Ilomata International Journal of Management
Vol. 7 No. 3 (2026): July 2026

How Ethical Leadership Is Practiced in Public Bureaucracy: A Qualitative Inquiry

Jemi Pabisangan Tahirs (Universitas Kristen Indonesia Toraja)
Otto Randa Payangan (Universitas Hasanuddin)
Angelino Dos Santos (Universidade Nacional Timor Lorosa'e)
Muhammad Ichwan Musa (Universitas Negeri Makassar)
Yogi Hady Afrizal (Institut Teknologi dan Bisnis Kalla)



Article Info

Publish Date
24 Jul 2026

Abstract

This study explores how ethical leadership is practiced and experienced by senior bureaucratic leaders in Indonesian public institutions. Using a qualitative phenomenological approach, data were collected through in-depth interviews and document analysis involving eight experienced leaders from central and regional government organizations. The findings reveal three interrelated dimensions of ethical leadership: exemplary behavior, moral courage in high-risk decision-making, and relational justice toward subordinates, particularly in regulatory gray areas. These results suggest that ethical leadership is enacted as a contextually grounded and reflective moral practice, extending beyond formal compliance. The study highlights the relevance of integrating moral reasoning into leadership development while providing an experience-based perspective on ethical leadership in public administration.

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Journal Info

Abbrev

ijjm

Publisher

Subject

Social Sciences

Description

The analysis of this study aims to determine whether recruitment positive and significant effect on the performance of employees in the Manufacturing Company. To know able to moderate recruitment monitoring the performance of employees in the Manufacturing Company. Data analysis technique used is ...