Values, Moral Courage, and Bureaucracy: Navigating the Journey to Virtuous Leadership in Rules-Based Organizations

This book focuses on understanding values-based leadership in rules-based organizations. It assists leaders, whether they are Board Members, CEOs, Executives, or Middle to Lower Management, in understanding how to enact and embody values/virtues-based leadership. Of particular interest to readers are the discussions around primary data collected from participants at three levels of leadership in the military who responded to a vignette and interview. The results of the case study are used in conjunction with current trends or practices that are considered unethical and questionable behavior which undermine trust and integrity in organizations. By using a case study from the military, the highly codified rules-based organization illustrates the tensions, contradictions, and paradoxes that leaders face and provide a teachable moment for leaders in all industries the complexities in achieving virtue eudaimonia. In doing so, the book also illustrates the tension and complexities between an individual’s multiple subject positions, organizational rules and values, and the ability to have agency.

Kate Robinson is the founder and Director of CommuniKate Consulting. Her career has spanned leadership, consulting, and advisory roles and though specialized in change management and communication has shifted her expertise to turning complex research into meaningful and tangible insights with practical application. Kate is passionate about ethical and moral leadership and behaviors underpinned by positive virtuous culture. Kate has worked both nationally and internationally (Australia and the US) for top ASX-listed companies and notable not-for-profit national organizations at senior levels. She is an accomplished professional with extensive experience with C-level executives and an ability to communicate across all levels within an organization. In completing her Ph.D., Kate explored how values-based leadership increasingly challenges leaders in rules-based organizations. Kate’s research has appeared in leading journals such as the Journal of Business Ethics and has presented at notable international conferences (ICBEML and AOM). Her research has been developed into a seminar education and training video for the Australian Defence Force. Kate previously served seven years in the Royal Australian Air Force.