Eli Retnowati, Anang Kistyanto, Dewie Tri Wijayati Wardoyo
Objective: This study examined the relationships between ethical leadership, organizational culture, organizational commitment, and employee performance, and tested the mediating role of organizational commitment. Methods and Materials: This quantitative cross-sectional study included 244 employees from six companies in East Java, Indonesia, selected through purposive sampling. Data were collected using a closed-ended questionnaire measuring ethical leadership, organizational culture, organizational commitment, and employee performance on a five-point Likert scale. Data were analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling with SmartPLS. The measurement model was assessed using outer loadings, Cronbach’s alpha, composite reliability, average variance extracted, HTMT, VIF, and cross-loadings. Structural paths and mediation effects were tested using bootstrapping with 5,000 resamples. Findings: The measurement model showed acceptable validity and reliability, with outer loadings >0.70, Cronbach’s alpha = 0.917–0.943, composite reliability = 0.935–0.954, AVE = 0.706–0.776, and HTMT <0.90. Ethical leadership and organizational culture explained 55.2% of organizational commitment variance, while ethical leadership, organizational culture, and organizational commitment explained 52.0% of employee performance variance. Ethical leadership predicted organizational commitment (β = 0.440, t = 8.401, p < 0.001) and employee performance (β = 0.221, t = 3.737, p < 0.001). Organizational culture predicted organizational commitment (β = 0.438, t = 8.794, p < 0.001) and employee performance (β = 0.296, t = 5.553, p < 0.001). Organizational commitment predicted employee performance (β = 0.332, t = 5.120, p < 0.001) and partially mediated both relationships. Conclusion: Ethical leadership and organizational culture were positively associated with employee performance directly and indirectly through organizational commitment. © 2026 the authors.
Universitas Negeri Surabaya, Universitas Sunan Giri Surabaya, Indonesia; Universitas Negeri Surabaya, Indonesia
