2007•Journal of Business and LeadershipOpen access

An Empirical Test of Stewardship Theory

James H. Davis, Steven A. Frankforter, David A. Vollrath, Vanessa Hill

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Abstract

This study tests the model of Davis, Schoorman, and Donaldson (1997) that proposed determinants of a company’s governance structure. In particular, we focus on the stewardship theory aspects of the model and its ability to predict the presence of a stewardship-orientation CEO at publicly listed U.S. companies. Using survey based data obtained from CEOs and directors of 100 companies in a match-pair design, we identified three variables that predicted the occurrence of stewardship-oriented behaviors by the company’s CEO. These results lend support for the model’s ability to predict the conditions under which stewardship-oriented individuals become CEOs.

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What this paper is about

This study tests the model of Davis, Schoorman, and Donaldson (1997) that proposed determinants of a company’s governance structure. In particular, we focus on the stewardship theory aspects of the model and its ability to predict the presence of a stewardship-orientation CEO at publicly listed U.S. companies. Using survey based data obtained from CEOs and directors of 100 companies in a match-pair design, we identified three variables that predicted the occurrence of stewardship-oriented behaviors by the company’s CEO. These results lend support for the model’s ability to predict the conditions under which stewardship-oriented individuals become CEOs.

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Available abstract

This study tests the model of Davis, Schoorman, and Donaldson (1997) that proposed determinants of a company’s governance structure. In particular, we focus on the stewardship theory aspects of the model and its ability to predict the presence of a stewardship-orientation CEO at publicly listed U.S. companies. Using survey based data obtained from CEOs and directors of 100 companies in a match-pair design, we identified three variables that predicted the occurrence of stewardship-oriented behaviors by the company’s CEO. These results lend support for the model’s ability to predict the conditions under which stewardship-oriented individuals become CEOs.

Key concepts: Stewardship (theology), Stewardship theory, Corporate governance, Test (biology), Business, Accounting, Empirical research, Management

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