Leadership placement in organisations : a Drathian perspective

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT: One school of thought on leadership propounds the idea that the individual leader is the source ofleadership through personal dominance and intellectual influence. However, organisations areoperating in an ever-changing environment and leaders face increasingly complex challenges.Drath proposes that there should be a rethinking of leadership and suggests that broader socialmeaning-making processes of accomplishing leadership tasks are required, and that good leadersare the end product of good processes of leadership.This research is an assessment of the leadership criteria used by an Executive PlacementCompany in the selection of senior leaders in organisations, and whether Drath's theory onorganisational leadership, or something approaching this, is present in practice. Following fromthat, Drath's theory is evaluated as an alternative means of approaching current leadership issues.The study will attempt to give a better understanding of the criteria that could be applied inplacing leaders in organisations, in order to meet the complex challenges faced by leaders inorganisations.A qualitative research method with limited triangulation was used. This involved a case study ofan Executive Placement Company in Johannesburg. Data collection was in the form of semistructuredinterviews and the completion of a questionnaire by the five senior employees of theExecutive Placement Company involved in the placement of senior leaders. The questionnairecontained open and closed ended questions. A quantitative method was applied as questionnaireswere completed by five employees, as well as a qualitative method, which involved conductingsemi-structured interviews with five employees. However, as a limited number of questionnaireswere used, the research is predominantly qualitative research.The criteria used by the Executive Placement Company, as well as changes in organisationalleadership criteria and organisational leadership factors, were identified. Key criteria include theculture, management style and dynamics of the organisations in which the leaders are to beplaced. The personal attributes of the leader, such as experience, technical skills and, inparticular, behavioural competencies are also important. It is suggested that there have beenchanges in the criteria used for placement, with organisations appearing to prefer more empowering, participating, engaged, connected and relationship focused leaders. There alsoseems to be a move away from an autocratic style of leadership towards one that is more holisticand integrated. Various elements of Drath's theory are present in practice and it is thus suggestedthat this theory provides an alternative perspective with which to approach leadership issues.The value of the present research is that it gives an indication of actual leadership processes andthe criteria that are and should be applied in the placement of leaders in organisations. Thisresearch also indicates that difficulties exist in leadership processes due to the application ofaffirmative action policies in the placement of leaders in organisations. Further research isrequired in regard to the effect of affirmative action policies in the placement of leaders inorganisations.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University