Ethical leadership and social responsibility in banana companies in Ecuador, province of El Oro

Abstract

Banana production in Ecuador is relevant for its contribution to the economy, employment levels and contribution to family income. The province of El Oro is the third province with the highest banana production. Therefore, it is proposed to characterize the ethical leadership and social responsibility of banana companies in the province of El Oro, to determine the decisional practice that leaders assume from the social responsibility of companies. The research is supported by the review of works published in magazines with specialized indexes, from primary and secondary sources that allow the research to be supported, where small and medium-sized companies provide information with the survey, which from a mixed approach, descriptive and deductive in nature, Results are presented in which ethical leadership is aligned with the personal and interpersonal behavior of the individuals who manage the banana production units and the bidirectional way they support decision making. Their social responsibility is evident in the exercise of good agricultural practices, where they are aligned in the generation of certifications imposed by law or by the negotiations carried out, however, the leaders emphasize the economic dimension within their management as part of their management. social responsibility, focusing attention on these internal economic aspects, downplaying the social dimension and further improving the environmental aspect. This limits the evolution towards comprehensive social responsibility, demonstrating the lack of action from responsible leadership.