Leadership styles and their relationship with TQM focus for Indian firms: An empirical investigation
International Journal of Productivity and Performance Management
ISSN: 1741-0401
Article publication date: 9 July 2018
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine leadership styles and their impact on TQM focus within Indian firms.
Design/methodology/approach
The empirical data for this study were drawn from a survey of 111 firms in India to examine the validity and reliability of the independent constructs (leadership styles: transformational, servant, adaptive, rational and kinesthetic); and two dependent constructs (TQM focus: continuous improvement and innovation). The data were analyzed employing correlation and multiple regression analysis to identify the influence of leadership styles on TQM focus.
Findings
The results of the study revealed that six of the nine hypotheses have a significant and positive relationship with TQM focus; one hypothesis is partial while rest two hypotheses are not associated with TQM focus. It is also found that leadership styles are more inclined to continuous improvement and perceived as dominant TQM practices than innovation.
Research limitations/implications
This study used only two major variables, continuous improvement and innovation, as the outcome of TQM focus, but the outcomes are not limited. TQM focus is also related to other variables such as customer focus, product quality, employee involvement, benchmarking, etc. Future research should be extended by using other variables as the outcome of TQM focus.
Originality/value
The results can be beneficial for the current organization’s leaders to achieve appropriate leadership styles for effective and TQM focus. Moreover, this paper also attempts to inspire researchers to include the TQM focus in studying the effect of the leaders on TQM focus while implementing it effectively in the organizations.
Keywords
Citation
Kumar, V. and Sharma, R.R.K. (2018), "Leadership styles and their relationship with TQM focus for Indian firms: An empirical investigation", International Journal of Productivity and Performance Management, Vol. 67 No. 6, pp. 1063-1088. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJPPM-03-2017-0071
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2018, Emerald Publishing Limited