Ethical leadership and change: A qualitative comparative case study in selected Malaysian transformed schools

Leaders’ ethical behaviours and conducts are prerequisites for an effective change. The purpose of this qualitative comparative case study was to explore ethical leadership practices in selected transformed schools from Selangor, Malaysia. Two schools (a primary school and a secondary school) were selected as study sites. Data were collected through interviews, observations, and document reviews. Interviews were conducted with 28 participants including school heads (2), school administrators (3 + 3 = 6) and schoolteachers (10 + 10 = 20) selected from both schools using purposive sampling. The constant comparative analysis method was used to analyse the data. Analysis revealed demonstration of friendly and trusting relationships, openness to school members, professional commitment, acting as role model, and warranting ethically appropriate conducts as important ethical leadership practices. This study has value for policy and practice pertaining to school transformation; the implications, strengths and limitations of the study and recommendations for future research have been discussed as well