LEADERSHIP THEORY, CONCEPTS, & RESEARCH: A REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE
The purpose of this study was to examine the extent to which different leadership styles affect organizational performance. Literature is reviewed in support of this study purpose. The findings of the literature are presented in two major discussions. The first major discussion covers the review of literature related to leadership theory and concepts, while the second major discussion covers the review of literature related to leadership research.
A generally accepted agreement on the definition leadership has eluded theorists and practitioners alike for scores of years. As might be expected of any concept that has appeared to defy definition, there exists fairly widespread disagreement among the experts as to just what it involves. Some people contend that while leadership is of the utmost importance, and that no substitute exists for it, leadership cannot be created or promoted or taught or learned. Rather, this line of reasoning holds that leadership is an art not a science, and that a science can be learned but an art cannot.
Other people define leadership simply getting people to work to achieve common goals of the enterprise·giving people something to work for. Still other people hold that leadership is the ability to influence the behavior of others, set up goals, formulate paths to the goals, and create some social norms. Another concept of leadership is that leaders induce followers to act for certain goals that represent the values and the motivation·the wants and needs, the aspirations and expectations of both leaders and followers, and that leadership is thus inseparable from followers' needs and goals.
Literature relevant to leadership theory and concepts is reviewed. The findings of the review of this literature are presented in discussions of (1) the evolution of leadership theories and concepts, (2) characteristics and requirement...