Difference in Leadership between the East and the West - Research Paper Example

Running Head: LEADERSHIP BETWEEN THE WEST AND THE EAST Leadership between the West and the East of the of the Leadership between the West and the East Introduction Many leadership studies aimed at identifying leadership behaviour patterns that determined effective group performance. Job-cantered leadership behaviour and employee-cantered leadership behaviour were placed at the two extremes of a continuum. Both the types are mainly concerned with high performance but while the former focuses just on the effective completion of a task, the latter attempts to build effective work groups by paying close attention to the human aspects of the employees. Leadership studies on the other hand identified two significant kinds of leader behaviour - consideration and initiating-structure. When engaging in the consideration behaviour, the leader and subordinate share a relationship of mutual trust, self-respect and two-way communication. The subordinates feelings and ideas are respected. The initiating-structure behaviour involves clear definition of leader-subordinate roles so that the subordinate is clear about what is expected from him. Focus is primarily on accomplishing the groups task. Unlike in the Michigan studies, these two traits are independent of each other and could be found in the same person in varying degrees. Research Question What is the difference in the Leadership in East and West? Literature Review The stability of a leaders behaviour depends on the stability of the situation and the success of any one style would depend solely on the organisational setting. Some of the theories (e.g. leadership grid) overlooked the complexity of managers’ leadership behaviour, most of them failed to meet their primary goal - to identify universal leader-behaviour and follower-response patterns. The focus shifted to contingency theories with the assumption that leadership behaviour will vary across settings. Leadership in West and East In the West present theories of leadership, and leadership style, set high significance on cooperation, empowerment, performance management, prudence, combine work, entrustment, pay attention and learning (Ford and Fottler, 2005, 22). The setback is that the amount of publicity adjoining such supposed features of management involves that it is a tough sell, even in its place of source. According to Kotter (2000, 4), transformational leadership in the West, within the America is more an assemble of the expression of management advisors than it is the certainty of management application. It appears likely that a smaller amount the value of the product to the customer the added one wants to enclose it in a promotional charisma (Huczynski, 2003), and this assists to cover up its discordance with the mainstream of the cultures in which its creed are functional. In East Asia, leader legality and recognition repeatedly are conditional on non-utilitarian characters of the leader. The place of leader is preserved by intra- and extra-organizational structural measures, in several cases with profound historical extraction, not by follower gratitude. Similarly as in China, the essential rule of trade in the Arab World is to set up an association first, build relations, and only really approach to the mind of the planned business at a afterward meeting. There is a key supposition that a system or web of relations already survives and the issues apprehension if, and how, it may be admittance. In traditional Western models the importance is on the instant transaction itself. Therefore, in the Arab setting much that then emerges appears to be in direct difference to Western practice in which focal point is located on receiving the agreement done and a friendship- may just build up later as an individual function to the business deal. Like China, the Arab procedure of structure relations prior to managing business is extremely prolonged. Though, once a connection has been recognized verbal contracts are unlimited and a person word is his/her union and failure to gather verbally agreed compulsions will definitely lead to an execution of a business affiliation (Hutchings, 2006, 30). Thus the traditional leadership forms may not very useful in the Arab world due to the openness of the western method. The western concept of leadership does not completely hold in other states and societies may be because of variation in culture, social formations. These concepts of leadership have not taken a grip in the west itself and are all the time discussed and yanked. Thus using these concepts over the structures of leadership widespread in Asia, Africa etc possibly will not be the finest idea. The center path, by means of taking a two way transmits of information and thoughts, joint reflection, be supposed to be used. While the individual leadership formation in non-western societies will not disappear, there is the span of both the concepts working jointly. In relative to query of supremacy, at definite stages in their growth some nations will provide precedence to aspire over capital. Others will classify plans and means rather in a different way, but essentially no improved or poorer than they possibly will be explained in the West. Methodology Participant for Qualitative and Quantitative Studies For this research study both qualitative and quantitative data will be gathered. Interviews will be taken from 6 randomly selected scholars from east and west and the population of interest for the quantitative analysis includes 150 selected employees from the different organizations in London and Middle East. For the purpose of study a form of non-probability sampling will be used. As explained by Trochim (2001, 23), in purposive sampling, the researcher will take samples with a purpose in mind from one or more specific and predefined groups, believed to be representative of the larger population of interest. Trochim noted that one of the benefits of purposive sampling is that it can be very useful for situations in which the researcher wants to reach a targeted group that otherwise might not be readily available. The Inductive approach will be used in this research which is part of the Subjectivism research approach as the investigations will depend on building theory through small sample of people perceptions regarding the situation that will be discussed to understand the reality of the study and to get their feelings about what is going on in order to identify better the issue and analyzing those data. The results will give some solutions for the study along with evidences that will provide a clear picture for the target people to accomplish their goals. Research Design The research design that is selected for the study is an exploratory research design, in order to understanding the things deeply. As explained by Zechmeister et al., (1997, 19) survey research represents a general approach to be used when the research design is implemented. Survey is the procedure of gathering information from respondents thought to be delegate of several populations using an apparatus collected of close structure or open-ended items. It is one of the main leading types of data collection in the social sciences given that for competent collection of data over broad populations, agreeable to self-administration, administration in being, by telephone, via e-mail and over the internet. The primary data is to be collected by conducting field research that involves face to face interviews, surveys, questionnaires and focused group interviews. Primary research involves the usage of primary data for the collection of data. Primary data are that information that is collected for the first time. There are many advantages that have been identified in the use of the survey method. According to Babbie (2001, 13), these advantages include: 1. One can collect a large amount of adapt in a fairly short time. 2. Surveys are easier and less expensive than other forms of data collection. 3. Questionnaire can be used to research almost any aspect of human perceptions regarding the variables under study. 4. They can be easily used on field settings. The study will follow all of the journalistic ethical guidelines and confidentiality agreements for its research methods and let the participants know their participation will be kept anonymous, which will enable them to give honest answers. Instrument Interview By far interviewing is the most commonly use as a selection tool. In this study semi structured method for interview will be chosen. Interview questions will be prepared in order to understand the role of leadership both in east and west parts of the world. Questionnaire For quantitative analysis questionnaires are inexpensive way to obtain responses from large population. It is the easiest way to get responses to do statistical analysis and find a conclusion. A well design questionnaire is critical for achieving the purposes of survey research. Additionally, concerns with validity (i.e. the degree to which an instrument measures what it was intended to measure) and reliability (i.e. the degree to which an instrument provides measurements that are consistent and accurate) must always be at the forefront of the questionnaire selection/construction process. A five point Likert scale for measure will be used in the questions, Likert scale is widely used in questionnaires, and it is most used in survey research. If there are Likert questionnaire item in the questionnaires, then the respondents state their level of agreement with the statement. In this study for few questions, the Likert scale having ranking 1 = not at all important to 5 = very important. For some questions the five point Likert scale was used in which 1 = Strongly Disagree to 5 = Strongly Agree. Data Collection The survey method will be used as the means by which data is collecting within the study. Prior to initiating the data collection phase of the study, permission to conduct the survey, will be obtained from appropriate managerial people. Data collection will commence once approval granted. The interviews will be taped and transcribed for analysis. Researchers, working independently, will categorize the statements derived from the interviews. Questionnaires and the cover letter explaining the purpose of the survey and anonymity associated with participation in the survey will be distributed to participants and collected from them upon completion of the questionnaire. The data collection will involve gathering the information from both interview and questionnaires and then analyzing the results to find out what insight can be gained from them. Data Analysis Qualitative data will be analyzed to identify theories and trends and in order to process and the qualitative analysis can be made possible by analyzing the interview responses of the respondents by using the software NVivo. In order to organize the quantitative data; a database will be created by using a computer data base software program, (i.e., SPSS). The questionnaire selected may have a scale response format, which will allow for a number to be assigned for which response given for each item. For each respondent, the numerical response provided for each item as well as descriptive data obtained during survey, then entered into the database during the data-coding phase of the study. Within the study following the recommendations of Torchim (2001) statistical analysis are conducted through a progression or series of analysis using the SPSS. During the initial phase descriptive statistics is use to describe and summarize the data obtain within the study. The second phase of analysis is focused on the use of multivariate analysis to determine the relationship between specific items. This is conducted through the use of cross tabulation of nominal data between selected variables in the study. The Chi-square statistics is used to examine the significant effect of one variable on another. Statistical significance is to be set at an alpha level of 0.05. Limitations There might be few limitations when we will find the result of this study, firstly as we are taking the sample from particular states so there might be difference in views of other people and the small sample size may also give the results not very much accurate. Ethical Considerations While conducting research there will be some ethical considerations. Before conducting the research the permission will be taken from the appropriate management. Researcher’s personal biases and opinions should not get in the way of the research. Research should be conducted under the assumption that researchers will keep research findings anonymous in any case. During research process, it should be made sure that researchers will not take advantage of participants who are easily accessible; participants should be chosen according to their availability. Participants can be with draw any time if they want to quit. The results of the experiment will be kept confidential and researchers will use results with participants’ permission for research purposes. Participants should feel free to ask any question about the research and they will be provided with the outcome of the research. References Babbie, E. R. (2001). Survey Research Methods. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Pub. Co., 11-16 Ford, R.C., Fottler, M.D. (2005), "Empowerment: a matter of degree", Academy of Management Executive, pp.21-31. Huczynski, A. (1993), Management Gurus, Routledge, London. Hutchings, K., Michailova, S. (2006), "Impacts of culture and institutions on knowledge sharing in Russia and China", International Journal of Emerging Markets, Vol. 1 No.1, pp.21-34. Kotter, J.P. (2000), A Force for Change: How Leadership Differs from Management, The Free Press, New York, NY., . Trochim, W. (2001). The research methods knowledge base, 1st edition. OH: Atomic Dog Publishing, 23-25. Zechmeister, E. B. (1997). A practical introduction to research methods in psychology (3rd Ed.) NY: Mc Graw Hill, 18-20. Read More