Substitutes or complements? Individual-focused and group-focused transformational leadership in different organizational structures in new firms

2017 ◽  
Vol 38 (5) ◽  
pp. 699-718 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiumei Zhu ◽  
Mingxu Bao

Purpose The significant performance implications of individual-focused and group-focused transformational leadership have been documented for established firms, but the issue of whether they are complementary or substitutive still remains a puzzle, and whether their relationship differs in new firms remains unanswered. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationship between individual-focused and group-focused transformational leadership in different organizational structures in new firms. Design/methodology/approach The study draws on survey data of 209 questionnaires from 63 teams in 63 new firms in China. Findings The results suggest that individual-focused and group-focused transformational leadership are substitutive when the organizational structure is mechanistic, and are complementary when the structure is organic. Originality/value The study contributes to the debate on the relationship between individual-focused and group-focused transformational leadership by comparing organizational structure characteristics and offering a comprehensive understanding of the issue.

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  

Purpose The authors said that, although psychological empowerment is a well-researched topic, their study was especially valuable because it took place in a Chinese context. Design/methodology/approach The authors distributed 400 questionnaires to bank managers in Beijing, who were randomly selected through cluster sampling. In the end, 151 usable questionnaires were returned. The questionnaire used various scales to measure psychological empowerment, transformational leadership, organizational structure and job characteristics. Findings Analysis of the results showed confirmation of all three hypotheses, revealing that transformational leadership, organizational structure and job characteristics are all positively related to transformational leadership. Originality/value The authors said their study boosted the significance of transformational leaders in organizations. They also suggested that organizations should pay attention to leadership styles during the recruitment process. Meanwhile, leaders who were not displaying transformational leadership should be provided with appropriate training. Employees should also be made aware of its importance. Individual trainers and HR personnel should take note of the characteristics required of transformational leaders.


2019 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 840-859 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yong Wu ◽  
Linqian Zhang ◽  
Zelong Wei ◽  
Mingjun Hou

Purpose This paper aims to explore the effects of holistic cognition frame on novelty-centered business model design and efficiency-centered business model design. Moreover, the authors consider how these effects differ in new ventures vs established firms. Design/methodology/approach The authors use survey data to testify the hypotheses based on a database of 204 firms in China. Then, regression analysis is used to examine the relationship between holistic cognition frame and business model design. They also explore the contingency effects of new ventures and established firms on the relationships. Findings The authors find that the holistic cognition frame has a positive effect on efficiency-centered business model design, whereas it has an inverse U-shaped effect on novelty-centered business model design. Furthermore, they find that the effects of holistic cognition frame on efficiency-centered business model design and novelty-centered business model design are different in established firms and new ventures. Originality/value This work offers new insights into the effects of holistic cognition frame on business model design and provides useful suggestions for firms to promote business model design.


2018 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 48-66 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marjolein C.J. Caniëls ◽  
Judith H. Semeijn ◽  
Irma H.M. Renders

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to analyze whether and how employees’ proactive personality is related to work engagement. Drawing on job demands-resources theory, the study proposes that this relationship is moderated by a three-way interaction between proactive personality × transformational leadership × growth mindset. Design/methodology/approach The study is based on survey data from 259 employees of an internationally operating high-tech organization in the Netherlands. Findings In line with prior studies, support is found for positive significant relationships of proactive personality and transformational leadership with engagement. Additionally, transformational leadership is found to moderate the relationship between proactive personality and work engagement, but only when employees have a growth mindset. Originality/value The study advances the literature that investigates the proactive personality-engagement relationship. Specifically, this study is the first to examine a possible three-way interaction that may deepen the insights for how proactive personality, transformational leadership and growth mindset interact in their contribution to work engagement.


Author(s):  
Ramo Palalic ◽  
El Mustapha Ait Sidi Mhamed

Purpose This study aims to explore the relationship between transformational leadership and organizational commitment in multinational companies (MNCs) in Morocco. Design/methodology/approach The study used a sample size of 256 employees to attain results regarding a relationship between transformational leadership and organizational commitment. Proposed hypotheses are tested through regression analysis. Findings Findings show a relationship between transformational leadership and organizational commitment. Organisations use different leadership styles and thus act differently. However, tranformational leadership shows its importance in leading organisations who aim to be constantly committed. Originality/value To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first research in North Africa that investigates the level of transformational leadership and organizational commitment in MNCs.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruijuan Wu ◽  
Yan Li

PurposeThe objective of this study was to examine the effects of human model backgrounds (concrete backgrounds vs. solid backgrounds) on consumer responses (attention and attitude) and to determine the mechanism and boundary conditions behind such effects.Design/methodology/approachThe research consisted of one eye-tracking experiment and two experimental studies.FindingsThe results showed that consumers notice faster and pay more attention to the central figure against solid backgrounds. However, concrete backgrounds elicit more favorable attitudes toward products, and mental imagery mediates the effects of image backgrounds on consumers' attitudes. The authors also found that the situation moderates the relationship between image background and attitude.Originality/valueThe study also supplements the literature on the effects of image backgrounds on consumer responses and the literature on online presentation using human models. Last, the study combines questionnaires with an eye-tracking experiment to obtain a clearer and more comprehensive understanding of the results.


2020 ◽  
Vol 39 (7/8) ◽  
pp. 929-943
Author(s):  
Simon C.H. Chan

PurposeThe purpose of this study was to determine whether self-efficacy is a key mediator of the relationship between transformational leadership and volunteers' performance, based on intrinsic motivation theory. The study extended the literature on self-efficacy to transformational leadership in non-formal voluntary service education.Design/methodology/approachOne hundred and seventy-eight scouts and scout leaders were sampled from a Hong Kong voluntary service organization that involved volunteers in the process of non-formal education.FindingsTransformational leadership was positively associated with the volunteers' performance. In addition, self-efficacy mediated the relationship between transformational leadership and volunteers' performance.Originality/valueThe study thus yielded novel insights for management development into the relationship between transformational leadership and volunteers' performance, suggesting that self-efficacy mediates this relationship for volunteers in non-formal voluntary service education.


2018 ◽  
Vol 47 (3) ◽  
pp. 694-708 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shyh-Jer Chen ◽  
Miao-Ju Wang ◽  
Shih-Han Lee

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to argue that, in situations where transformational leadership (TL) is in effect, perceived meaningfulness in work plays a vital role in generating intrinsic motivation among employees; specifically, this can influence employees to endeavor to benefit their organizations through engaging in voice behavior. Design/methodology/approach In this empirical study, a cross-sectional dyad questionnaire method was adopted to collect data from 172 employees from 40 companies. Findings The results show that perceiving work as meaningful is positively related, through a direct effect, to promotive and prohibitive voice behaviors. Further, employees perceiving their work as meaningful were found to fully mediate the relationship between TL and promotive voice behavior, but not prohibitive voice behavior. These results indicate that employees under TL who consider their jobs to be meaningful engage in more voice behaviors that might eventually benefit their organizations. Originality/value This study demonstrates that meaningful work is a considerable predictor of voice behavior. The results show that when a person experiences TL, it increases the chances that they perceive their work as meaningful, which in turn encourages them to engage in voice behavior that can benefit their organization. The findings from this research suggest that organizations can create “win-win” situations that benefit both their employees and the organizations themselves.


2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 661-676 ◽  
Author(s):  
Feiyuan Cao ◽  
Haomin Zhang

Purpose This paper aims to clarify the influences of workplace friendship, psychological safety on employees’ innovative behavior and the moderated role of transformational leadership and face. Design/methodology/approach The current research proposes and tests a theoretic framework to explore the mechanism of workplace friendship in influencing employees’ innovative behavior. Based on a sample of 441 respondents from various Chinese companies, this paper used SPSS 22.0 and Amos 22.0 to examine the hypotheses. Findings Results indicate that workplace friendship positively related to innovative behavior and psychological safety functioned as a mediator between them. Moreover, it examines the moderating roles of transformational leadership and face. Transformational leadership and desire to gain face strengthen the relationship between psychological safety and employees’ innovative behavior but fear of losing face is negatively related to the strength of this relationship. Originality/value The current research is meaningful for managerial practice. Then, the theoretical framework will contribute to providing a new perspective for understanding complex friendship at studies thus explore its boundary conditions, which help to lead to desirable outcomes. Besides, the findings advance nascent theory on face under oriental culture background.


2017 ◽  
Vol 30 (5) ◽  
pp. 1142-1159 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jan Svanberg ◽  
Peter Öhman ◽  
Presha E. Neidermeyer

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate whether transformational leadership affects auditor objectivity. Design/methodology/approach The investigation is based on a field survey of 198 practicing auditors employed by audit firms operating in Sweden. Findings This study finds that transformational client leadership negatively affects auditor objectivity and that the effect is only partially mediated by client identification. Given these results, suggesting that auditors are susceptible to influence by their clients’ perceived exercise of transformational leadership, leadership theory appears relevant to the discussion of auditor objectivity in the accounting literature. Originality/value Previous accounting research has applied the social identity theory framework and found that client identification impairs auditor objectivity. However, the effect of transformational client leadership on auditor objectivity, which reflects an intense auditor-client relationship, has been neglected before this study.


2018 ◽  
Vol 37 (9/10) ◽  
pp. 666-683 ◽  
Author(s):  
Talat Islam ◽  
Jawad Tariq ◽  
Bushra Usman

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the mechanism between transformational leadership (TL) and organizational commitment (OC) using job characteristics as a mediator and participative and directive leadership (DL) as moderator. Design/methodology/approach The authors used a questionnaire-based survey to collect data from 563 employees working in the banking industry. Findings The data were analyzed using structural equation modeling. The findings confirmed the mediating role of job characteristics and moderating role of both participative and DL styles between TL and OC. Research limitations/implications The data for this study were collected at one point of time and it has implications for the policymakers and bankers. Originality/value The study is novel as it highlights the importance of job characteristics, participative and DL styles in understanding the relationship between TL and OC.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document