The Ability of students undertaking the Master of Business Administration course to apply the transformational leadership style: a case of Strathmore Business School Students

Date
2014
Authors
Omukoko, Sellah Shimwenyi
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Strathmore University
Abstract
The role of transformational leadership in organizational development is one of the determinants for investments by firms and individuals in training. Transformational leadership elevates the minds and hearts of individuals and enlarges their vision, insights, and understanding in a self-perpetuating, and momentum-building manner. Therefore, training business leaders to offer transformational leadership provides the opportunity for organizational development in a sustainable way. This study assessed the enhancement of transformational leadership in organizations with regard to Strathmore Business School (SBS) students. SBS is at the forefront of developing transformative business leaders in -anticipation that the students will be transformed and in turn change the way of running businesses. This study therefore aimed at analysing the ability of students enrolled in the Master of Business Administration course (MBA) at SBS to apply the transformational leadership style at their workplaces while undertaking the course in SBS. The specific research objectives were; to examine the ability of students to spur the idealized influence of a leader in the organization; to establish the extent to which students apply the inspirational motivation of a leader in the organization; to determine the ability of students to drive intellectual stimulation of a leader in the organization and to investigate the ability of students to apply individualized consideration of a leader in the organization. The research design was descriptive. A quantitative sampling design was applied and a stratified random sample of 55 respondents was drawn from the population. Quantitative and qualitative data were collected from 2nd year MBA 2014 and the graduating class of MBA 2014. The data were analysed using factor analysis, correlation matrix, and content analysis. The results of the study indicate that the respondents apply the idealized influence of transformational leaders. They aligned personal values to the organizational mission by having rigorous induction, which synchronized the organization's values with personal values. This helped to build strong brands and allowed team participation in policy-making that helped to harmonize personal values and the mission. They cited personal values such as integrity, honesty, and respect that their organizations also believed in and encouraged everyone to practice. A further area of study includes a comparison with similar programs at other private universities in Kenya and/or the same study cantered to SBS alumni.
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Submitted in partial fulfillment of the award of the Master's in Business Administration at Strathmore Business School, Strathmore University
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