Too Much of a Good Thing? The Curvilinear Effect of Responsible Leadership on Unethical Pro-Organizational Behavior in Projects

This study examines the curvilinear relationship between responsible leadership and project members’ unethical pro-organizational behavior in construction projects through the lens of social information processing theory. Analyzing data from 481 Chinese construction project members, this study found a U-shaped relationship between responsible leadership and unethical pro-organizational behavior, mediated by moral disengagement. Communication quality strengthens this curvilinear relationship, while the moderation effect of regulatory uncertainty is not significant. This study contributes to project management literature by exploring a stakeholder-oriented leadership approach and offers practical guidance for calibrating leadership approaches to effectively balance stakeholder interests with project objectives.