The link between competition and leadership - A statistical analysis of the EPOC questionnaire (PDF)

Intermediate Diploma Thesis from the year 2003 in the subject Business economics - Business Management, Corporate Governance, grade: 9/10, Radboud Universiteit Nijmegen (Nijmegen School of Management), course: International Management, language: English, abstract: The following report is intended to describe a possible relationship between competition and leadership. In order to conduct a sound data analysis with the help of the statistical analysis program SPSS, the two variables have been conceptualized down to a more concrete level, namely degree of competition and leadership style as defined by Geert Hofstede. With the help of the EPOC questionnaire and a solid methodological framework it has been possible to investigate the research hypothesis that suggested a relationship between the two variables.
Derived from the statistical analysis, it can be said that this research does by no means support the hypothesis that an increasing environmental uncertainty, measured by degree of competition, will lead to a more authoritarian style of leadership.
Finally, it can be said that this research has shown that the hypothesis of the supposed causal relation between an increasing environmental uncertainty and a resulting increase in the use of an authoritarian style of leadership, cannot be supported. Until a certain extent, mainly concerning consultation at the group level, an increase in environmental uncertainty will lead to a more consultative style of leadership instead of more authoritarianism in the company.
Additional follow-up research by fellow colleagues can be of important help to furthermore investigate the relationship.