An Analysis of Gender Differences in Leadership Style and Their Influence on Organizational Effectiveness in the Us Air Force

• Main Author: Robinson, Glenda F
• Format: Dissertation
• Language: English
• Published: ProQuest Dissertations & Theses 01-01-2021
• Subjects: Educational leadership
• ISBN: 9798597099262

Leadership is a key factor for determining success or failure of an organization. As a result, a number of organizations underperformed and failed to achieve their objectives because of problems associated with leadership. Therefore, it is important to study leadership styles and address accompanying problems to enhance organizational success (Haile, 2017). As more women assumed leadership roles in the workplace, the necessity for understanding the contributing factors to their success is vital. Studies focused on leadership style found that women employed more participative leader behaviors (Eagly and Johnson, 1990) and were more people oriented (Fox and Schuhmann, 1999) than male peers. Research showed that male followers were more likely to resist female leadership than female followers (Brenner, Tomkiewicz, & Schein, 1989). The purpose of this quantitative, causal comparison research design was to determine if there is a statistically significant relationship between leadership styles of different genders and organizational effectiveness. As research had determined, the pipeline for female leaders seemed to be widening. Women have made significant gains in educational attainment in recent decades, better positioning themselves not only for career success but also for leadership positions (Pew Research Center, 2015). Approximately 159 male and female leaders employed with the U.S. Airforce participated in the research. Participants were given a website address showing the location of the survey. The survey population included respondents assigned to a special operations reserve unit that employs about1300 part-time reservists, more than 280 Air Reserve Technicians, 47 civilians and 86 Active Guard Reserve members supporting day-to-day operations. The unit provides operations and maintenance personnel to support the non-standard aviation, foreign internal defense and combat aviation advisor programs for the Air Force Special Operations Command through the use of the C-145A and C-146A aircraft. It also employs the MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aerial system in a geographically separated classic association with the 27th Special Operations Wing, Cannon AFB, N.M. The wing supports AFSOC and AFRC taskings relating to operations, maintenance, security forces, civil engineering, communications, logistics, supply, transportation, services and personnel functions. Because of the unique characteristics of this unit, this research study would be an ideal representation of the U. S. Air Force. Based on the findings of this study, the analysis found there was not a statistically significant relationship between transformational leadership style, but it did find there was a statistically significant relationship between transactional leadership style of different genders and organizational effectiveness in the U. S. Air Force when controlling for age, salary, ethnicity and leadership position.