Share:


Leadership styles in Ecuadorian companies: application of the Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire (MLQ)

Abstract

Leadership has been widely studied worldwide, emphasizing changes that individuals with particular qualities achieve from the transformational and transactional. The objective is to evaluate the relationship between transformational and transactional leadership styles taking into account the effort and effectiveness perceived by followers in Ecuadorian public and private companies. Visions of seminal authors are analyzed on the subject Avolio and Bass, Emeka, Feliciano et al., Gutiérrez et al., Mirzani, among others. The research was quantitative, non-experimental, cross-sectional, and explanatory. The MLQ instrument (Avolio & Bass, 1991) was used, the sample was non-probabilistic for convenience, with 519 workers from Ecuador participating. SPSS V25 and SmartPLS4 software were used. Don’t exist significant differences in transformational leadership about gender, but there are in transactional leadership. By type of company, it was evidenced that there are no significant differences regarding transformational leadership, more so when analyzing transactional leadership. Men apply transactional leadership to a greater extent than women, demonstrating that transformational leadership is applied in the private sector in a higher percentage. Gender moderates the relationship between transformational leadership and effort, as well as the relationship between transactional leadership with effort and effectiveness. No evidence of any moderating effect of company type on the relationship between leadership styles and effort was found.

Keyword : management characteristics, Ecuadorian companies, leadership styles, leadership, Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire

How to Cite
Melean Romero, R. A., Manosalvas Vaca, C. A., Guerrero Bejarano, M. A., Hermenegildo, A. M., & De la Torre Tejada, J. A. (2023). Leadership styles in Ecuadorian companies: application of the Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire (MLQ). Business: Theory and Practice, 24(2), 544–556. https://doi.org/10.3846/btp.2023.18987
Published in Issue
Dec 8, 2023
Abstract Views
450
PDF Downloads
317
Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

References

Albrecht, J., Björklund, A., & Vroman, S. (2003). Is there a glass ceiling in Sweden? Journal of Labor Economics, 21(1), 145–177. https://doi.org/10.1086/344126

Alcázar, P. (2020). Leadership style and organizational commitment: Impact of transformational leadership. Economía coyuntural, Revista de temas de coyuntura y perspectivas, 5(4), 89–121.

Arwika, M., & Irsutami, I. (2022, October). The effect of leadership style, trust in boss, and job satisfaction on employee performance (case study on manufacturing companies in Batamindo Industrial Park Area). In Proceedings of the 4th International Conference on Applied Economics and Social Science, ICAESS 2022. Batam, Riau Islands, Indonesia. https://doi.org/10.4108/eai.5-10-2022.2325841

Arzi, S., & Farahbod, L. (2014). The impact of leadership style on job satisfaction: A study of Iranian Hotels. Interdisciplinary Journal of Contemporary Research in Business, 6(3), 171–186.

Asgari, A., Mezginejad, S., & Taherpour, F. (2020). The role of leadership styles in organizational citizenship behavior through the mediation of perceived organizational support and job satisfaction. Innovar: Revista de Ciencias Administrativas y Sociales, 30(75), 87–98. https://doi.org/10.15446/innovar.v30n75.83259

Avolio, B., & Bass, B. (1991). The full-range of leadership development. Center for Leadership Studies.

Avolio, B., & Bass, B. (2004). Multifactor leadership questionnaire (3rd ed.). Manual and Sampler Set. Mind Garden, Inc.

Avolio, B., Bass, B., & Jung, D. (1995). MLQ multifactor leadership questionnaire (Technical report). Mind Garden.

Bajcar, B., & Babiak, J. (2022). Transformational and transactional leadership in the Polish organizational context: Validation of the full and short forms of the multifactor leadership questionnaire. Frontiers in Psychology, 13, 908594. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.908594

Baltazar, J., & Franco, M. (2023). The influence of different leadership styles on the entrepreneurial process: A qualitative study. Economies, 11(2), 36. https://doi.org/10.3390/economies11020036

Bartram, T., & Casimir, G. (2007). The relationship between leadership and follower in-role performance and satisfaction with the leader: The mediating effects of empowerment and trust in the leader. Leadership & Organization Development Journal, 28(1), 4–19. https://doi.org/10.1108/01437730710718218

Bass, B. M. (1985). Leadership and performance beyond expectations. Free Press.

Bass, B. M., & Avolio, B. J. (1990). Developing transformational leadership: 1992 and beyond. Journal of European Industrial Training, 14(5). https://doi.org/10.1108/03090599010135122

Berbel Sánchez, S. (2014). Leadership and gender: Analysis of conceptual divergences and their effects on feminist theory and practice. Quaderns de Psicologia, 16(1), 73–84. https://doi.org/10.5565/rev/qpsicologia.1204

Birasnav, M. (2014). Knowledge management and organizational performance in the service industry: The role of transformational leadership beyond the effects of transactional leadership. Journal of Business Research, 67(8), 1622–1629. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2013.09.006

Blanchard, K. H., Zigarmi, D., & Nelson, R. B. (1993). Situational Leadership® after 25 years: A retrospective. Journal of Leadership Studies, 1(1), 21–36. https://doi.org/10.1177/107179199300100104

Camps Del Valle, V., Pérez Santiago, J. A., & Martínez Lugo, M. E. (2010). Comparison by gender of leadership styles in a sample of managers in Puerto Rico. Revista Puertorriqueña de Psicología, 21, 113–132. https://www.redalyc.org/articulo.oa?id=233218111005

Capcha-Hinostroza, K. E. (2020). High management program in the transformational leadership of directors of the District of Yanahuanca, Pasco, 2017. Revista Identidad, 6(1), 7–14. https://doi.org/10.46276/rifce.v6i1.860

Cardona, P., & Rey, C. (2009). El liderazgo centrado en la misión. Harvard Deusto Business Review, 47–56. http://ow.ly/uKlh30opJ8q

Chin, W. W. (1998). The partial least squares approach to structural equation modeling. In G. A. Marcoulides (Ed.), Modern methods for business research (pp. 295–336). Psychology Press.

Coca Herbas, L. J. (2017). Transformational leadership and leadership traits: Effect of selected human resource management practices in financial intermediation entities in Cochabamba. Revista Perspectivas, 40, 95–114. http://www.scielo.org.bo/scielo.php?pid=S1994-37332017000200005&script=sci_arttext

Cotter, D. A., Hermsen, J. M., Ovadia, S., & Vanneman, R. (2001). The glass ceiling effect. Social Forces, 80(2), 655–681. https://doi.org/10.1353/sof.2001.0091

Cuadrado, I., & Molero, F. (2002). Transformational leadership and gender: Self-assessments of Spanish managers and directives. Revista de Psicología del Trabajo y de las Organizaciones, 18(1), 39–55. https://www.redalyc.org/pdf/2313/231317661002.pdf

Dubrin, A. J. (2001). Leadership: Research findings, practice, and skills (3rd ed.). Houghton Mifflin.

Dunkerley, D. (1972). Leadership styles and leadership effectiveness. Personnel Review, 1(4), 57–62. https://doi.org/10.1108/eb055217

Eagly, A. H., & Johannesen-Schmidt, M. C. (2001). The leadership styles of women and men. Journal of Social Issues, 57(4), 781–797. https://doi.org/10.1111/0022-4537.00241

Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean. (2019). Economic Outlook for Latin America 2019: Development in transition. CEPAL. https://repositorio.cepal.org/bitstream/handle/11362/44525/S1900182_es.pdf?sequence=4

Eliophotou Menon, M. (2014). The relationship between transformational leadership, perceived leader effectiveness and teachers’ job satisfaction. Journal of Educational Administration, 52(4), 509–528. https://doi.org/10.1108/JEA-01-2013-0014

Emeka, E. (2022). Relationship between leadership styles and organizational effectiveness: A study of Zenith Bank PLC. Journal of Psychology and Behavioural Disciplines, COOU, 2(3), 100–110. https://www.nigerianjournalsonline.com/index.php/JPBD_COOU/article/viewFile/2914/2830

Escandon-Barbosa, D. M., & Hurtado-Ayala, A. (2016). Influence of leadership styles on the performance of Colombian exporting companies. Estudios Gerenciales, 32(139), 137–145. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.estger.2016.04.001

Farahani, M., Taghadosi, M., & Behboudi, M. (2011). An exploration of the relationship between transformational leadership and organizational commitment: The moderating effect of emotional intelligence: Case study in Iran. International Business Research, 4(4), 211–217. https://doi.org/10.5539/ibr.v4n4p211

Feliciano, A. Z., Feliciano, E. E., Osman, A., Nabong, I. A., Yumang, J. S, Apostol, A. P., Lopez, Jr. R. L., Salunga, F. F., & Roque, M. L. (2022). Integrating leadership with work engagement in nursing: A correlational study. International Journal of Advanced and Applied Sciences, 9(11), 1–9. https://doi.org/10.21833/ijaas.2022.11.001

Fernández, C., & Quintero, N. (2017). Transformational and transactional leadership in Venezuelan entrepreneurs. Revista Venezolana De Gerencia, 22(77), 56–74. https://doi.org/10.31876/revista.v22i77.22498

García Solarte, M. (2015). Papel de los seguidores en el desarrollo de las teorías de liderazgo organizacional. Apuntes del CENES, 34(59), 155–184. https://doi.org/10.19053/22565779.3542

García-Solarte, M., Salas-Arbelaez, L., & Gaviria Martinez, E. (2017). Leadership styles of men and women in SMEs. AD-Minister, 31, 25–46. https://doi.org/10.17230/ad-minister.31.2

Gemeda, H., & Lee, J. (2020). Leadership styles, work engagement and outcomes among information and communications technology professionals: A cross-national study. Heliyon, 6(4), 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e03699

Guerrero Bejarano, M. A., Manosalvas Vaca, C., Salvador García, C. R., Carhuancho-Mendoza, I. M., Maino Isaías, A. A., & Silva Siu, D. R. (2021). The mediation of job satisfaction in the relationship between leadership style and organizational commitment. Apuntes Universitarios, 11(2), 234–265. https://doi.org/10.17162/au.v11i2.657

Gutiérrez Olvera, S., Montañez Moya, G. S., & Haro Ruíz, M. Á. (2022). Leadership and organizational culture in family businesses: From a gender perspective. In M. A. Mora Cantellano, O. Serrano, S. Erendire, & V. E. Mota Flores (Coords.), Reconfiguring territories from culture, the empowerment of women and new tourism (pp. 319–338). UNAM-AMECIDER, México. http://ru.iiec.unam.mx/5896

Hair, J. F., Risher, J. J., Sarstedt, M., & Ringle, C. M. (2019). When to use and how to report the results of PLS-SEM. European Business Review, 31(1), 2–24. https://doi.org/10.1108/EBR-11-2018-0203

Hermawan, A., & Arief, N. N. (2023). The analysis of organizational culture for improving corporate performance at PT. XYZ discreet. International Journal of Current Science Research and Review, 6(1), 245–254. https://doi.org/10.47191/ijcsrr/V6-i1-26

Hernández-Sampieri, R., & Mendoza, C. (2018). Investigation methodology. The quantitative, qualitative and mixed routes. McGraw-Hill.

Hofstede, G. (1983). The cultural relativity of organizational practices and theories. Journal of International Business Studies, 14(2), 75–89. https://doi.org/10.1057/palgrave.jibs.8490867

Jannoo, Z., Wah Yap, B., Auchoybur, N., & Alias Lazim, M. (2014). The effect of nonnormality on CB-SEM and PLS-SEM path estimates. International Journal of Computational Science and Engineering, 8(2), 29–35. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/274709443_The_Effect_of_Nonnormality_on_CB-SEM_and_PLS-SEM_Path_Estimates

Jauregui Arroyo, R. R. (2023). Estilos de liderazgo en las pequeñas empresas textiles en el Perú. Económicas CUC, 44(1). https://doi.org/10.17981/econcuc.44.1.2023.Org.2

Jauregui-Arroyo, R. R., Avila, N. M. G., & Rondon-Jara, E. (2023). Leadership styles of millennials and their influence on the performance of small companies in the textile manufacturing sector. Innovar, 33(89). https://doi.org/10.15446/innovar.v33n89.107047

Jiménez, A., & Villanueva, M. (2018). Los estilos de liderazgo y su influencia en la organización: Estudio de casos en el Campo de Gibraltar. Gestión Joven, 18, 183–195. http://elcriterio.com/revista/contenidos_18/13.pdf

Johnson, N. A., & Holdaway, E. A. (1991). Perceptions of effectiveness and the satisfaction of principals in elementary schools. Journal of Educational Administration, 29(1). https://doi.org/10.1108/EUM0000000002468

Kline, R. B. (2016). Principles and practice of structural equation modeling (4th ed.). The Guilford Press.

Komari, N., & Djafar, F. (2013). Work ethics, work satisfaction and organizational commitment at the Sharia Bank, Indonesia. International Business Research, 6(12), 107–117. https://doi.org/10.5539/ibr.v6n12p107

Kouzes, J., & Posner, B. (1997). The leadership challenge. Jossey-Bass.

Londoño-Proaño, C. (2022). Leadership styles in the Ecuadorian public media. Revista De Comunicación, 21(1), 251–272. https://doi.org/10.26441/RC21.1-2022-A13

López-Lemus, J. A., De la Garza Carranza, M. A., & Zavala Bervena, M. A. (2020). Strategic leadership, negotiation and its influence on the perception of prestige in small companies. Innovar, 30(75), 57–70. https://doi.org/10.15446/innovar.v30n75.83257

Lozado, L. (2013). Impacto de los estilos de liderazgo en el clima institucional del bachillerato de la unidad educativa María Auxiliadora de riobamba. Alteridad, 8(2), 192–206. https://doi.org/10.17163/alt.v8n2.2013.06

Lupano Perugini, M., & Castro Solano, A. (2006). Estudios sobre el liderazgo. Teorías y evaluación. Psicodebate, 6, 107–122. https://doi.org/10.18682/pd.v6i0.444

Lupano Perugini, M., & Castro Solano, A. (2005). Individual differences in implicit theories of leadership and perceived organizational culture. Boletín de Psicología, 85, 89–109. https://dialnet.unirioja.es/servlet/articulo?codigo=1709092

Madrigal Torres, B. E. (2009). The teaching and learning of basic motor skills and abilities (2da. ed.). McGraw Hill.

Magno, F., Cassia, F., & Ringle, C. M. (2022). A brief review of partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) use in quality management studies. The TQM Journal. https://doi.org/10.1108/TQM-06-2022-0197

Mañas-Rodríguez, M., Díaz-Fúnez, P., Llopis-Marín, J., Nieto-Escámez, F., & Salvador-Ferrer, C. (2020). Relationship between transformational leadership, affective commitment, and turnover intention of workers in a multinational company. International Journal of Social Psychology, 35(1), 100–115. https://doi.org/10.1080/02134748.2019.1682292

Marchionni, M., Gasparini, L., & Edo, M. (2019). Gender gaps in Latin America. A state of situation Caracas. CAF. http://scioteca.caf.com/handle/123456789/1401

Mena Méndez, D. (2019). Organizational culture, general elements, mediations, and impact on the comprehensive development of institutions. Pensamiento & Gestión, 46, 11–47. https://doi.org/10.14482/pege.46.1203

Mendoza-Solís, L. A., Soler-Huerta, E., Sainz-Vázquez, L., Gil-Alfaro, I., Mendoza-Sánchez, H. F., & Pérez-Hernández, C. (2006). Analysis of family dynamics and functionality in primary care. Archives in Family Medicine, 8(1), 27–32. https://www.medigraphic.com/cgi-bin/new/resumen.cgi?IDARTICULO=8430

Mirzani, Y. (2023). A study on leadership styles and its impact on organizational success. EPRA International Journal of Economics, Business and Management Studies (EBMS), 10(1), 1–19. https://doi.org/10.36713/epra12138

Montoya Agudelo, C. A., & Boyero Saavedra, M. R. (2016). Human resources as a fundamental element for quality management and organizational competitiveness. Revista Científica “Visión de Futuro”, 20(2), 1–20. https://www.redalyc.org/journal/3579/357947335001/html/

Munduate, L. (2014). Gender and leadership. Differences between men and women in access to management positions. Revista de Psicología Social, 18(3), 309–314. https://doi.org/10.1174/021347403322470873

Newstrom, J. W. (2011). Human behavior at work. McGraw-Hill.

Norena, D., Guevara, R., & Bustamante, D. R. (2021). Influence of leadership styles on innovative behavior of students of higher technological military education. Revista Científica General José María Córdova, 19(36), 889–908. https://doi.org/10.21830/19006586.817

Otzen, T., & Manterola, C. (2017). Sampling techniques on a study population. International Journal of Morphology, 35(1), 227–232. https://doi.org/10.4067/S0717-95022017000100037

Papworth, M. A., Milne, D., & Boak, G. (2009). An exploratory content analysis of situational leadership. Journal of Management Development, 28(7), 593–606. https://doi.org/10.1108/02621710910972706

Paterna, C., & Martínez Martínez, M. (2009). Influence of gender variables on the distribution of domestic and care tasks. Interamerican Journal of Psychology, 43(2), 241–249. http://pepsic.bvsalud.org/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0034-96902009000200005&lng=pt&tlng=es

Pedraja-Rejas, L. M., Marchioni-Choque, Í. A., Espinoza-Marchant, C. J., & Muñoz-Fritis, C. P. (2020). Leadership and organizational culture as factors of influence on university quality: A conceptual analysis. Formación Universitaria, 13(5), 3–14. https://doi.org/10.4067/S0718-50062020000500003

Peralta, Y. F. S. (2010). Aplicación del MLQ a formadores de RRHH: Un estudio descriptivo [MLQ application to HR trainers: A descriptive study]. Cuadernos De Estudios Empresariales, 20, 127–144.

Powell, G. N., & Butterfield, D. A. (2015). The glass ceiling: What have we learned 20 years on? Journal of Organizational Effectiveness: People and Performance, 2(4), 306–326. https://doi.org/10.1108/JOEPP-09-2015-0032

Quintana, T. A., Park, S., & Cabrera, Y. A. (2015). Assessing the effects of leadership styles on employees’ outcomes in international luxury hotels. Journal of Business Ethics, 129, 469–489. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-014-2170-3

Ramírez Méndez, G. A. (2013). Organizational leadership. A permanent challenge. Universidad & Empresa, 15(25), 5–11. http://www.redalyc.org/articulo.oa?id=187229746001

Rivera Porras, D. A., Carrillo Sierra, S. M., Forgiony Santos, J. O., Nuván Hurtado, I. L., & Rozo Sánchez, A. C. (2018). Organizational culture, challenges and challenges for healthy organizations. Revista ESPACIOS, 39(22). https://www.revistaespacios.com/a18v39n22/18392227.html

Rodríguez-Ponce, E., Pedraja-Rejas, L., & Ganga-Contreras, F. (2017). The relationship between leadership styles and the performance of middle management teams: An exploratory study from Chile. Contabilidad y Negocios: Revista del Departamento Académico de Ciencias Administrativas, 12(23), 129–144. https://doi.org/10.18800/contabilidad.201701.009

Rojero-Jiménez, R., Gómez-Romero, J. G. I., & Quintero-Robles, L. M. (2019). Transformational leadership and its influence on the attributes of followers in Mexican MSMEs. Estudios Gerenciales, 35(151). https://doi.org/10.18046/j.estger.2019.151.3192

Ruíz, S. (2016). Transformational and transactional leadership: Analysis through the gender variable. Revista Iberoamericana de Ciencias, 3(1), 30–45. http://www.reibci.org/publicados/2016/feb/1400104.pdf

Saavedra Mayorga, J. J. (2019). Towards a critical perspective of the teaching of leadership in schools of Administration. Cuadernos De Administración, 32(59). https://doi.org/10.11144/Javeriana.cao32-59.hpcel

Savery, L. K., & Syme, P. D. (1996). Organizational commitment and hospital pharmacists. Journal of Management Development, 15(1), 14–22. https://doi.org/10.1108/02621719610107773

Serrano Orellana, B. J., & Portalanza, C. A. (2014). Influence of leadership on organizational climate. Suma de Negocios, 5(11), 117–125. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2215-910X(14)70026-6

Shurbagi, A. M., & Zahari, I. B. (2012). The relationship between organizational culture and job satisfaction in national oil corporation of Libya. International Business Research, 5(9), 89–97. https://www.ccsenet.org/journal/index.php/ibr/article/view/19622

Soomro, B. A., Shah, N., & Mangi, S. (2019). Factors affecting the entrepreneurial leadership in small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) of Pakistan: An empirical evidence. World Journal of Entrepreneurship, Management and Sustainable Development, 15(1), 31–44. https://doi.org/10.1108/WJEMSD-05-2018-0054

Thompson, G., & Glasø, L. (2015). Situational leadership theory: A test from three perspectives. Leadership & Organization Development Journal, 36(5), 527–544. https://doi.org/10.1108/LODJ-10-2013-0130

Vargas-Salgado, M. M., Máynez-Guaderrama, A. I., & Gómez-Bull, K. G. (2023). Ethical leadership: Its relationship with conflicts, trust and knowledge transfer. Innovar, 33(88). https://doi.org/10.15446/innovar.v33n88.106279

Willman Carvajal, S., & Velasco Arango, M. I. (2011). Relationship between the perceptions of the leadership style of the immediate boss with the work performance of the students in practice at the Icesi University. Estudios Gerenciales, 27(118), 67–84. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0123-5923(11)70146-2

Xirasagar, S. (2008). Transformational, transactional and laissez-faire leadership among physician executives. Journal of Health Organization and Management, 22(6), 599–613. https://doi.org/10.1108/14777260810916579

Yaghoubipoor, A., Puay Tee, O., & Musa Ahmed, E. (2013). Impact of the relationship between transformational and traditional leadership styles on Iran’s automobile industry job satisfaction. World Journal of Entrepreneurship, Management and Sustainable Development, 9(1), 14–27. https://doi.org/10.1108/20425961311315692

Yukl, G. A. (1990). Managerial leadership: A review of theory and research. Ciencia y Sociedad, 15(4), 441–507. https://doi.org/10.22206/cys.1990.v15i4.pp441-507

Zárate-Torres, R., Rey-Sarmiento F., Prada, R., & Acosta-Prado, J. (2022). Leadership style according to gender: Differences based on the personality of men and women. Revista Venezolana de Gerencia, 27(Especial 7), 167–185. https://doi.org/10.52080/rvgluz.27.7.12