ABSTRACT
This study surveyed the impact of leadership style on the
performance of selected transport companies in Benue State,
Nigeria. Three transport companies were drawn in Benue State for
the study, namely: Benue Links Nigeria Limited with its headquarters
located at Wurukum, Makurdi, the Benue State capital. Denjim
Transport Company has its own corporate headquarters at 97 Gboko
Road Makurdi, Benue State while Iwiene Nigeria Limited has its head
office located at 55 Onitsha Street, Wuru Makurdi, Benue State,
Nigeria. Inherent to poor leadership style which had impeded on the
performance of these companies had led to this study. The
researcher adopted a survey design, with a population of 120 drawn
from the selected companies. This was achieved through proportional
stratified random sampling techniques. A five points rating scale
questionnaire was used to collect primary data from the research
population. The collected data were analyzed and interpreted using
percentage and mean statistic while the hypothesis were tested with
chi-square. The study discovered that leadership style affect
organizational performance of any given company. That the style of
leadership a manager adopted has a direct effect on the
organizational performance of the employee. The study among others
things discovered are, that participatory style of leadership and
delegation of duties enhances the employee performance and
attainment of corporate goals and objectives. The study therefore
concludes that achievement of organizational goal and objective
depends solely on the leadership style an organization adopted. It
therefore recommends that, since leadership style is one of the basic
tools used in attainment of organizational goal/objective, every
organization should ensure that the right leader man their
organization in order to achieve their set goal/objective.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Title Page i
Declaration ii
Approval Page iii
Dedication iv
Acknowledgements v
Abstract vi
Table of Contents vii
List of Tables viii
CHAPTER ONE
Introduction 1
1.1 Background to the Study 1
1.2 Statement of the Problem 6
1.3 Objectives of the Study 10
1.4 Research Questions 10
1.5 Research Hypotheses 11
1.6 Significance of the Study 11
1.7 Scope of the Study 12
1.8 Limitations of the Study 13
1.9 Contextual Definition of Terms 13
References 14
CHAPTER TWO
Review of Related Literature 15
2.1 Conceptual Framework 15
2.1.1 Concept of Leadership 15
2.1.2 Important Implication of the Definitions 17
2.1.3 Principles of Leadership 18
2.2 Theoretical Framework 21
2.2.1 Theories of Leadership Styles 21
2.2.2 Leadership Factors 25
2.3 Leadership Styles 27
2.3.1 Transformational Leadership Style 28
2.3.2 Transformational Leadership Critics 31
2.3.3 Transactional Leadership Style 33
2.3.4 Abraham Maslow’s Context 34
2.3.5 Qualities of Transactional Leadership Style 37
2.3.6 Laissez-Faire Leadership Style 38
2.3.7 Transformational versus Transactional leadership 40
2.3.8 Determinants of Leadership Style 42
2.4 Organizational Performance 45
2.4.1 Importance of Organizational Performance 46
2.4.2 Leadership Style and Organizational Performance 48
2.4.3 The Role of Leadership in Organizational Performance 55
2.4.4 Management and Organizational Performance 55
2.5 Empirical Study 57
2.5.1 Benue Link Nigeria Limited 57
2.5.2 Denjim Transport Company 58
2.5.3 Iwiene Nigeria Limited 59
References 61
CHAPTER THREE
Research Methodology 65
3.1 Research Design 65
3.2 Population of the Study 65
3.3 Sample and Sampling Technique 66
3.4 Instrument for Data Collection 67
3.5 Method of Data Collection 67
3.6 Test of Validity and Reliability 68
3.7 Method of Data Analysis 68
References 70
CHAPTER FOUR
Data Presentation and Analysis 71
4.1 Data Presentation 71
4.2 Test of Hypotheses 75
4.3 Discussion of Findings 78
CHAPTER FIVE
Summary of Findings, Conclusion and
Recommendations 80
5.1 Summary of Findings 80
5.2 Conclusion 80
5.3 Recommendations 81
5.4 Suggestions for Further Studies 82
Bibliography 93
LIST OF TABLES
Table 4.1: Administration and Retrieval of
Questionnaire 71
Table 4.2: Impact of Transformational Leadership Style
on Organizational Performance of a
Transportation Company 72
Table 4.3: Impact of Transactional Leadership Style
on Organizational Performance of a
Transportation Company 73
Table 4.4: Impact of Laissez-Faire Style of Leadership
on Organizational Performance of a
Transportation Company 74
