Why is there little academic agreement on what makes a good leader?

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

My thanks go out to all who have helped me complete this study and with whom this project may have not been possible. In particular, my gratitude goes out to friends, facilitator and family for extensive and helpful comments on early drafts. I am also deeply indebted to the authors who have shared my interest and preceded me. Their works provided me with a host of information to learn from and build upon, also served as examples to emulate.

DECLARATION

I, [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 academic examination towards any qualification. Furthermore, it represents my own opinions and not necessarily those of the University.

Signed __________________ Date _________________

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTii

DECLARATIONiii

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION1

Background of the Study1

Problem Statement2

Aim of the Study2

Objectives of the Study2

Rationale of the Study3

Research Questions4

CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW5

Theoretical Framework5

Leadership Theories5

Leadership Challenges8

CHAPTER 3: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY10

Methodological Approach10

Research Approach11

Justification of Research Method11

Data collection Techniques12

Data Collection12

Research Instrument12

REFERENCES13

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION

Background of the Study

The leaders are the important individuals that help the organizations in developing successfully while fulfilling the respective aims and objectives at the same time. The good leaders are needed at every step of the organization and needs them to successfully implement their ideas in the business operations. A large number of theories have been carried out in the past that takes into account different leadership theories and analyse them in different perspectives. The past literature on the leadership theories shows that these theories do not agree on a single characteristic important for the leaders in their operations. Instead they see number of characteristics important for the leaders.

Due to different characteristics specified important for the leaders to be successful in their business operations, the academic literature lacks the agreement on a certain characteristic important for the leaders. The theories that have been used in the past literature and underline the characteristics of the leaders are Trait theory, Contingency theory, Situational theory, Behavioural theory, Participative theory, Management theory, relationship theory etc. All these theories explain the features of leaders in one way or the other by taking into account certain criteria for the leaders. Some theories explain that the leaders are born and they have in born capabilities to supervise everything in a certain manner. However there are other theories that underlines that the leadership theories can be developed in individuals and that every individual can become a good leader by adopting certain behavioural aspects.

Problem Statement

The topic of the study “why there is little academic agreement on what makes a good leader” is an important topic that outlines certain leadership theories and on the basis of these theories, specifies the similarities and differences in the characteristics of the leaders. One of the reasons of little academic agreement on what makes the good leaders is the difference in the culture and ethical values. The academic theories like contingency theory, transformational theory, situational theory, trait theories, ...