EMPIRICAL STUDIES ON LEADERSHIP OF MIDDLE MANAGEMENT IN PRIVATE ENTERPRISES

Abstract

Leadership of middle management in private enterprises was empirically examined.
We prepared a questionnaire including both items measuring different aspects of supervisory behavior of middle management and items measuring such criterion variables as their subordinates' motivation, satisfaction and group processes. Survey was conducted in a large manufacturing company. Respondents were immediate subordinates of middle management and they described their superior's leadeship and their own motivation, satisfaction and group processes.
Items tapping leadership were submitted to factor-analysis. As a result, “Factor of performance-oriented behavior (P behavior) ” and “Factor of group maintenance-oriented behavior (M behavior) ” emerged. Furthermore, factor-analyzing items which had high loadings on Factor of P behavior produced Factor of “planning”, “execution”, “initiation”, “guidance”, “strictess” and “coordination”. Also, factor-analyzing items which had high loadings on Factor of M behavior produced Factor of “consideration”, “fairness” and “self-righteousness”.
Relationship between leadership and criterion variables were examined. It was found that, under middle management who scored high in both P behavior and M behavior, subordinates showed high motivation, high satisfaction and effective group processes. Middle management who scored high in only M behavior ranked second, those who scored high in only P behavior ranked third and those who scored low in both P behavior and M behavior ranked last in criterion variables.