible output or practical application of something that you will deliver – called the deliverable. A deliverable is a project that you will complete in OGL593. Think about something tangible that will offer value to the organization. This deliverable should be able to address/solve the problem. For example, a Retention Plan or Training Curriculum.
· [solve/address what leadership challenge] – identify a leadership problem that the deliverable can solve. For example, let’s say you want to do a Retention Plan (the deliverable) because retention is a problem at ABC Organization. Retention is a problem, but it is not a leadership problem. You must go deeper. What leadership issue can cause employees to not stay (retention) at the organization? It could be leaders give unclear expectations or leaders do not engage employees. The problem could be ineffective leadership engagement causing retention issues. The leadership issue connects with a larger problem that a Retention Plan could help solve. NOTE: The problem will be expanded and you will need evidence to support the problem as we complete the prospectus.
· [broader organizational outcome] – what is the result of creating a Retention Plan to solve the problem of ineffective leadership engagement? It could be a growing organization.
**Putting it together:**
Example 1: The purpose of this project is to produce a Retention Plan in order to address the problem of ineffective leadership engagement causing a retention issue contributing to a growing organization at ABC.
Example 2: The purpose of this project is to create a Team Training Curriculum to address the problem of the lack of teamwork leading to missed deadlines in projects contributing to a productive organization.
NOTE: Keep the same deliverable and problem (use the same words) throughout the prospectus. This will help with alignment.
**2. Research Questions**
**Research Questions:** Provide 1-4 questions that you will ask and answer through your methodology. These questions flow from the purpose statement. These questions are not survey or interview questions.
Example 1: The purpose of this project is to produce a Retention Plan in order to address the problem of ineffective leadership engagement causing a retention issue contributing to a growing organization at ABC.
1. What specific leadership engagement practices are currently in place at ABC?
2. How do employees at ABC perceive the effectiveness of current leadership engagement?
3. What is the relationship between leadership engagement and employee retention at ABC?
4. What factors contribute to ineffective leadership engagement within ABC?
**3. Project Context**
**Project Context:** Provide a brief overview of organization and industry in your research. Possible participants? You will need citations as we progress.
Example 1; The organization is ABC. It is in the medical industry. The organization tests medical devices. The possible participants include employees in the special projects department. NOTE: You will provide more detail and need evidence on the organization as we complete the prospectus.
**4. Knowledge Areas**
**Identify 3 knowledge areas:** Identify three knowledge areas and how each one aligns with the purpose of the study. These are broad areas that you have been studying in organizational leadership. These knowledge areas will become the Literature Review.
Examples of Knowledge areas
Knowledge area 1:
**Leadership**
This area relates to the purpose on leadership retaining employees. Leadership theories and practices will be examined.
Knowledge area 2:
**Engagement**
This area relates to the leadership engagement on retaining employees.
Knowledge area 1:
**Organizational Culture**
This area relates to the culture in the organization that supports or does not support engagement of employees.
**5. Proposed Methodology**
**Proposed data to collect & data analysis:** Think about what data you need to collect and analyze to answer the research questions and complete the deliverable. Identify the method to collect data and how you plan to analyze the data. Do you have access to the information, and can you get approvals?
**Example 1** **on Methodology**
For this project, the methodology is qualitative using interviews of leaders of departments and their engagement practices. There are 7 leaders.
**## PurposeStatement.docx**
Purpose Statement & Research Questions [due Sept 5]
·
**Due** Friday by 11:59pm
·
**Points** 40
·
**Submitting** a file upload
·
**Available** Aug 21 at 12am – Sep 10 at 11:59pm
**NOTE: Refer to the Research Topic and Outline assignment for the research problem. Hopefully, you found sources. This assignment will cover the Purpose Statement & Scope; Project Context; Project Rationale; and Research Questions. Refer to the 🛑** [**Applied Project Prospectus.**](https://asu.instructure.com/courses/227852/pages/applied-project-prospectus)
**Purpose**: Identify the problem, purpose/scope, and research questions for the Project Prospectus
Refer to the research topic and outline as well as the review of literature
**Task:** provide the Headings and content:
**Purpose Statement and Scope (10 points)**
Purpose
Use this formula to draft your purpose statement: The purpose of this project is to [achieve what] in order to [solve/address what? E.g. leadership challenge or opportunity], contributing to [broader organizational outcome].
Scope
Describe the scope with the following information: inclusion/exclusion, and stakeholders.
**Project Context (10 points)**
Organizational Overview
Brief description of the organization (size, industry, structure). Need evidence (citations).
Industry and Sectors
Describe the industry and sectors and other relevant information needed to situate your project in a broader context. Need evidence (citations).
Project Trends
Describe the trends related to project (past, present, and projected). Need evidence (citations).
External Factors
Brief description of the external factors.(e.g., PESTLE, SWOT, or gap). Need evidence (citations).
Internal Factors
Describe the internal factors (e.g., culture, team dynamics, or leadership style). Need evidence (citations).
**Project Rationale (15 points)**
Problem Identification
Describe the
problem including support from citations. Background of the problem in the organization. NOTE: this should be the same problem in the purpose statement.
Problem Statement
Articulate the issue, why important, impact, and consequences if not addressed. Use support from citations. Be explicit: The problem addressed in this project is…
Rationale of Project
Detailed rationale that defines the leadership problem, its impact on the organization, and how addressing it will contribute to organizational goals. Use support from citations.
**Research Questions (5 points)**
Determine question type and draft 1-4 research questions based on the purpose of the project.
**Grading:** correctness, complete, clear, organized, detail, style, and writing.
————- Additional Guidelines for this assignment ——————–
Provide the following sections:
**1. Purpose Statement***
The purpose is the focus or aim of the project. The purpose will guide the entire prospectus! The purpose has the deliverable, leadership problem and larger outcome.
**Use the template:** **The purpose of this project is to [achieve what] in order to [solve/address what leadership challenge] contributing to [broader organizational outcome.]**
***NOTE: A clear purpose is essential to meet the criteria of the prospectus!**
**Let’s break down the purpose statement:**
· [achieve what]– you want to achieve the tangible output or practical application of something that you will deliver – called the deliverable. A deliverable is a project that you will complete in OGL593. Think about something tangible that will offer value to the organization. This deliverable should be able to address/solve the problem. For example, a Retention Plan or Training Curriculum.
· [solve/address what leadership challenge] – identify a leadership problem that the deliverable can solve. For example, let’s say you want to do a Retention Plan (the deliverable) because retention is a problem at ABC Organization. Retention is a problem, but it is not a leadership problem. You must go deeper. What leadership issue can cause employees to not stay (retention) at the organization? It could be leaders give unclear expectations or leaders do not engage employees. The problem could be ineffective leadership engagement causing retention issues. The leadership issue connects with a larger problem that a Retention Plan could help solve. NOTE: The problem will be expanded and you will need evidence to support the problem as we complete the prospectus.
· [broader organizational outcome] – what is the result of creating a Retention Plan to solve the problem of ineffective leadership engagement? It could be a growing organization.
**Putting it together:**
Example 1: The purpose of this project is to produce a Retention Plan in order to address the problem of ineffective leadership engagement causing a retention issue contributing to a growing organization at ABC.
Example 2: The purpose of this project is to create a Team Training Curriculum to address the problem of the lack of teamwork leading to missed deadlines in projects contributing to a productive organization.
NOTE: Keep the same deliverable and problem (use the same words) throughout the prospectus. This will help with alignment.
**2. Research Questions**
**Research Questions:** Provide 1-4 questions that you will ask and answer through your methodology. These questions flow from the purpose statement. These questions are not survey or interview questions.
Example 1: The purpose of this project is to produce a Retention Plan in order to address the problem of ineffective leadership engagement causing a retention issue contributing to a growing organization at ABC.
1. What specific leadership engagement practices are currently in place at ABC?
2. How do employees at ABC perceive the effectiveness of current leadership engagement?
3. What is the relationship between leadership engagement and employee retention at ABC?
4. What factors contribute to ineffective leadership engagement within ABC?
**3. Project Context**
**Project Context:** Provide a brief overview of organization and industry in your research. Possible participants? You will need citations as we progress.
Example 1; The organization is ABC. It is in the medical industry. The organization tests medical devices. The possible participants include employees in the special projects department. NOTE: You will provide more detail and need evidence on the organization as we complete the prospectus.
**4. Knowledge Areas**
**Identify 3 knowledge areas:** Identify three knowledge areas and how each one aligns with the purpose of the study. These are broad areas that you have been studying in organizational leadership. These knowledge areas will become the Literature Review.
Examples of Knowledge areas
Knowledge area 1:
**Leadership**
This area relates to the purpose on leadership retaining employees. Leadership theories and practices will be examined.
Knowledge area 2:
**Engagement**
This area relates to the leadership engagement on retaining employees.
Knowledge area 1:
**Organizational Culture**
This area relates to the culture in the organization that supports or does not support engagement of employees.
**5. Proposed Methodology**
**Proposed data to collect & data analysis:** Think about what data you need to collect and analyze to answer the research questions and complete the deliverable. Identify the method to collect data and how you plan to analyze the data. Do you have access to the information, and can you get approvals?
**Example 1** **on Methodology**
For this project, the methodology is qualitative using interviews of leaders of departments and their engagement practices. There are 7 leaders.
**## ReviewofLiteratureandAnnotationsofSources.docx**
Review of Literature and Annotations of Sources [due Sept. 5]
·
**Due** Friday by 11:59pm
·
**Points** 70
·
**Submitting** a file upload
·
**Available** Aug 21 at 12am – Sep 10 at 11:59pm
**First**
**Project Prospectus Context:** For Applied Project Prospectus, you will start collecting research through the library on your topic. Refer back to the Topic and Outline assignment. This assignment will provide sources for the
**knowledge areas** and possible problem. For the assignment, you will collect sources (minimum of 5 each) on the three knowledge areas and annotate them. This evidence collection and annotation will help to draft the Review of Literature. Refer to the
**🛑** [**Applied Project Prospectus.**](https://asu.instructure.com/courses/227852/pages/applied-project-prospectus)
**Purpose:** Identify sources for the Project Prospectus and provide an annotation
**Task:** Identify sources for the problem and knowledge areas. You will only provide the annotations for the knowledge areas.
**Organize by knowledge areas.**
1. Identify 3 knowledge areas. *These should be the ones identified in the Brainstorm Topic assignment. These knowledge areas should be broad!
2. Identify 5 sources to support each knowledge area for a total of 15.
3. Provide the Reference (citation) in APA format with an annotation of each source.
**Second**
Use the annotations to
synthesize the sources for a review of literature that is required for the Project Prospectus.
**Purpose**: Accomplish
Course Outcome #3:
Produce a literature review.
**Task:** Write Review of Literature in APA style with a minimum of 15 peer-reviewed sources.
**Writing the Review of Literature:** All paragraphs should have a topic sentence (what the paragraph is about) to guide the reader. The evidence (citations- minimum of 5 per area) should support the topic sentence. Remember to Synthesize the information. This link may help:
[https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/conducting_research/research_overview/synthesizing_sources.htmlLinks to an external site.](https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/conducting_research/research_overview/synthesizing_sources.html)
**Sections to include:**
**Introduction**
Highlight the problem and introduce the Review of Literature with the knowledge areas.
**Knowledge area #: Add area**
Introduce the knowledge area, describe the knowledge area, synthesize the sources, explain how the knowledge area justifies your problem and/or approach. Describe how the knowledge area has been successfully executed in other organizations.
**Knowledge area #2: Add area**
Introduce the knowledge area, describe the knowledge area, synthesize the sources, explain how the knowledge area justifies your problem and/or approach. Describe how the knowledge area has been successfully executed in other organizations.
**Knowledge area #3: Add area**
Introduce the knowledge area, describe the knowledge area, synthesize the sources, explain how the knowledge area justifies your problem and/or approach. Describe how the knowledge area has been successfully executed in other organizations.
**Summary & Conclusions**
Summarize the key insights from the literature and how they relate to the problem at hand. Discuss any gaps in literature or areas that have not been fully explored. This can help justify the need for your applied project. Identify potential implications for organizational leadership practice.
**References**
Minimum of 15 in APA. Use hanging indent and alphabetical order.
**NOTE: the expectation is that each paragraph will have a minimum of 7 sentences.**
**Grading:** the introduction and summary & conclusions are worth 5 points each and the knowledge areas and references are worth 10 points each. Attach the annotated sources as an appendix. This is worth 20 points for a total grade of 70. The grading criteria: correct, complete, clear, organized, detail, style, and writing.
Rubric
**## Researchtopicmodule1.docx**
2
**The role of organizational culture in moderating the relationship between ethical leadership and employee decision-making in multinational corporations.**
Thaddeus Cain
Arizona State University
August 29, 2025
**The role of organizational culture in moderating the relationship between ethical leadership and employee decision-making in multinational corporations.**
**I. Introduction**
**Background and Significance of the Study**
Ethical leadership has become increasingly important in contemporary organizations, especially as ethical scandals continue to undermine trust and legitimacy across industries. Leaders are often viewed as role models who set the ethical tone, but their effectiveness depends heavily on the organizational culture in which they operate.
**Statement of the Problem**
Despite widespread recognition of the importance of ethical leadership, ethical scandals continue to erode stakeholder trust and damage organizational legitimacy. Prior research has primarily focused on identifying the traits and behaviors of ethical leaders, yet less is known about how organizational culture influences the effectiveness of those leadership practices. This study addresses the limited understanding of how organizational culture moderates the relationship between ethical leadership and employee decision-making.
**Purpose of the Study**
The purpose of this study is to examine how organizational culture shapes the impact of ethical leadership on employee decision-making within multinational corporations. By exploring this interaction, the study seeks to provide insight into how organizations can better align leadership development and cultural practices to promote ethical behavior at all levels.
**Research Questions**
1. How does ethical leadership influence employee decision-making?
2. In what ways does organizational culture strengthen or weaken the effects of ethical leadership?
3. What cultural characteristics foster the most effective alignment between ethical leadership and ethical decision-making?
**II. Literature Review**
**Knowledge Area 1: Leadership Theory/Approach**
Ethical leadership is grounded in theories of moral management, social learning, and transformational influence. Prior studies highlight behaviors such as fairness, integrity, and role-modeling. However, most of this literature treats leadership as an individual-level phenomenon, neglecting how organizational context shapes leader effectiveness.
**Knowledge Area 2: Organizational Context / Culture**
Organizational culture provides the norms, values, and practices that guide employee behavior. Culture can either reinforce or undermine ethical leadership. For example, cultures emphasizing short-term profit may weaken ethical influence, while values-based cultures amplify it. Current research has not fully examined these interactions, leaving a gap that this study will address.
**Knowledge Area 3: Outcomes / Dependent Variables**
Employee decision-making is a critical outcome of leadership and culture. Previous studies link ethical leadership to trust, reduced misconduct, and stronger ethical choices. However, measurement methods vary widely, and few studies integrate both leadership and cultural influences on decision-making.
**III. Conceptual Framework**
This study proposes a framework where ethical leadership influences employee decision-making, with organizational culture acting as a moderating variable. In supportive cultures, ethical leadership is expected to strongly promote ethical choices; in unsupportive cultures, its impact may be diminished.
**IV. Methodology (Preview)**
This study will adopt a mixed-methods design. Quantitative data will be collected through surveys measuring leadership style, cultural dimensions, and employee decision-making across multinational corporations. Qualitative data from interviews will provide deeper insight into cultural influences. The sample will include employees and managers across departments. Data will be analyzed using regression for moderation effects and thematic coding for qualitative responses.
**V. Implications**
Theoretically, the study will contribute to ethical leadership literature by integrating cultural moderators into existing frameworks. Practically, it will guide organizations in designing leadership development and cultural policies that reinforce ethical behavior. This can improve stakeholder trust and organizational legitimacy.
**VI. Conclusion**
This research will investigate how organizational culture moderates the relationship between ethical leadership and employee decision-making in multinational corporations. By addressing this gap, the study aims to provide both theoretical advancement and practical guidance for organizations committed to ethical leadership.
**## PurposeStatement.docx**
Purpose Statement & Research Questions [due Sept 5]
·
**Due** Friday by 11:59pm
·
**Points** 40
·
**Submitting** a file upload
·
**Available** Aug 21 at 12am – Sep 10 at 11:59pm
**NOTE: Refer to the Research Topic and Outline assignment for the research problem. Hopefully, you found sources. This assignment will cover the Purpose Statement & Scope; Project Context; Project Rationale; and Research Questions. Refer to the 🛑** [**Applied Project Prospectus.**](https://asu.instructure.com/courses/227852/pages/applied-project-prospectus)
**Purpose**: Identify the problem, purpose/scope, and research questions for the Project Prospectus
Refer to the research topic and outline as well as the review of literature
**Task:** provide the Headings and content:
**Purpose Statement and Scope (10 points)**
Purpose
Use this formula to draft your purpose statement: The purpose of this project is to [achieve what] in order to [solve/address what? E.g. leadership challenge or opportunity], contributing to [broader organizational outcome].
Scope
Describe the scope with the following information: inclusion/exclusion, and stakeholders.
**Project Context (10 points)**
Organizational Overview
Brief description of the organization (size, industry, structure). Need evidence (citations).
Industry and Sectors
Describe the industry and sectors and other relevant information needed to situate your project in a broader context. Need evidence (citations).
Project Trends
Describe the trends related to project (past, present, and projected). Need evidence (citations).
External Factors
Brief description of the external factors.(e.g., PESTLE, SWOT, or gap). Need evidence (citations).
Internal Factors
Describe the internal factors (e.g., culture, team dynamics, or leadership style). Need evidence (citations).
**Project Rationale (15 points)**
Problem Identification
Describe the
problem including support from citations. Background of the problem in the organization. NOTE: this should be the same problem in the purpose statement.
Problem Statement
Articulate the issue, why important, impact, and consequences if not addressed. Use support from citations. Be explicit: The problem addressed in this project is…
Rationale of Project
Detailed rationale that defines the leadership problem, its impact on the organization, and how addressing it will contribute to organizational goals. Use support from citations.
**Research Questions (5 points)**
Determine question type and draft 1-4 research questions based on the purpose of the project.
**Grading:** correctness, complete, clear, organized, detail, style, and writing.
————- Additional Guidelines for this assignment ——————–
Provide the following sections:
**1. Purpose Statement***
The purpose is the focus or aim of the project. The purpose will guide the entire prospectus! The purpose has the deliverable, leadership problem and larger outcome.
**Use the template:** **The purpose of this project is to [achieve what] in order to [solve/address what leadership challenge] contributing to [broader organizational outcome.]**
***NOTE: A clear purpose is essential to meet the criteria of the prospectus!**
**Let’s break down the purpose statement:**
· [achieve what]– you want to achieve the tangible output or practical application of something that you will deliver – called the deliverable. A deliverable is a project that you will complete in OGL593. Think about something tangible that will offer value to the organization. This deliverable should be able to address/solve the problem. For example, a Retention Plan or Training Curriculum.
· [solve/address what leadership challenge] – identify a leadership problem that the deliverable can solve. For example, let’s say you want to do a Retention Plan (the deliverable) because retention is a problem at ABC Organization. Retention is a problem, but it is not a leadership problem. You must go deeper. What leadership issue can cause employees to not stay (retention) at the organization? It could be leaders give unclear expectations or leaders do not engage employees. The problem could be ineffective leadership engagement causing retention issues. The leadership issue connects with a larger problem that a Retention Plan could help solve. NOTE: The problem will be expanded and you will need evidence to support the problem as we complete the prospectus.
· [broader organizational outcome] – what is the result of creating a Retention Plan to solve the problem of ineffective leadership engagement? It could be a growing organization.
**Putting it together:**
Example 1: The purpose of this project is to produce a Retention Plan in order to address the problem of ineffective leadership engagement causing a retention issue contributing to a growing organization at ABC.
Example 2: The purpose of this project is to create a Team Training Curriculum to address the problem of the lack of teamwork leading to missed deadlines in projects contributing to a productive organization.
NOTE: Keep the same deliverable and problem (use the same words) throughout the prospectus. This will help with alignment.
**2. Research Questions**
**Research Questions:** Provide 1-4 questions that you will ask and answer through your methodology. These questions flow from the purpose statement. These questions are not survey or interview questions.
Example 1: The purpose of this project is to produce a Retention Plan in order to address the problem of ineffective leadership engagement causing a retention issue contributing to a growing organization at ABC.
1. What specific leadership engagement practices are currently in place at ABC?
2. How do employees at ABC perceive the effectiveness of current leadership engagement?
3. What is the relationship between leadership engagement and employee retention at ABC?
4. What factors contribute to ineffective leadership engagement within ABC?
**3. Project Context**
**Project Context:** Provide a brief overview of organization and industry in your research. Possible participants? You will need citations as we progress.
Example 1; The organization is ABC. It is in the medical industry. The organization tests medical devices. The possible participants include employees in the special projects department. NOTE: You will provide more detail and need evidence on the organization as we complete the prospectus.
**4. Knowledge Areas**
**Identify 3 knowledge areas:** Identify three knowledge areas and how each one aligns with the purpose of the study. These are broad areas that you have been studying in organizational leadership. These knowledge areas will become the Literature Review.
Examples of Knowledge areas
Knowledge area 1:
**Leadership**
This area relates to the purpose on leadership retaining employees. Leadership theories and practices will be examined.
Knowledge area 2:
**Engagement**
This area relates to the leadership engagement on retaining employees.
Knowledge area 1:
**Organizational Culture**
This area relates to the culture in the organization that supports or does not support engagement of employees.
**5. Proposed Methodology**
**Proposed data to collect & data analysis:** Think about what data you need to collect and analyze to answer the research questions and complete the deliverable. Identify the method to collect data and how you plan to analyze the data. Do you have access to the information, and can you get approvals?
**Example 1** **on Methodology**
For this project, the methodology is qualitative using interviews of leaders of departments and their engagement practices. There are 7 leaders.
**## ReviewofLiteratureandAnnotationsofSources.docx**
Review of Literature and Annotations of Sources [due Sept. 5]
·
**Due** Friday by 11:59pm
·
**Points** 70
·
**Submitting** a file upload
·
**Available** Aug 21 at 12am – Sep 10 at 11:59pm
**First**
**Project Prospectus Context:** For Applied Project Prospectus, you will start collecting research through the library on your topic. Refer back to the Topic and Outline assignment. This assignment will provide sources for the
**knowledge areas** and possible problem. For the assignment, you will collect sources (minimum of 5 each) on the three knowledge areas and annotate them. This evidence collection and annotation will help to draft the Review of Literature. Refer to the
**🛑** [**Applied Project Prospectus.**](https://asu.instructure.com/courses/227852/pages/applied-project-prospectus)
**Purpose:** Identify sources for the Project Prospectus and provide an annotation
**Task:** Identify sources for the problem and knowledge areas. You will only provide the annotations for the knowledge areas.
**Organize by knowledge areas.**
1. Identify 3 knowledge areas. *These should be the ones identified in the Brainstorm Topic assignment. These knowledge areas should be broad!
2. Identify 5 sources to support each knowledge area for a total of 15.
3. Provide the Reference (citation) in APA format with an annotation of each source.
**Second**
Use the annotations to
synthesize the sources for a review of literature that is required for the Project Prospectus.
**Purpose**: Accomplish
Course Outcome #3:
Produce a literature review.
**Task:** Write Review of Literature in APA style with a minimum of 15 peer-reviewed sources.
**Writing the Review of Literature:** All paragraphs should have a topic sentence (what the paragraph is about) to guide the reader. The evidence (citations- minimum of 5 per area) should support the topic sentence. Remember to Synthesize the information. This link may help:
[https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/conducting_research/research_overview/synthesizing_sources.htmlLinks to an external site.](https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/conducting_research/research_overview/synthesizing_sources.html)
**Sections to include:**
**Introduction**
Highlight the problem and introduce the Review of Literature with the knowledge areas.
**Knowledge area #: Add area**
Introduce the knowledge area, describe the knowledge area, synthesize the sources, explain how the knowledge area justifies your problem and/or approach. Describe how the knowledge area has been successfully executed in other organizations.
**Knowledge area #2: Add area**
Introduce the knowledge area, describe the knowledge area, synthesize the sources, explain how the knowledge area justifies your problem and/or approach. Describe how the knowledge area has been successfully executed in other organizations.
**Knowledge area #3: Add area**
Introduce the knowledge area, describe the knowledge area, synthesize the sources, explain how the knowledge area justifies your problem and/or approach. Describe how the knowledge area has been successfully executed in other organizations.
**Summary & Conclusions**
Summarize the key insights from the literature and how they relate to the problem at hand. Discuss any gaps in literature or areas that have not been fully explored. This can help justify the need for your applied project. Identify potential implications for organizational leadership practice.
**References**
Minimum of 15 in APA. Use hanging indent and alphabetical order.
**NOTE: the expectation is that each paragraph will have a minimum of 7 sentences.**
**Grading:** the introduction and summary & conclusions are worth 5 points each and the knowledge areas and references are worth 10 points each. Attach the annotated sources as an appendix. This is worth 20 points for a total grade of 70. The grading criteria: correct, complete, clear, organized, detail, style, and writing.
Rubric
**## Researchtopicmodule1.docx**
2
**The role of organizational culture in moderating the relationship between ethical leadership and employee decision-making in multinational corporations.**
Thaddeus Cain
Arizona State University
August 29, 2025
**The role of organizational culture in moderating the relationship between ethical leadership and employee decision-making in multinational corporations.**
**I. Introduction**
**Background and Significance of the Study**
Ethical leadership has become increasingly important in contemporary organizations, especially as ethical scandals continue to undermine trust and legitimacy across industries. Leaders are often viewed as role models who set the ethical tone, but their effectiveness depends heavily on the organizational culture in which they operate.
**Statement of the Problem**
Despite widespread recognition of the importance of ethical leadership, ethical scandals continue to erode stakeholder trust and damage organizational legitimacy. Prior research has primarily focused on identifying the traits and behaviors of ethical leaders, yet less is known about how organizational culture influences the effectiveness of those leadership practices. This study addresses the limited understanding of how organizational culture moderates the relationship between ethical leadership and employee decision-making.
**Purpose of the Study**
The purpose of this study is to examine how organizational culture shapes the impact of ethical leadership on employee decision-making within multinational corporations. By exploring this interaction, the study seeks to provide insight into how organizations can better align leadership development and cultural practices to promote ethical behavior at all levels.
**Research Questions**
1. How does ethical leadership influence employee decision-making?
2. In what ways does organizational culture strengthen or weaken the effects of ethical leadership?
3. What cultural characteristics foster the most effective alignment between ethical leadership and ethical decision-making?
**II. Literature Review**
**Knowledge Area 1: Leadership Theory/Approach**
Ethical leadership is grounded in theories of moral management, social learning, and transformational influence. Prior studies highlight behaviors such as fairness, integrity, and role-modeling. However, most of this literature treats leadership as an individual-level phenomenon, neglecting how organizational context shapes leader effectiveness.
**Knowledge Area 2: Organizational Context / Culture**
Organizational culture provides the norms, values, and practices that guide employee behavior. Culture can either reinforce or undermine ethical leadership. For example, cultures emphasizing short-term profit may weaken ethical influence, while values-based cultures amplify it. Current research has not fully examined these interactions, leaving a gap that this study will address.
**Knowledge Area 3: Outcomes / Dependent Variables**
Employee decision-making is a critical outcome of leadership and culture. Previous studies link ethical leadership to trust, reduced misconduct, and stronger ethical choices. However, measurement methods vary widely, and few studies integrate both leadership and cultural influences on decision-making.
**III. Conceptual Framework**
This study proposes a framework where ethical leadership influences employee decision-making, with organizational culture acting as a moderating variable. In supportive cultures, ethical leadership is expected to strongly promote ethical choices; in unsupportive cultures, its impact may be diminished.
**IV. Methodology (Preview)**
This study will adopt a mixed-methods design. Quantitative data will be collected through surveys measuring leadership style, cultural dimensions, and employee decision-making across multinational corporations. Qualitative data from interviews will provide deeper insight into cultural influences. The sample will include employees and managers across departments. Data will be analyzed using regression for moderation effects and thematic coding for qualitative responses.
**V. Implications**
Theoretically, the study will contribute to ethical leadership literature by integrating cultural moderators into existing frameworks. Practically, it will guide organizations in designing leadership development and cultural policies that reinforce ethical behavior. This can improve stakeholder trust and organizational legitimacy.
**VI. Conclusion**
This research will investigate how organizational culture moderates the relationship between ethical leadership and employee decision-making in multinational corporations. By addressing this gap, the study aims to provide both theoretical advancement and practical guidance for organizations committed to ethical leadership.
**## PurposeStatement.docx**
Purpose Statement & Research Questions [due Sept 5]
·
**Due** Friday by 11:59pm
·
**Points** 40
·
**Submitting** a file upload
·
**Available** Aug 21 at 12am – Sep 10 at 11:59pm
**NOTE: Refer to the Research Topic and Outline assignment for the research problem. Hopefully, you found sources. This assignment will cover the Purpose Statement & Scope; Project Context; Project Rationale; and Research Questions. Refer to the 🛑** [**Applied Project Prospectus.**](https://asu.instructure.com/courses/227852/pages/applied-project-prospectus)
**Purpose**: Identify the problem, purpose/scope, and research questions for the Project Prospectus
Refer to the research topic and outline as well as the review of literature
**Task:** provide the Headings and content:
**Purpose Statement and Scope (10 points)**
Purpose
Use this formula to draft your purpose statement: The purpose of this project is to [achieve what] in order to [solve/address what? E.g. leadership challenge or opportunity], contributing to [broader organizational outcome].
Scope
Describe the scope with the following information: inclusion/exclusion, and stakeholders.
**Project Context (10 points)**
Organizational Overview
Brief description of the organization (size, industry, structure). Need evidence (citations).
Industry and Sectors
Describe the industry and sectors and other relevant information needed to situate your project in a broader context. Need evidence (citations).
Project Trends
Describe the trends related to project (past, present, and projected). Need evidence (citations).
External Factors
Brief description of the external factors.(e.g., PESTLE, SWOT, or gap). Need evidence (citations).
Internal Factors
Describe the internal factors (e.g., culture, team dynamics, or leadership style). Need evidence (citations).
**Project Rationale (15 points)**
Problem Identification
Describe the
problem including support from citations. Background of the problem in the organization. NOTE: this should be the same problem in the purpose statement.
Problem Statement
Articulate the issue, why important, impact, and consequences if not addressed. Use support from citations. Be explicit: The problem addressed in this project is…
Rationale of Project
Detailed rationale that defines the leadership problem, its impact on the organization, and how addressing it will contribute to organizational goals. Use support from citations.
**Research Questions (5 points)**
Determine question type and draft 1-4 research questions based on the purpose of the project.
**Grading:** correctness, complete, clear, organized, detail, style, and writing.
————- Additional Guidelines for this assignment ——————–
Provide the following sections:
**1. Purpose Statement***
The purpose is the focus or aim of the project. The purpose will guide the entire prospectus! The purpose has the deliverable, leadership problem and larger outcome.
**Use the template:** **The purpose of this project is to [achieve what] in order to [solve/address what leadership challenge] contributing to [broader organizational outcome.]**
***NOTE: A clear purpose is essential to meet the criteria of the prospectus!**
**Let’s break down the purpose statement:**
· [achieve what]– you want to achieve the tangible output or practical application of something that you will deliver – called the deliverable. A deliverable is a project that you will complete in OGL593. Think about something tangible that will offer value to the organization. This deliverable should be able to address/solve the problem. For example, a Retention Plan or Training Curriculum.
· [solve/address what leadership challenge] – identify a leadership problem that the deliverable can solve. For example, let’s say you want to do a Retention Plan (the deliverable) because retention is a problem at ABC Organization. Retention is a problem, but it is not a leadership problem. You must go deeper. What leadership issue can cause employees to not stay (retention) at the organization? It could be leaders give unclear expectations or leaders do not engage employees. The problem could be ineffective leadership engagement causing retention issues. The leadership issue connects with a larger problem that a Retention Plan could help solve. NOTE: The problem will be expanded and you will need evidence to support the problem as we complete the prospectus.
· [broader organizational outcome] – what is the result of creating a Retention Plan to solve the problem of ineffective leadership engagement? It could be a growing organization.
**Putting it together:**
Example 1: The purpose of this project is to produce a Retention Plan in order to address the problem of ineffective leadership engagement causing a retention issue contributing to a growing organization at ABC.
Example 2: The purpose of this project is to create a Team Training Curriculum to address the problem of the lack of teamwork leading to missed deadlines in projects contributing to a productive organization.
NOTE: Keep the same deliverable and problem (use the same words) throughout the prospectus. This will help with alignment.
**2. Research Questions**
**Research Questions:** Provide 1-4 questions that you will ask and answer through your methodology. These questions flow from the purpose statement. These questions are not survey or interview questions.
Example 1: The purpose of this project is to produce a Retention Plan in order to address the problem of ineffective leadership engagement causing a retention issue contributing to a growing organization at ABC.
1. What specific leadership engagement practices are currently in place at ABC?
2. How do employees at ABC perceive the effectiveness of current leadership engagement?
3. What is the relationship between leadership engagement and employee retention at ABC?
4. What factors contribute to ineffective leadership engagement within ABC?
**3. Project Context**
**Project Context:** Provide a brief overview of organization and industry in your research. Possible participants? You will need citations as we progress.
Example 1; The organization is ABC. It is in the medical industry. The organization tests medical devices. The possible participants include employees in the special projects department. NOTE: You will provide more detail and need evidence on the organization as we complete the prospectus.
**4. Knowledge Areas**
**Identify 3 knowledge areas:** Identify three knowledge areas and how each one aligns with the purpose of the study. These are broad areas that you have been studying in organizational leadership. These knowledge areas will become the Literature Review.
Examples of Knowledge areas
Knowledge area 1:
**Leadership**
This area relates to the purpose on leadership retaining employees. Leadership theories and practices will be examined.
Knowledge area 2:
**Engagement**
This area relates to the leadership engagement on retaining employees.
Knowledge area 1:
**Organizational Culture**
This area relates to the culture in the organization that supports or does not support engagement of employees.
**5. Proposed Methodology**
**Proposed data to collect & data analysis:** Think about what data you need to collect and analyze to answer the research questions and complete the deliverable. Identify the method to collect data and how you plan to analyze the data. Do you have access to the information, and can you get approvals?
**Example 1** **on Methodology**
For this project, the methodology is qualitative using interviews of leaders of departments and their engagement practices. There are 7 leaders.
– 1
– 2
– 3