Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to identify and discuss the concept of responsible leadership, find some dimensions and understand how staff in organizations make sense of this style of leadership. Design/methodology/approach – Multiple exploratory case studies in six Portuguese organizations were performed. As data-collecting instruments, several interviews and documentary analysis were used. Findings – The authors found four dimensions associated with responsible leadership in the organizations studied here: aggregate of virtues; stakeholder involvement; model of leader’s roles; and principles and ethical values. These organizations integrate relationships which seek human well-being, institutions of reference considered good examples to work in and where the best of human nature is stressed. In particular, the modus operandi of their responsible leadership implants dynamics which lead to the development of individuals’ strengths, resilience and vitality. Practical/implications – The emphasis of this leadership style points mainly to the existence of modern leaders with an integrating, holistic view of stakeholders where the focus is on carrying out their various roles where virtuousness and ethical values play a determinant role. Interpersonal relationships, ethical principles regarding the environment, peers and the community were also practices identified as associated with responsible leadership. Originality/value – The study contributes to advancing theory in the field of leadership and presents a new framework (dimensions) about responsible leadership. The study is also innovative because contributes to more knowledge about organizations that follow a responsible style of leadership, and in so doing form consistent practices that can represent benchmarking for other organizational structures, even taking into account the natural idiosyncrasies inherent in the Portuguese organizational and business sector.

Purpose This paper aims to identify and discuss the concept of servant leadership, find some dimensions and understand how staffs in organizations make sense of this style of leadership. Design/methodology/approach Multiple exploratory case studies in six Portuguese organizations/firms were performed. As data-collecting instruments, several interviews, direct observations made on-site and documentary analysis were used. Findings From thematic analysis, the authors found nine dimensions associated with servant leadership in the organizations/firms studied: empowering, helping subordinates grow and succeed, putting subordinates first, ethical behaviour, altruistic calling, wisdom or vision, organizational stewardship, family atmosphere and identification with the leader. Practical implications Based on these dimensions identified, the authors constructed an analytical framework for servant leadership. This study contributes to theoretical development by integrating the servant leadership literature and organizational behaviour literature and should help servant leadership gain legitimacy as an important and relevant leadership theory. Originality/value This study is innovative because contributes to knowledge about organizations that follow a servant style of leadership, and in so doing form consistent dimensions that can represent benchmarking for other organizational structures.

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Resumo: O objetivo deste trabalho é estudar a influência das redes sociais na aprendizagem organizacional. Um estudo qualitativoestudo de caso simples -foi utilizado para recolher dados através de entrevistas presenciais com os membros-chave, mais envolvidos numa sucursal de um Banco Português. Os dados foram analisados com uma abordagem qualitativa: análise de conteúdo. Os resultados enfatizam o impacto das redes sociais, a força dos laços e amizade na aprendizagem organizacional. A partir das evidências empíricas, podemos concluir que a administração e os diretores de topo a nível organizacional precisam prestar maior atenção às redes sociais em que ocorrem os esforços de transferência de conhecimento. Recursos trocados e desenvolvidos através de interações sociais devem ser concebidos para aumentar os fluxos de conhecimentos entre os colaboradores. Finalmente, este artigo associa os dois corpos de pesquisa, muitas vezes estudados separadamente na investigação organizacional: literatura em redes sociais e a aprendizagem organizacional. Espera-se que o trabalho contribua para uma fertilização cruzada dos dois campos.Palavras-chave: redes sociais, aprendizagem organizacional, conhecimento, liderança, estudo de caso.Abstract: The purpose of this paper is to study the influence of social networks on organizational learning. A qualitative studysimple case study -was used to collect data, via face-to-face interviews with key members that are the most involved in a Portuguese Bank. Data were analyzed with a qualitative technique based: content analysis. Results emphasize the impact of social networks, strength of ties and friendship on organizational learning. From the empirical evidences, we conclude that top management and directors at an organizational level need to pay careful attention to the social networks within which knowledge transfer efforts occur. Resources exchanged developed through social interactions must be designed to increase knowledge flows between collaborators. Finally, the paper links two bodies of research often studied separately in organizational research: literature on social networks and that on organizational learning. It is hoped that the paper contributes to a cross-fertilization of the two fields.