This paper examines cultural and leadership variables associated with corporate social responsibility values that managers apply to their decision-making. In this longitudinal study, we analyze data from 561 firms located in 15 countries on five continents to illustrate how the cultural dimensions of institutional collectivism and power distance predict social responsibility values on the part of top management team members. CEO visionary leadership and integrity were also uniquely predictive of such values.

This study sets out to test the assumption that concepts of leadership differ as a function of cultural differences in Europe and to identify dimensions which describe differences in leadership concepts across European countries. Middle‐level managers (N = 6052) from 22 European countries rated 112 questionnaire items containing descriptions of leadership traits and behaviours. For each attribute respondents rated how well it fits their concept of an outstanding business leader. The findings support the assumption that leadership concepts are culturally endorsed. Specifically, clusters of European countries which share similar cultural values according to prior cross‐cultural research (Ronen & Shenkar, 1985), also share similar leadership concepts. The leadership prototypicality dimensions found are highly correlated with cultural dimensions reported in a comprehensive cross‐cultural study of contemporary Europe (Smith, Dugan, & Trompenaars, 1996). The ordering of countries on the leadership dimensions is considered a useful tool with which to model differences between leadership concepts of different cultural origin in Europe. Practical implications for cross‐cultural management, both in European and non‐European settings, are discussed.

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Modern theories of leadership emphasize cognitive interaction between leaders and followers. Experience shows that the right personality, the correct behaviour or an appropriate situation for leading are not enough; successful leader performance depends to a large extent on how the leader is accepted by his or her followers. That is why the study of implicit leadership theories that determine these perceptions is important. Implicit leadership theories can be considered as cognitive schemata or prototypes that enable a person to categorize the behaviour of the leader. In the present study, the implicit theories of Eastern and Western middle managers are compared. Results show similarities and differences in the prototypicality rating of 21 leadership behaviours perceived by Eastern and Western managers. Possible influences of cultural differences due to the different historical development of these regions are indicated. The implications of the results for selection and development of leaders are discussed.