The findings of this essay demonstrate the complex nature of leadership and the ambiguous understanding of the topic.
The shortcomings of the Repertory Grid Technique will illustrate why leadership as an academic subject is too complex to be elicited with a single theory, how ambiguity of the term 'leadership' causes bias in the research, and how problems arise in an organisational context.
A subsequent discussion on the Repertory Grid Technique presents a re-thought model as an approach to partly overcome the limitations of the original model. The failure of this approach will then be used as the basis for arguing that it might be necessary for organisations to re-think their idea of ‘leadership’.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- The Ambiguity of the term 'leadership'
- The Repertory Grid Technique
- Introducing the Repertory Grid Technique
- Applying the Repertory Grid Technique
- Conclusion of the Repertory Grid Technique
- Discussion of the findings in context of leading an organisation
- Re-thinking the grid
- Critique of the re-thought model
- Conclusion of the discussion
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This essay explores the complexities of leadership and the ambiguity surrounding its definition. It examines the shortcomings of the Repertory Grid technique in identifying leadership characteristics, highlighting the influence of bias and the challenges of applying a single theory to a multifaceted subject. The essay then presents a re-thought model to address the limitations of the original grid, ultimately arguing that organizations may need to reconsider their understanding of 'leadership' itself.
- The ambiguity of the term 'leadership' and its impact on leadership studies.
- The limitations of the Repertory Grid technique in identifying leadership characteristics.
- The role of bias in research findings.
- The need for organizations to re-think their understanding of 'leadership'.
- The challenges of applying a single theory to the complex concept of leadership.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
The introduction establishes the essay's focus on the complex nature of leadership and the ambiguous understanding of the term. It highlights the shortcomings of the Repertory Grid technique and its implications for organizational leadership.
The section on the ambiguity of the term 'leadership' discusses the various approaches to leadership studies and argues that the complexity of the field is partly due to the vague definition of the term. It presents an overview of common leadership approaches and their respective focuses.
The section on the Repertory Grid Technique introduces the method and its limitations in identifying generalities of leadership. It argues that the technique is prone to bias and therefore unsuitable for providing objective insights into leadership characteristics.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
Leadership, leadership studies, leadership theory, Repertory Grid technique, ambiguity, bias, organizational leadership, complexity, re-thinking leadership, organizational context.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Repertory Grid Technique in leadership studies?
It is a method used to elicit personal constructs and identify characteristics of what individuals perceive as a "good leader."
Why is the term 'leadership' considered ambiguous?
Leadership is complex and lacks a single, universally accepted definition, which often leads to bias in academic research and organizational practice.
What are the limitations of the Repertory Grid Technique?
The technique is prone to subjective bias and may fail to capture the full complexity of leadership within different organizational contexts.
Should organizations re-think their idea of leadership?
The essay argues that due to the failure of traditional identifying models, organizations may need a more nuanced and less rigid understanding of what a leader is.
How does bias affect leadership research?
Personal beliefs and cultural backgrounds of both researchers and participants can skew the identification of "ideal" leadership traits.
- Citation du texte
- Malte Eilbracht (Auteur), 2016, Using the Repertory Grid Technique to Identify a Good Leader? Implications for Leading Organisations, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/342224
