The Importance of Leadership at the Company Officer Level in a Fire Department

By

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

No words can express my appreciation and gratitude to my research advisor _______ through the course of this research, Professor _____has taught me numerous values that extend well beyond the realm of _________ (Your Subject Name). His emphasis on dedication to work and his valuable and practical insights of life are some of the major highlights of my education at The University _________. To Professor _____, I say with great respect, thank you very much.

It is a great honour for me to have Professor _______ on my dissertation committee. His insightful suggestions and comments are a major asset to this research. I learned so much from Professor ______, and I will always remember him as a truly superb teacher. To Professor _____, I am greatly indebted.

I would like to thank Professor ______ for his contribution to this research. Professor _____ has provided me with essential input and guidance as an outside member of my committee. His remarks and suggestions are greatly appreciated.

I would like to thank _____________ for the support they had provided me throughout the research project.

I would like to thank _____________ for their support and help in this research.

DECLARATION

I [type your full first names and surname here], declare that the contents of this dissertation/thesis represent my own unaided work, and that the dissertation/thesis has not previously been submitted for the academic examination towards any qualification. Furthermore, it represents my own opinions and not necessarily those of the University.

Signed __________________ Date _________________

ABSTRACT

In this study, the researcher aims to determine the importance of leadership at the company officer level in a fire department. Every person carries within himself or herself patterns of thinking, feeling and potential acting, which was learnt, through a lifetime of experiences affecting the outcome or result of that person's leadership style. Bass (2005) defines leadership as a 'universal phenomenon. There is no society where it is completely absent or where cultural norms have completely substituted for it. Furthermore the researcher opted for qualitative methodology. Secondary data enable the researcher to accomplish the research aims and objectives. Leadership; conceived as the focus of group processes, as a matter of personality, as a matter of inducing compliance, as the executive of influence, as behavior, as a form of persuasion, as a power relation, as an instrument to achieve goals, as an effect of interaction, as a differentiated goal, as initiation of structure, and as many combinations of these definitions.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTII

DECLARATIONIII

ABSTRACTIV

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION1

Background of the Study1

Purpose of the Study1

Problem Statement2

Aims and Objective2

Research Question2

CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW3

Leadership3

Types of Leadership3

Leadership versus Management5

Managing Change and Conflict6

CHAPTER 3: METHODOLOGY7

Research Method7

Literature Search7

Data Analysis8

CHAPTER 4: RESULTS AND FINDINGS9

Discussion9

Leadership at the Company Officer Level in a Fire Department9

Analysis10

Leadership in Dangerous Environments10

Trust, Respect, and Integrity10

CHAPTER 5: CONCLUSION12

REFERENCES13

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION

Background of the Study

Leadership is essential to becoming a Company Officer. Firefighters perform activities against fire, activities related to fire prevention and lend a hand in other emergency situations, as ...