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Journal of Business Economics

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01-10-2015 | Original Paper

New insights on CEO charisma attribution in companies of different sizes and ownership structure: the role of prior company performance

Authors: Björn Michaelis, Florian Kunze, Heike Bruch

Published in: Journal of Business Economics | Issue 7/2015

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Abstract

We extend theories on charismatic leadership by investigating the influence of prior company performance on subordinates’ attributions of chief executive officer (CEO) charisma within companies of different sizes and ownership structure. First, we use an experimental design to examine the effects of prior company performance on attributions of CEO charisma. Second, in a field study with 69 companies we replicate the experimental finding and show that this relationship is moderated by the size of the company such that the relationship between prior company performance and attributions of CEO charisma is significant only in large companies. We find no evidence, however, that the ownership structure of a company could strengthen or weaken this relationship.

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Journal of Business Economics

From January 2013, the Zeitschrift für Betriebswirtschaft (ZfB) is published in English under the title Journal of Business Economics (JBE). The Journal of Business Economics (JBE) aims at encouraging theoretical and applied research in the field of business economics and business administration, promoting the exchange of ideas between science and practice.

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Title: New insights on CEO charisma attribution in companies of different sizes and ownership structure: the role of prior company performance
Authors: Björn Michaelis
Florian Kunze
Heike Bruch
Publication date: 01-10-2015
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in: Journal of Business Economics / Issue 7/2015
Print ISSN: 0044-2372
Electronic ISSN: 1861-8928
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11573-014-0753-1

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