Stewardship theory is a theory that managers, left on their own, will act as responsible stewards of the assets and resources they control.[citation needed] Stewardship theorists assume that given a choice between self-serving behavior and pro-organizational behavior, a steward will place higher value on cooperation than defection. Stewards are assumed to be collectivists, pro-organizational, and trustworthy.[1]
In American politics, an example of the stewardship theory is where a president practices a governing style based on belief they have the duty to do whatever is necessary in national interest, unless prohibited by the U.S. Constitution.[2] The stewardship approach is often associated with Theodore Roosevelt,[3] who viewed the presidency as a "bully pulpit" of moral and political leadership.[4]