Correlations of followership and leadership styles of Medical Science Liaisons within the pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical industry

• Main Author: Burke, Lisa M
• Format: Dissertation
• Language: English
• Published: ProQuest Dissertations & Theses 01.01.2009
• Subjects: Collaboration; Correlation analysis; Decision making; Employees; Leadership; Management; Management styles; Studies
• ISBN: 1109127626; 9781109127621

The purpose of this quantitative exploratory study was to explore the correlation between individual followership styles and individual leadership styles. This study evaluated the correlation between Kelley's (1992) active engagement and independent, critical thinking skills as dimensions of followership to the individual leadership style relating to task and relationship behavior along with style adaptability. The population of this study was Medical Science Liaisons (MSLs) as knowledge workers employed in the pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical industry. Quantitative data was collected utilizing Kelley's (1992) followership questionnaire as described in The Power of Followership: How to Create Leaders People want to Follow, and Followers who Lead Themselves and leadership style was measured by the LEAD self instrument (Center for Leadership Studies, 2005a). The vast majority of MSLs were exemplary followers. Most MSLs had primary or secondary leadership styles of selling or participating. This quantitative analysis suggested a strong association between the MSL's followership style and leadership style. An association exists between the followership dimensions of active engagement and independent, critical thinking and leadership style (both relationship and task behavior). Alternatively, there is no evidence of a correlation between the followership dimensions of active engagement and independent, critical thinking and the leadership style adaptability level.