Leadership styles of lower and senior level management within a mining company

[摘要] English: Leadership is crucial for a successful organization, community or country as leadership provides direction. The new millennium requires a great rate of change and South African companies will be obliged to make rapid organizational changes. Changes in the mining industry make it necessary to prepare the industry for future challenges. It is the belief of the mining industry that leadership is an essential factor in the change process.In view of the abovementioned, the management of a mining company in the Northern Cape found it necessary to determine the current situation with regards to leadership in the company.The aim of this research was to determine whether lower and senior level management exercise different styles of leadership and whether the perceptions of leadership differ between leaders and followers. In addition, management wished to determine whether there is a difference in leadership style based on cultural diversity, in terms of home language, age and tenure.For this purpose, ninety-eight (98) managers were included in the sample. From the sample of ninety-eight (98) managers, thirty-one (31) managers with a minimum of three (3) subordinates participated to determine differences in perception. Thus, ninety-three (93) subordinates participated in the study. Leadership style was measured with the Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire (MLQ). A one way Analysis of Variance (Anova) was used to determine differences between lower and senior management in terms of leadership style. The t-test for dependant groups was used to determine differences in perception. A one way Analysis of Variance (Scheffé) was used to determine differences between certain groups in terms of age, tenure and home language (cultural diversity).Based on the statistical analysis, the following conclusions have been reached:�?There is a statistically significant difference between lower and senior level management with regard to leadership style. Senior level management are more transformational than lower level management, which are more transactional.�?There is a statistically significant difference in perception between managers and subordinates with regard to leadership style.�?There are statistically significant differences in leadership style based on biographical variables such as age and tenure. There were no differences with regard to leadership style and cultural diversity based on home language.Caution needs to be exercised with regard to the interpretation of the findings, since a convenience sample was utilized.

[发布机构] University of the Free State