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Altruistic Leadership and Human-Centered Entrepreneurship: A Mediated Moderation Model

Author(s)

Wenhui Wang1,*, Chengkun Li2

Affiliation(s)

1Business School, Shandong Normal University, Jinan, China 2School of Information Science and Engineering, Shandong Normal University, Jinan, China *Corresponding Author

Abstract

Human - centered entrepreneurship, as a sustainable entrepreneurial paradigm that transcends mere profit orientation to integrate employee development with corporate growth, has emerged as a focal topic in both academic research and practical application. Building upon this concept, the present study shifts from a macro-level structural lens to a micro-level perspective of entrepreneurial leadership, examining how altruistic leadership shapes corporate performance. Grounded in social exchange theory and conservation of resources theory, this study proposes and empirically tests a mediated moderation model to elucidate the relationships among the key variables. Drawing on a case study of Dilu Company, it further employs process tracing and a Context–Mechanism–Outcome (CMO) framework to explore the specific pathways through which altruistic leadership fosters sustainable organizational performance. The findings indicate that altruistic leadership exerts a positive influence on sustainable performance, with organizational trust acting as a mediating factor. Moreover, environmental uncertainty strengthens this relationship, amplifying the positive effect of altruistic leadership in dynamic contexts. Through systematic theoretical deduction and qualitative analysis, this study elucidates the essence of humanistic entrepreneurship from a leadership perspective, highlighting the unique value of altruistic leadership in complex environments and offering actionable insights for entrepreneurs committed to human-centered principles.

Keywords

Humanistic Entrepreneurship; Altruistic Leadership; Organizational Trust; Environmental Uncertainty; Mediated Moderation Model

References

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