Background: In recent years, a new generation has rapidly entered the workforce and when this happens it is assumed that some level of disruption will come along. Since Generation Z have only been in the workforce for short amount of time, there is a lack of crucial research regarding their perceived experiences. Because different generations are assumed to have different values, a prominent challenge for organizations is how to correctly lead them. In other words, leadership preferences may differ when a new generation comes into play. Problem: As of today, there is a substantial knowledge gap regarding Generation Z preferred leadership styles among entry-level jobs. This knowledge gap can cause devastating effects for future organizations. Generation Z is a force to be reckoned with and shall soon become a prevailing member of the labor market in the near future. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to analyze the Swedish Generation Z preferred leadership styles, based on lived experiences in an entry-level job and to what extent they prefer transformational, transactional or laissez-faire leadership. The findings are expected to contribute to existing and new theoretical insights regarding Gen Z leadership preferences. Method: The research was conducted through seven qualitative semi-structured, open-ended interviews, which were analyzed using interpretive phenomenological analysis (IPA). Results: The findings described Generation Z ideal leader based on their thoughts and lived experiences. Gen Z prefers a leader that displays individual consideration, inspires followers and acts as a role model. These characteristics traits bare close resemblance of a transformational leader compared to transactional or laissez-fair leader. Acknowledging these results could contribute to a competitive advantage for organizations during their recruitment and development phase of Gen Z employees.

Ledarskapsteori är ett viktigt ämne inom forskning, för att göra det möjligt att optimera prestation och trivsel hos medarbetare i organisationer. Det skapar även möjligheter för ledare att anpassa sig efter sina medarbetare och skapa trivsamma och produktiva arbetsplatser.   Denna studie undersöker sambandet mellan ålder och ledarskapspreferenser hos HR-anställda i Sverige. HR-anställda ansågs vara relevanta att studera då de har stor påverkan på hälsan hos alla anställda på en arbetsplats. Studien utfördes i form av en enkät som besvarades av 221 respondenter, där 21 frågor från instrumentet Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire, MLQ, besvarades. Frågorna mätte ledarstilarna Transformativt ledarskap, Transaktionellt ledarskap samt Laissez faire-ledarskap. Dessutom togs hänsyn till fyra olika generationsindelningar i studien; Baby Boomers, Generation X, Generation Y och Generation Z. Dessa representerar åldern på den arbetskraft som befinner sig på arbetsmarknaden idag.   Resultatet visade på ett negativt samband mellan ålder och preferens för transformativt ledarskap, vilket indikerar att yngre personer föredrar ledare som är mer transformativa i sitt ledarskap. Det fanns även samband mellan preferens för olika ledarstilar, vilket tyder på att en ökad preferens för en av ledarstilarna indikerar en högre preferens för ytterligare en ledarstil. Studien ställer sig kritisk till generationsindelningar, då det inte fanns några signifikanta skillnader mellan preferenserna hos individer från olika generationer. / Leadership theory is an important subject within research, to create information and knowledge of how leadership preferences can differ between individuals. It also creates an opportunity for leaders to adapt their leadership to different co-workers and create healthy workplaces.   The purpose of this study was to investigate the correlation between age and leadership preference in HR-employees in Sweden. HR-employees was considered to be relevant since they are accountable for the health of all employees at a workplace. A survey was conduced, where the 221 respondents answered 21 questions from the questionnaire Multifactor Leadership Questionnare, MLQ. The questions measured the leadership types Transformative leadership, Transactional leadership and Laissez-faire leadership. Four generations were also considered; Baby Boomers, Generation X, Generation Y and Generation Z, which represent the age of the workforce in Sweden at the time the study was conducted.   The study found a negative correlation between age and preference for Transformative leadership, which indicated that younger people prefer leaders who are transformative in their leadership. There were also correlations between preferences for different leadership types, where a higher preference for one leadership type also indicated a higher preference for another leadership type. The study is critical to dividing and judging people based on generation, since there were no differences between the preferences in individuals from different generations.

Les conséquences du leadership destructeur ont largement été documentées et étudiées; les impacts sur les subordonnés sont vastes et représentent un coût très important pour les organisations. Il en est de même pour le gestionnaire émetteur de ces comportements. Pourtant, on connaît actuellement un débalancement au sein de la littérature quant aux études recensant les conséquences versus les antécédents du leadership destructeur, alors qu’une meilleure compréhension des antécédents nous permettrait de pouvoir prévenir ces comportements. De plus, peu d’études se sont intéressées au vécu du gestionnaire lui-même et son contexte tel qu’il le perçoit ainsi qu’à la relation entre sa santé psychologique, plus précisément l’épuisement professionnel et ses comportements de leadership. Cette thèse cherche à fournir des éléments de réponses à ces lacunes à travers deux objectifs. Le premier objectif de cette thèse est de mieux comprendre comment un gestionnaire en vient à émettre ce type de comportements, entre autres à mieux comprendre la relation entre la perception qu’il a de son contexte de travail, son niveau d’épuisement professionnel et la fréquence à laquelle il émet des comportements de leadership destructeur en utilisant un modèle de médiation. Le second objectif est l’étude des ressources personnelles du gestionnaire et comment celles-ci peuvent faire une différence quant au niveau d’épuisement du gestionnaire. L’innovation de cette thèse réside dans son modèle intégrateur permettant de mieux comprendre la relation entre ces différentes variables et leur impact respectif sur le leadership. Pour ce faire, plus de 500 gestionnaires ont été interrogés sur leur contexte de travail, leur épuisement professionnel et leurs comportements de leadership. Des analyses de médiation modérée à l’aide du logiciel statistique « JASP » ont été réalisées. Les résultats indiquent un effet de médiation de l’épuisement professionnel entre les demandes psychologiques et le leadership destructeur, mais uniquement pour le leadership passif-évitant ainsi qu’un effet de modération des ressources personnelles. Plus particulièrement, les habiletés politiques modèreraient la relation entre les demandes psychologiques et l’épuisement professionnel, dans ce sens où plus un gestionnaire perçoit une charge de travail élevée, plus il aurait recours à ses habiletés politiques et pourrait vivre un épuisement professionnel supérieur à celui des personnes ayant peu d’habiletés politiques. Les principaux constats de cette étude doctorale sont discutés dans les prochaines pages et ce, à la lumière de l’état actuel des connaissances. Les contributions, les limites ainsi que les pistes de recherches futures qui en découlent sont également présentées. / The consequences of destructive leadership have been widely documented and studied. The impact on subordinates is vast and represents a very significant cost to organizations, as well as for the managers exhibiting such behaviors. However, the literature is currently missing key elements in terms of studies that observe the consequences of those behaviors versus their antecedents. If we are to prevent destructive behaviors, a better understanding of the antecedents is needed. Furthermore, few studies have focused on managers’ experiences and the contexts in which they perceive those experiences, or the links between managers’ psychological health—or more specifically, their exhaustion at work—and their leadership behaviors. This thesis aims to address these gaps in the literature through two objectives. The first objective is to gain a better understanding of how managers come to engage in destructive behaviors, including an analysis of the relationship between their perception of their work context, their level of burnout and the frequency with which they exhibit destructive leadership behaviors. The second objective is to study managers’ personal resources and their possible impacts on the level of burnout experienced. The innovation of this thesis lies in its integrative model which permits a better understanding of the relationship between these variables as well as their respective impacts on leadership. To this end, over 500 managers were interviewed about their work context, burnout and leadership behaviors. Moderated mediation analyses were performed using JASP statistical software. The results reveal that burnout has a mediating effect on the relationship between psychological demands and destructive leadership, but only in the case of passive-avoidant leadership, and that burnout has a moderating effect on personal resources. More specifically, political skills moderate the relationship between psychological demands and burnout, in that the higher a manager perceives their workload to be, the more they resort to their political skills, and they may experience greater burnout than those with lesser political skills. The main findings of this doctoral study are discussed in the following pages in the light of the current state of knowledge. Contributions, limitations and possible avenues for future research are also presented.

El presente estudio tuvo como objetivo relacionar la percepción del estilo de liderazgo y la intención de rotación en una muestra de 114 colaboradores de una empresa privada de Lima (63.16% personal operativo y 36.84% administrativos), cuyas edades oscilan entre 21 y 70 años (Medad=38). Se utilizaron el Cuestionario Multifactorial de Liderazgo versión corta (5X) y el Cuestionario de Propensión al abandono de la organización (PAO). Los resultados reportaron correlaciones negativas y estadísticamente significativas entre la intención de rotación y los estilos de liderazgo Transformacional (r= -.267), Transaccional (r= -.301) y Laissez-faire (r= -.280). Asimismo, se reportó una diferencia estadísticamente significativa al comparar el liderazgo transformacional entre mujeres y hombres, a favor de estos últimos  (t=3.455, p< .001, d=.835). Del mismo modo, se reportó una diferencia estadísticamente significativa al comparar los estilos de liderazgo transformacional (t=4.827, p< .001, d=.937) y laissez faire (t=-2.819, p< .006, d=.549) con el área de trabajo operativa y administrativa, respectivamente. Por otro lado, se reportó una diferencia estadísticamente significativa al comparar el liderazgo transformacional según el estilo de trabajo individual (t=2.846, p< .005, d=.654). Se concluye que los estilos de liderazgo propuestos en esta investigación presentan una correlación negativa en relación con la intención de rotación de los colaboradores. / The aim of this study was to relate the perception of leadership style and turnover intention in a sample of 114 employees of a private company in Lima (63.16% operating personnel and 36.84% administrative staff), whose ages ranged from 21 to 70 years (mean age=38). The Multifactorial Leadership Questionnaire short version (5X) and the Propensity to Organizational Abandonment Questionnaire (PAO) were used. The results reported negative and statistically significant correlations between turnover intention and Transformational (r= -.267), Transactional (r= -.301) and Laissez-faire (r= -.280) leadership styles. Likewise, a statistically significant difference was reported when comparing transformational leadership between women and men, in favor of the latter (t=3.455, p< .001, d=.835). Similarly, a statistically significant difference was reported when comparing transformational (t=4.827, p< .001, d=.937) and laissez faire (t=-2.819, p< .006, d=.549) leadership styles with the operational and administrative work area, respectively. On the other hand, a statistically significant difference was reported when comparing transformational leadership according to individual work style (t=2.846, p< .005, d=.654). It is concluded that the leadership styles proposed in this research present a negative correlation in relation to the turnover intention of the collaborators. / Tesis

Framfarten av nya flexibla arbetskontexter, såsom arbete på distans och via hybrida lösningar, medför nya möjligheter och utmaningar. Organisationer behöver bibehålla konkurrenskraft, ledare anpassa sitt ledarskap och medarbetare genomgå stora förändringar i vardagen. Det blir därmed relevant att finna hur ledarskap kan underlätta denna omställning av arbetskontext. Forskningsområdet avseende relationen mellan ledarskap och organisatoriskt engagemang har under de senaste decennierna fått stor uppmärksamhet. Inom fältet är det allmänt känt att transformellt, jämfört med transaktionellt och Laissez-Faire, ledarskap leder till högst affektivt organisatoriskt engagemang. Det är emellertid fortfarande okänt hur denna relation påverkas av den anställdas arbetskontext. Utifrån detta forskningsgap formulerades denna studies forskningsfråga:   Hur påverkar interaktionen mellan uppfattat ledarskap och arbetskontexten de anställdas affektiva organisatoriska engagemang?  Syftet är att förklara hur de tre olika ledarskapsstilarna påverkar det affektiva organisatoriska engagemanget och om detta samband skiljer sig under olika arbetskontexterna traditionell, hybrid och distans. För att uppfylla detta syfte genomfördes en deduktiv kvantitativ enkätstudie med 188 respondenter vilka arbetade heltid och talade svenska. Enkäten mätte kontrollvariabler, arbetskontext samt två väl beforskade mätinstrument, DLQ och OCQ. DLQ användes för att mäta The Full Range Leadership Model (FRLM) och OCQ det affektiva organisatoriska engagemanget (AOE). En kovariansanalys (ANCOVA) undersökte ledarskapet och arbetskontextens interaktionseffekt på AOE. Resultaten visade att transformellt ledarskap vid traditionell arbetskontext och distansarbete hade positiv påverkan på AOE medan transaktionellt ledarskap i den traditionella arbetskontexten hade negativ påverkan på AOE. Dessa resultat kan bidra till att ledare får ökad förståelse av situationsanpassat ledarskap, att medarbetare får en ökad arbetstillfredsställelse och organisationer en minskad personalomsättning. Det bidrar till samhälleliga implikationer i form av ökat välmående och minskade kostnader.

This study sought to analyse the influence of principal leadership on the performance of selected schools in the Gauteng Province of South Africa. The problems addressed in the research were what leadership and leadership styles in the school context entail, concept of school performance, attributes of leadership as perceived by principals and how these attributes impact on school performance and establish whether school performance is dependent upon principal leadership and his/her leadership style. It was a qualitative study. Stakeholders of the schools were interviewed and observations were made. The relationship between leadership and leadership style, in general, and school performance were investigated. The research established that unless principals were well equipped with knowledge and skills in management and leadership, they would not be able to improve school performance. / Educational Leadership and Management / M. Ed. (Education Management)

The study evaluates the perceived effectiveness of the leadership styles of deans in Ethiopian governmental Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges. The study was contextualised within the domain of relevant leadership theory in chapter 2 (with specific emphasis on the Full Range Leadership model developed by Bass and Avolio), and within the field of Technical and Vocational Education and Training in chapter 3. A mixed method research methodology was employed in the empirical research. The quantitative part received the most emphasis, while a qualitative part was added to attempt to corroborate findings. Quantitative data were collected from teachers (219), student council members (65) and deans (10) in ten TVET colleges using the MLQ 5x short-form questionnaire, which is a standardised questionnaire of high repute. The quantitatively collected data were analysed and presented using both descriptive and inferential statistics. The qualitative part consisted of semi-structured interviews conducted with the ten deans and one TVET Bureau Head. Quantitative findings indicated that the transformational and transactional leadership styles were observed far more frequently than the laissez-faire style. Perceptions regarding the effectiveness of deans, teachers’ job satisfaction and teachers’ willingness to make an extra effort were positively and statistically significantly influenced by the presence of both the transformational and the transactional leadership styles and to a slight extent, influenced negatively by the interaction effect of the two styles. Qualitative findings mostly corroborated the quantitative findings. Recommendations emanating from the research inter alia include: Leadership training opportunities for TVET deans should be scheduled to enhance the appropriate leadership style practice of deans (especially the transformational style); resources (human, financial and materials) should be made available to TVET colleges to develop desired types of leadership in colleges; as part of the selection process when appointing new TVET deans, the leadership style/s that applicants use at that stage should be assessed; a staff-dean-team-approach will be productive if the dean practises a transformational-orientated style of leadership. / Educational Leadership and Management / D. Ed. (Educational Management)

This study sought to analyse the influence of principal leadership on the performance of selected schools in the Gauteng Province of South Africa. The problems addressed in the research were what leadership and leadership styles in the school context entail, concept of school performance, attributes of leadership as perceived by principals and how these attributes impact on school performance and establish whether school performance is dependent upon principal leadership and his/her leadership style. It was a qualitative study. Stakeholders of the schools were interviewed and observations were made. The relationship between leadership and leadership style, in general, and school performance were investigated. The research established that unless principals were well equipped with knowledge and skills in management and leadership, they would not be able to improve school performance. / Educational Leadership and Management / M. Ed. (Education Management)

I arbetsgrupper som innehåller individer med olika beteenden kan det ibland vara svårt att veta hur ett ledarskap ska bedrivas för att det ska vara tydligt samtidigt som det är effektivt och gynnar verksamheten och dess medarbetare. Ett bra ledarskap ska generera ett medarbetarskap som gör att yrkesarbetarna känner sig delaktiga och därmed engagerar sig mer i arbetsplatsen och medarbetarna.   Rapporten fokuserar på tjänstemän och yrkesarbetare i produktion samt större projekt med en stabil etablering som pågår under en längre period inom arbetsområde bygg på Peab Sverige AB. Studien har genomförts på två orter i Region Södra Norrland, Sollefteå och Östersund där forskningsfrågan har varit att ta reda på hur ett ledarskap ska bedrivas för att främja högt medarbetarskap, god psykosocial arbetsmiljö och effektiv produktion.   Studien har grundat sig i två fallstudier som baseras på en kvalitativ metod i form av sex stycken intervjuer med ett slumpmässigt urval på respektive ort. Intervjuresultatet har sedan transkriberats och analyserats till en utskriven text som fokuserar på sambanden mellan arbetsplatsens ledarskap, medarbetarskap, trivsel samt effektivitet.    I resultatet framkom det att respondenterna önskar ett ledarskap som främjar goda relationer, hög trivsel och effektivitet genom att ledaren är lyhörd, inkluderande samt kan planera och strukturera arbetet på ett bra sätt. Dessa beteenden går att hänföra till de struktur- och relationsorienterade ledarskapsdimensionerna och utesluter därmed den förändringsorienterade dimensionen. I slutsatsen framgår vikten av att tillämpa samtliga av de tre dimensionerna struktur, relation och förändring för att uppnå ett högt medarbetarskap, god psykosocial arbetsmiljö och effektiv produktion. Utifrån slutsatsen har sedan en praktiskt användbar ledarskapsmodell tagits fram för tjänstemän i byggproduktion.    Förslag på fortsatta studier inom ämnet är att göra en bredare undersökning där studien fokuserar på såväl mindre som större byggföretag i hela Sverige för att därmed åstadkomma ett fullt generaliserbart resultat.

Several interesting findings emerged from this study. First, strong labour movements still failed to successfully bargain for employment protections due to resistance from employers to encroachments on their institutionalized managerial prerogatives. Second, governments favoured a policy of abstentionism and acquiescence to the collective-laissez-faire tradition until the critical juncture of the 1960s and 1970s. Third, the increasing power resources of trade unions and a deteriorating socio-economic climate created a window of opportunity for bold government action to improve industrial relations, albeit without the consent of employers, and at first, unions. Fourth, contrary to the liberalizing pressures one would expect to find in an archetypical free market economy, the UK has implemented far more statutory protections than deregulatory reforms. Fifth, in contrast to its traditional non-intervention in industrial relations and reputation for worker-protective regulations, Swedish governments have enacted numerous statutes, both restricting and freeing managerial prerogatives in the hiring and firing process. Sixth, statutory employment protections became an independent set of institutional power resources for unions in the long run, serving their organizational and representational interests in important ways. Seventh, unions and left parties consistently defended and advanced the policy preferences of their core constituencies in secure employment by privileging the job security of regular contracts. Eighth, employers and parties on the right of the political spectrum consistently opposed restrictions on the managerial capacity to hire and fire at will, especially for small businesses. Nineth, to increase flexibility without threatening the stability of regular contracts, reforms over the years had to foster atypical forms of work, creating a regulatory gap between permanent and temporary employment, particularly in Sweden. Tenth, differences exist between job security in the statute books and job security in action, particularly in the UK where this gap pervades all aspects of the unfair dismissal system. These findings suggest employment protection legislation has developed in ways far more complex, dynamic and contradictory than is commonly assumed by prominent theories of comparative political economy. / Dissertation / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) / This thesis examines how and why employment protection legislation developed in the United Kingdom and Sweden in the ways that it did from its early beginnings to the present period. It hopes to offer answers to questions about the initial impetus for statutory regulation, the number, content and impact of significant legislative changes and the preferences of key stakeholders with material interests in the policymaking process. It does this by drawing on a variety of both primary and secondary source materials, including employment protection databases, parliamentary records and research publications. At the same time, it assesses the explanatory merit of dominant theories in the political economy literature by testing them against voluminous empirical evidence and provides a multi-factorial account to fill the gaps in the existing body of knowledge.