ABSTRACT
This research thesis is about the impact of leadership style and
employees performance in the organization. The objective of this
research work is to create knowledge about the relationship
that exists between leadership styles and employees
performance in the organization. Descriptive research method is
adopted and data were collected through questionnaire. The
major activity of this thesis were directed by the hypothesis
formulated in chapter one. The findings of this study pointed out
that a serious relationship exists between leadership style and
employees performance in the organization. Also that most of
the employees in APACO Foam are satisfied with the leadership
style that exists in their organization because they were paid
promptly and incentives are always given to them as bonuses.
The conclusion of this study, from the findings shows that
leadership style is one of the several factors that affect
employees’ performance in the organization. The following
recommendations are made by the researcher. There should be
training for manager and employees on some principles that are
very important for effective productivity. And also those
employees should be effectively motivated. Management should
also create enabling environment and rules for both leaders and
subordinates to carry out activities together as this will give all
employee sense of belonging.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Title Page i
Approval Page ii
Dedication iii
Acknowledgements iv
Abstract vi
Table of Contents vii
CHAPTER ONE – INTRODUCTION
1.1 Conceptual Frame Work 1
1.2 Background of the Research Problem 1
1.3 Statement of Problems 2
1.4 Objective of the Study 2
1.5 Hypotheses 3
1.6 Significance of the Study 3
1.7 Motivation for this Study 4
1.8 Format of the Study 4
1.9 Definition of Concepts and Terms Leadership 5
CHAPTER TWO – LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1 Introduction 7
2.2 Organizations 8
2.2.1 Definition of Organizations 8
2.2.2 Basic Element of Organization 10
2.3 Management 13
2.3.1 Definition of Management 13
2.3.2 Definition of Management from Process Perspective 14
2.3.3 Definition of Management from Organizational
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Theory Perspective 15
2.4 Leadership 16
2.4.1 Definition of Leadership 16
2.4.2 Basic Element in the Definition 17
2.4.3 Difference Between Leadership and Management 18
2.5 Approaches to the Study of Leadership 19
2.5.1 Trait Approach 20
2.5.2 Behavioural Approach 20
2.5.3 Contingency Approach 21
2.5.4 Situational Theory 22
2.5.5 Fiedler Model 23
2.5.6 Path Goal Theory 24
2.5.7 Leadership Function 24
2.5.8 Leadership Styles 25
2.5.9 Researcher Studies in Leadership Styles 28
2.5.10 Effect of Poor leadership Style on the Employees 31
2.5.11 Strategies of Implementing Good Leadership 33
Styles
CHAPTER THREE – RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
3.1 Introduction 36
3.2 The Empirical Investigation 36
3.3 Method of Data Collection 37
3.4 Execution of Field Investigation 38
3.5 Reliability of the Data Collected 39
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CHAPTER FOUR – DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS
4.1 Introduction 41
4.2 Descriptive Analysis of APACO Foam 41
4.3 Analysis and interpretation of Data 44
4.3.1 Presentation of Demographic Data 44
4.3.2 Research Questionnaire and Testing of Hypotheses 47
4.4 Findings 62
CHAPTER FIVE – DISCUSSION OF LEADERSHIP STYLE
5.1 Discussion on Leadership Styles 64
CHAPTER SIX – FINDINGS, RECOMMENDATION AND
CONCLUSION
6.1 Findings 67
6.2 Conclusion 68
6.3 Recommendation 68
References 70
Questionnaire 72
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CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK
The conceptual framework for this study is done from
management and organizational behaviour theory.
The focus of this study is on leadership styles and their
impact on employees’ performance. Leadership is a function of
management leadership styles has their effect on group within
an organization. Leadership is the process of initiating group
activities toward goal setting and goal attainment.
1.2 BACKGROUND OF RESEARCH STUDY
This research study is on leadership style and employees’
performance. Leadership style is important in an organization,
and leading a group is not easy because they can resist
leadership.
During the last few decades hundred of laboratory and
field studies were conducted to investigate the nature of
leadership styles that exists in organizations. Example Ohia
state university, Michigan University, managerial grid, etc.
Leadership style indicates the pattern and behaviours
adopted by the leader during the process of directing and
influencing the group member. The choice of a good leadership
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style can be said to be determined by many variables amongst
which are the leaders motivational structure, good
interpersonal relationship or location of decision making
function, whether simple or complex effects the systoles to be
used.
1.3 STATEMENT OF PROBLEM
The statement of problem in this study is to investigate
leadership style and employees’ performance; the knowledge
gain from this study, recommendation shall be made on how
to improve leadership ability in the organization.
1.4 OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY
The following are the objective of the study;
(a) To describe pattern of leadership styles in organization
(b) To find out the perception of employee on leadership style
(c) To investigate if leadership styles have any relationship
with employee performance
(d) To find out if leadership style improve organizational
performance
(e) To make recommendation on how to improve leadership
ability in the organization.
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1.5 HYPOTHESES FOR THE STUDY
HYPOTHESIS I
There is no relationship between Democratic or
Supportive leadership style and the employee performance.
HYPOTHESIS II
There is no relationship between autocratic or task related
leadership style and employees performance.
HYPOTHESIS III
There is no relationship between great man leadership style
and employees performance.
HYPOTHESIS IV
There is no relationship between leadership style and
organizational performance.
1.6 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
The significance of this research work are as follows:
(a) It will provide guideline to improve relationship between
leaders and subordinates.
(b) It will put an end to the misconception that
organization’s success has no bearing or relationship
with leadership styles.
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(c) It will reduce/eradicate the misdirection and failure in
leadership in our organizations.
(d) It will provide guideline for duties and responsibilities for
both leaders and subordinates.
1.7 MOTIVATION FOR THIS STUDY
The researcher was motivated to carry out this
investigation because he wanted to investigate leadership
styles and employees performance.
Also this study will help the researcher to identify pattern
and behaviour leaders associated with the follower satisfaction
and effective group performance and to influence group to take
best line of action to attain the organizational objective.
1.8 FORMAT OF THE STUDY
This study is divided into three parts
PART I
Chapter One: Introduction
Chapter Two: Theoretical framework and review of literature
PART II
Chapter Three: Research design and methodology
Chapter Four: Data presentation and analysis
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PART III
Chapter Five: Discussion from finding
Chapter Six: Summary, Finding, conclusion and
recommendations.
1.9 DEFINITION OF CONCEPTS AND TERMS LEADERSHIP:
Process of directing and inflecting task related activities of
group members (Stoner 2005).
Leadership Styles: This is the various patterns of behaviours
favours by leaders during the process of directing and
influencing workers. (Anayo 1991)
Leader: A leader is one who is given an authority by the
organization to lead the subordinate to ward achieving a
predicted goal (Codor 1995).
Followers: There is no leader in isolation or absence of
followers. Followers are people being lead by the leaders who
voluntarily relinquish to the leader their right to make certain
independent decisions.
GROUP: A group is a number of people who communicate
with one another often over a period of time or span of time
and who are few enough so that each person is able to
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communicate with all others not as at second hand, through
other people, but face to face. Group can be defined as two or
more people who interact and influence each other towards a
common purpose.
GOALS: Goals are the ends toward which organizational
actions are directed. Goals are desired and pursued by an
organization. (Onwuchekwa C.I 2002).
MOTIVATION: Motivation is that which causes an individual
to change his or her behaviour in a directed end. It is also that
which causes an individual to forget his or her own interest
and to pursue the interest of an organization. Stonner,
Freeman and Subret (2005).
PRODUCTIVITY: Measure of how well an operation’s system
functions and an indicator of the efficiency and
competitiveness of a single form or department.
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