Leadership and the significance of formalized organizational structures

2019 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 341-363
Author(s):  
Jan Gunter Langhof ◽  
Stefan Güldenberg
Keyword(s):  
Leadership Style ◽  
Organizational Structures ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Authoritarian Leadership ◽  
Red Tape ◽  
Leadership Research ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Practical Implications ◽  
Historical Examination

Purpose Management literature commonly suggests authoritarian leadership (AL) as the ideal leadership style during crises and extreme situations. This study aims to question this view, exploring servant leadership (SL) as an alternative. Design/methodology/approach In the field of leadership research, surveys and interviews are the most dominant research methods. In light of this dominance, this paper draws on a rather unorthodox research approach: a historical examination. Findings The elaborations in this paper suggest that SL exerts a higher influence on followers than AL, when organizational structures are absent or disregarded. Consequently, the higher influence of SL implies a lower need for regulations and directives within organizations. Practical implications Bureaucracy and red tape can be reduced. Particularly in situations of crises, SL’s relatively reduced reliance on formalized organizational structures can be advantageous to leaders. Originality/value The relationship among leadership (SL and AL) and formalized organizational structures is elaborated and illustrated in a historical examination.

Dual crossover mechanisms of benevolent supervision on followers' contextual performance and emotional exhaustion alleviation

2022 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ya-Ting Chuang ◽  
Hua-Ling Chiang ◽  
An-Pan Lin ◽  
Yung-Chih Lien
Keyword(s):  
Social Exchange ◽  
Leadership Style ◽  
Emotional Exhaustion ◽  
Contextual Performance ◽  
Conservation Of Resources ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Performance Orientation ◽  
Member Exchange ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Practical Implications

PurposeAdopting conservation of resources (COR) theory as a guiding framework, this study proposes that benevolent supervision (BS) is a feasible leadership style for building a positive resource gain process in subordinates' extra-role actions and reducing their exhaustion, and leader-member exchange (LMX) and positive affect (PA) serve as indirect crossover mechanisms.Design/methodology/approachSurveys were conducted at three-time points with four-week intervals. A total of 304 subordinates and 55 supervisors at a Taiwanese university participated in the surveys, and a multilevel model was used to test the hypotheses.FindingsThe results showed that prior BS (time 1) was positively associated with subordinates' subsequent LMX and PA (time 2). LMX mediated the relationship between BS and subsequent supervisor-rated contextual performance (time 3), and PA mediated the relationship between BS and subordinate-rated emotional exhaustion (time 3). In addition, supervisors' learning orientation positively moderated the relationship between BS and contextual performance via LMX, whereas supervisors' performance orientation negatively moderated this relationship.Practical implicationsThe results of the study encourage leaders to exhibit benevolence toward subordinates, increase subordinates' contextual performance and enhance personal feelings, thereby ultimately benefitting the organization.Originality/valueThis study reveals that BS is a source of resource investment in the process of subordinates' positive job (contextual performance) and personal (emotional exhaustion) resource gains through social exchange (LMX) and affective (PA) crossover mechanisms and that supervisors' goal inclinations impact this process.

The effect of leadership style on virtual team efficiency

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Leadership Styles ◽  
Leadership Style ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Virtual Team ◽  
Media Richness ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Mediating Role ◽  
Pertinent Information ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose This paper aims to review the latest management developments across the globe and pinpoint practical implications from cutting-edge research and case studies. Design/methodology/approach This briefing is prepared by an independent writer who adds their own impartial comments and places the articles in context. Findings The results show that trust and operational cohesion have a mediating role between leadership style and virtual team efficiency. Media richness is shown to moderate the relationship between leadership styles and trust. Transformational style has an important impact on operational cohesion when media richness is high while transactional leadership has a positive significant impact when it is low. Originality/value The briefing saves busy executives, strategists and researchers hours of reading time by selecting only the very best, most pertinent information and presenting it in a condensed and easy-to-digest format.

Feminine? Masculine? Androgynous leadership as a necessity in COVID-19

2020 ◽  
Vol 35 (7/8) ◽  
pp. 607-617
Author(s):  
Stacy Blake-Beard ◽  
Mary Shapiro ◽  
Cynthia Ingols
Keyword(s):  
Leadership Style ◽  
Health Care Systems ◽  
Leadership Skills ◽  
Leadership Traits ◽  
Political Leaders ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Care Systems ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore the relationship between leaders’ expressed traits and their impact on their country’s COVID-19 outcomes. Some leaders are over relying on masculine traits and dismissing feminine traits. An alternative – androgynous leadership – supports leaders in drawing from the full portfolio of behaviors. Design/methodology/approach This paper has a theoretical approach using an extensive review of the literature. Findings Leaders can take a number of actions to fully embrace androgynous leadership. These actions include building a diverse “tempered” team, communicating with respect, recognizing the impact of framing and moving from autopilot to realizing their best androgynous self. Research limitations/implications Research limitations include a critique of Bem’s framework as outdated and dichotomous; a categorization of feminine, masculine and neutral behaviors that is determined by the authors; and a focus on leadership style that does not take other dimensions, such as health-care systems, into account. Practical implications The authors propose that an “androgynous” leadership style has been used effectively by some political leaders around the globe in the COVID-19 crisis. The COVID-19 context has provided a laboratory for developing and building competence as androgynous leaders. Social implications The mental capacity to look at a situation, pause and explicitly select effective behavior is necessary, but oftentimes, it is not put into practice. By not drawing from a larger portfolio of androgynous behaviors, the opportunity for leaders to their best work is missed. Originality/value There is an acknowledgement of the benefits of the combination of masculine and feminine leadership traits. There are also clear recommendations supporting leaders in developing their androgynous leadership skills.

Effect of paternalistic leadership style on subordinate’s trust: an Indian study

2016 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 264-277 ◽  
Author(s):  
Preeti S. Rawat ◽  
Shiji Lyndon
Keyword(s):  
Leadership Style ◽  
Moral Leadership ◽  
Survey Method ◽  
Paternalistic Leadership ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Authoritarian Leadership ◽  
Team Efficacy ◽  
Indian Context ◽  
Practical Implications ◽  
Item Scale

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to study the effect of paternalistic leadership of the boss on the trust of the subordinate. Design/methodology/approach The present study adopted survey method to test the hypotheses. Paternalistic leadership style was measured by a 24-item scale developed by Cheng et al. (2004). Trust was measured by a four-item scale by Schoorman and Ballinger (2006). Data were collected from a sample of 253 respondents. Findings The results show that in India, paternalistic leadership style leads to subordinate trust. The result further found that though benevolent and moral leadership leads to trust, authoritarian leadership does not lead to formation of trust. Practical implications The study has important implications in areas like managing leader–member relations, leadership training and team efficacy. Originality/value Leadership researchers in Indian context have largely adopted etic approach which attempts to generalize Western leadership theory to Indian context. However, uncritical adaptation of techniques developed in Western context may not be effective in the Indian cultural environment. The concept of paternalistic leadership was developed in Chinese context, but as India scores high on paternalism, the present study uses the paternalistic leadership style to study its effect on subordinate’s trust on leader.

scholarly journals Learning and usefulness stemming from collaboration in a maritime crisis management exercise in Northern Norway

2018 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 129-140 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leif Inge Magnussen ◽  
Eric Carlstrøm ◽  
Jarle Løwe Sørensen ◽  
Glenn-Egil Torgersen ◽  
Erlend Fritjof Hagenes ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mixed Methods Research ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Emergency Personnel ◽  
Training Schemes ◽  
Learning And Collaboration ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose This research investigates the perceived collaboration between public, private, and volunteer organisations during maritime crisis work, with an emphasis on learning and collaboration. The purpose of this paper is to investigate participants’ perceived collaboration training in relation to learning and usefulness. Design/methodology/approach The exercise studied in this research was run in the far North in Norway. It was estimated by the participants to be Europe’s most extensive exercise in 2016. Mixed methods research approach was applied, i.e. on-site observations, photos and interviews were conducted during the exercise. After the exercise, an online survey was distributed to emergency personnel holding different positions in conjunction with this exercise. Findings As reported, the exercise contributed to new insights on the relationship between collaboration and learning. The study showed that collaborative elements in exercises contribute to perceived learning (R=0.86, R2=0.74), and that learning in turn had a perceived beneficial effect on actual emergency work (R=0.79, R2=0.62). Research limitations/implications The possible research implications from this study include more focus on collaboration and new training schemes that could increase learning and usefulness. Practical implications Collaboration between actors seemed to suffer from the size of the exercise. A smaller exercise, less dependency on predetermined scripts, and more receptivity towards improvisation could improve collaboration. Social implications Increased awareness on the outcomes of collaboration exercise might increase their learning and usefulness, providing societies with improved rescue services. Originality/value This research implies that increased perceived collaboration has an effect on learning and usefulness in maritime exercises.

Conflicts in innovation and how to approach the “last mile” of conflict management research – a literature review

2015 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 192-213 ◽  
Author(s):  
Albert Vollmer
Keyword(s):  
Literature Review ◽  
Conflict Management ◽  
Intervention Studies ◽  
Theory And Practice ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Last Mile ◽  
Innovation Dynamics ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to present the state-of-the-art in empirical research on conflicts in innovation inorganizations and to outline strategic implications both for research and practical application with the specific focus on intervention studies. Design/methodology/approach – Literature search in the Web-of-Science identified 32 empirical publications from 1990 to July 2012. Characteristics of the studies, methodological approaches and empirical findings are summarized and discussed. Strategic implications are derived. Findings – The literature review reveals studies of the relationship between conflict and innovation on different organizational levels. Most of the studies address different aspects of conflict as antecedents of innovation, while some address conflict as an outcome of innovative behavior or structures. Almost all authors come up with theoretical and practical implications. But intervention studies which could close the gap between theory and practice, here termed the “last mile” of conflict management, are yet to be addressed. Research limitations/implications – While several implications are derived that aim at consolidating and deepening the understanding of the conflict – innovation dynamics, the major implication is to develop a knowledge-oriented research approach and to expand the scope of research to intervention studies. Constructive controversy is described as an example of this new research avenue. Practical implications – From intervention studies, researchers could gain more direct, practical insights into actual work processes. Managers could profit by incorporating first-hand knowledge augmented by researchers’ expertise. Originality/value – This article provides a systematic review of the relationship between conflict and innovation in the business context and practical implications thereof.

Perceptions of culinary education and chef apprenticeships in Ireland

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Emily Gray ◽  
Kathleen Geraldine Farrell
Keyword(s):  
Quantitative Research ◽  
Career Guidance ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Key Issues ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Depth Interviews ◽  
Method Approach ◽  
Practical Implications

PurposeThe relationship between the shortage of chefs for the hospitality industry in Ireland and the lack of uptake for chef apprenticeship is an underexplored topic. This study investigates attitudes to chef training and chef apprenticeship among industry representatives and second-level students.Design/methodology/approachUsing a mixed method approach, the qualitative research comprised of in-depth interviews conducted with key experts in the industry and from the educational sector. The quantitative research approach comprised of questionnaires conducted with second-level students.FindingsThe research results found that there is a stigma attached to chef apprenticeships, and this is part of the reason that the apprenticeship has low uptake. However, it was also found that working conditions in the industry were a real concern.Research limitations/implicationsThis is an exploratory study with a small sample of interviewees and survey respondents. However, it is a first step towards understanding some of the key issues relating to low uptake for chef apprenticeship.Practical implicationsAccess for second-level students to information regarding the benefits of a chef apprenticeship is lacking. It is necessary to convince students that an apprenticeship is as beneficial as a degree. Training for career guidance councillors is needed.Originality/valueThere is a dearth of research on the low uptake to chef apprenticeship. Research is recommended into how to re-brand chef apprenticeship.

King Frederick the Great – Anti-Machiavellian and Servant Leader?

2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 137-164
Author(s):  
Jan G. Langhof ◽  
Stefan Güldenberg
Keyword(s):  
Servant Leadership ◽  
Leadership Style ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Leadership Behavior ◽  
Research Area ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Top Executives ◽  
Leadership Research ◽  
Leadership Dimensions ◽  
Historical Examination

Purpose This study aims to include two major objectives. Firstly, Frederick’s leadership is explored and characterized. Secondly, it is examined as to why a leader may (or may not) adopt servant leadership behavior in the case of Frederick II, King of Prussia. Design/methodology/approach The applied methodology is a historical examination of Frederick II’s leadership, an eighteenth-century’s monarch who has the reputation of being the “first servant of the state.” The analysis is conducted from the perspective of modern servant leadership research. Findings This study shows Frederick remains a rather non-transparent person of contradictions. The authors identified multiple reasons which explain why a leader may adopt servant leadership. Frederick’s motives to adopt a certain leadership behavior appear timeless and, thus, he most likely shares the same antecedents with today’s top executives. Research limitations/implications The authors identified various antecedents of individual servant leadership dimensions, an under-research area to date. Originality/value To the best of authors’ knowledge, this study is the first to look at Frederick's leadership style through the lens of modern servant leadership.

Analysis of disclosure determinants: a local-relation approach

2019 ◽  
Vol 27 (3) ◽  
pp. 399-415 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicola Castellano ◽  
Roberto Del Gobbo ◽  
Katia Corsi
Keyword(s):  
Research Approach ◽  
Comprehensive Description ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Smooth Curves ◽  
Goodwill Impairment ◽  
Inductive Research ◽  
Local Relation ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Relation Approach ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose In the literature on determinants of disclosure, scholars generally tend to investigate the existence of relations in “global” terms by considering the whole range of observed values pertaining to both dependent and independent variables involved in the descriptive model. Despite the different methodologies used coherently to this approach, a hypothesis can be only accepted or rejected entirely. This paper aims to contribute to the literature by proposing a data-driven method based on smooth curves, which allow scholars to detect the existence of local relations, significant in a limited interval of the dependent variable. Design/methodology/approach The employment of smooth curves is simplified by conducting a study on goodwill disclosure. The model derived by the adoption of the locally weighted scatterplot smoothing (LOWESS) curves may provide an accurate description about complex relations between the extent of disclosure and its expected determinants, whose shape is not completely captured by traditional statistic techniques. Findings The model based on LOWESS curves provided a comprehensive description about the complexities characterizing the relationship between disclosure and its determinants. The results show that in some cases, the extent of disclosure is influenced by multi-faceted local relations. Practical implications The exemplificative study provides evidences useful for standard setters to improve their comprehension about the inclination of companies in disclosing information on goodwill impairment. Originality/value The adoption of smooth curves is coherent with an inductive research approach, where empirical evidence is generalized and evolves into theoretical explanations. The method proposed is replicable in all the field of studies, when extant studies come to unclear and contradicting results as a consequence of the complex relations investigated.

The impact of leadership on firm financial performance: the mediating role of employees' readiness to change

2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (3) ◽  
pp. 333-347
Author(s):  
Kleanthis K. Katsaros ◽  
Athanasios N. Tsirikas ◽  
Georgia C. Kosta
Keyword(s):  
Financial Performance ◽  
Leadership Style ◽  
Readiness To Change ◽  
Shipping Industry ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Mediating Role ◽  
Firm Financial Performance ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Practical Implications

PurposeThe aim of the research is to investigate the influence of leadership on firm financial performance and to explore the mediating role of employees' readiness to change.Design/methodology/approachThe paper hypothesizes that employees' readiness to change mediates the relationship between leadership and firm financial performance. A total of 213 employees of Greek shipping firms completed questionnaires examining their firms' leadership style and concurrently, their supervisors appraised their readiness to change. The research model was tested with the use of Structural Equation Modelling.FindingsThe research findings note the importance of leadership in fostering firm financial performance; they describe how each leadership style influences employees' readiness to change; as well as, they confirm that employee readiness mediates the relationship between leadership and firm financial performance. Theoretical and practical implications of these findings are analysed.Research limitations/implicationsGiven that the research was conducted during the severe Greek economic crisis, a time when employees' behaviour is highly influenced by distinctive and complex internal and external relationships, there is scope for further work to verify that the relationships identified in this study remain valid during periods when market conditions are more favourable.Practical implicationsThe findings provide further support on the significance of employees' readiness to change and the paper suggests policies for its development.Originality/valueThe originality of this study lies in the finding that employees' readiness to change mediates the relationship between leadership and firm financial performance. Further, the study was carried out in Greek shipping industry that plays a vital role in the international shipping industry which is responsible for the carriage of around 90% of world trade.

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