Leadership style profiles of retail managers: personal, organizational and managerial characteristics

• Published in: International journal of retail & distribution management Vol. 30; no. 4; pp. 186 - 201
• Main Authors: Shim, Soyeon, Lusch, Robert F, Goldsberry, Ellen
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bradford MCB UP Ltd 01.04.2002; Emerald Group Publishing Limited
• Subjects: Cluster analysis; Flexibility; Leadership; Management styles; Management theory; Managers; Open systems; Retail stores; Retail trade; Retailing industry; Roles; United States > US; Leadership; Retail trade; Managers
• ISSN: 0959-0552; 1758-6690
• DOI: 10.1108/09590550210423663

Using survey data (n = 205) obtained from retail managers and executives of national retail chain store companies, we identified three leadership styles that were based on Quinn's theoretical model of competing leadership roles. Three leadership clusters, labeled loner internal-focused, team builder goal-oriented, and conceptual producer external-focused, were identified through the use of a clustering technique. These three clusters were then compared on the basis of personal, organizational and managerial characteristics, using multivariate and univariate analyses of variance. The findings indicate that leadership styles are influenced by various factors such as personal values, job characteristics, job satisfaction, organizational commitment, career progression, and personal demographic characteristics. Theoretical and managerial implications are discussed.