Explanation Ethical Leadership Components in Islamic Republic of Iran's Defense Industry Organization with a Qualitative Approach

The purpose of the present study is to introduce those characteristics of ethical leaders. This research uses an interpretive philosophy, a qualitative approach, and a grounded strategy based on Glaser’s emergent approach. The study population was the Defense Industries Organization of the Islamic Republic of Iran. In addition, comprehensive interviews were conducted with 22 senior and ethical managers of the organization who were knowledgeable about the components and characteristics of ethical leaders. The sampling method was based on snowball sampling. Since the data were collected using interview method, the data analysis method was based on the Glaser’s coding method, and the results of interview analysis and coding in two stages of actual and theoretical coding showed that ethical leadership components included religiosity, ethical personality, being revolutionary and having analytical insights. Each of these components comprises categories that totaled 4 components, 43 categories, and 698 concepts. Overall, considering the ethical leadership components in this indigenous study, ethical leaders in this organization have characteristics that encourage Defense Industries Organization executives to achieve these benchmarks to cope with enemy threats as well as international and economic constraints and attain organizational excellence as well as modernization and transformation in the organization so that they can drive organization employees toward organizational goals with better motivation and more efforts.