International Journal of Servant-Leadership
Abstract
The narrative case study presented in this article takes place in a Midwestern city with a population that exceeds one hundred thousand residents. The city has a long history of labor/management problems complicated by political corruption and professional inbreeding with regard to appointing city employees; from the lowest levels to the very top leadership positions. The resulting organizational culture has created a cadre of Good 01' Boys where politics rule over expertise, common sense, and ethical judgment. It is in this environment we introduce Bernie Russo, a fictitious character based on the real prototype of command and control leadership that exists the world over. In this article, and the accompanying analysis, Bernie Russo has finally advanced from firefighter to fire chief during a long career in the department. He has an extensive history of misbehavior during his tenure on the department, but most of his shenanigans have been covered up through influence peddling and political favors. He epitomizes a corrupt public official.
Recommended Citation
Miller, Randall and Flanagan, Peter J.
(2013)
"Bernie’s Truth: Introducing Servant-Leadership through a Case Study of Leadership’s Effect on Organizational Culture,"
International Journal of Servant-Leadership: Vol. 8, Article 26.
DOI: 10.33972/ijsl.151
Available at:
https://repository.gonzaga.edu/ijsl/vol8/iss1/26
Copyright Information
Copyright 2013 The Author(s). All rights reserved