adership serves as the conceptual foundation of the variable assessed in sample subjects.
However, this conceptual foundation still leaves open the question: How do leaders exert influence over followers? The answer to the foregoing question can be found in the theoretical foundation of the leadership assessment instrument used in this research. This instrument is The Leadership Practices Inventory (LPI) developed by Kouzes and Posner (1989).
According to the authors, the fundamental patterns of leadership behavior by which influence is wielded from leader to followers consist of five behavioral dimensions, each comprising two basic strategies. These five behavioral dimensions that comprise the fundamental pattern of leadership are:
Based on the just reviewed material, a definition of leadership that is relevant to the purposes of this study can be formulated. Specifically, it can be stated that the term leadership, as used in this study, refers to a process of influence whereby one who is a leader influences others through five dimensions of power, each of which is related to two behavioral strategies.
It is not, however, held that these influences of power automatically guarantee leadership effectiveness as effectiveness can dependent upon a number of situational and other variables. However, it is held that those exerting power through the behavioral practices specified by Kouzes and Posner's (1987) leadership model, have a greater likelihood of being effective than those who do not use these practices.
The second term that is pivotal to this study is "creativity." As with the term "leadership", definitions of creativity are diverse; however, several authors (e.g. Baron, 1988; Eysenck, 1990) have noted that a necessary conceptual component of the construct is novelty. For example, MacKinnon (1962) states that:
True creativeness fulfills at least three conditions. It involves a response or an idea tha...