T HE EFFECTS OF CHANGE LEADERSHIP IN PUBLIC ORGANIZATIONS : L INKING TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADERSHIP STYLE AND RED TAPE Joris van der Voet NIG conference 28.

THE EFFECTS OF CHANGE LEADERSHIP IN PUBLIC ORGANIZATIONS: LINKING TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADERSHIP STYLE AND RED TAPE

Joris van der VoetNIG conference28th November 2013

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CHANGE LEADERSHIP Two common assertions in change

management literature:1. Successful change is difficult to achieve2. Leadership is crucial for organizational

change

‘Heroic’ perspective on change leadership

There is little evidence concerning the actual effects of leadership, especially in the public sector

The effects of change leadership are likely to be dependent on the public sector context: Public organizations are arguably bureaucratic

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THE EFFECTS OF CHANGE LEADERSHIP

Commitment to change

Quality of change

communication

Degree of participation

Articulate a change visionStress the urgency of changeBuild a guiding coalitionEmpower employeesMonitor progressGive individual attention

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THE EFFECTS OF CHANGE LEADERSHIPIN A PUBLIC ORGANIZATION

Commitment to change

Quality of change

communication

Degree of participation

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CONCEPTUAL MODEL

Commitment to change

Quality of change

communication

Degree of participation

Red tape

Transformational leadership style

Change leadership

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DESIGN AND METHODS Case: Separation of the City Works

Department of the Dutch city Rotterdam

Online questionnaire: 515 respondents (35,5%) Measures of employee perceptions concerning

the leadership of their direct supervisor

Analysis: Structural Equation Modeling using AMOS 18

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RESULTSQuality of change communication

Degree of participation

Affective commitment to

changeChange leadership

.487***(.036)

.377***(.041)

.252***(.041)

Transformational leadership style

n.s. n.s. n.s.

Red tape -.102**(.033)

n.s. n.s.

Change leadership * Red tape

n.s. -.084**(.028)

n.s.

Change leadership * Transformational leadership style

n.s. .094**(.028)

.088**(.029)

R-square .43 .33 .33

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RETURNING TO THE HYPOTHESES H1: Supported

Change leadership is positively related to commitment to change, communication & participation

H2: (Partly) supported Red tape mitigates the positive

relationship between change leadership and participation

H3: (Partly) supported A transformational leadership style

strengthens the effect of change leadership on participation and commitment to change

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CONCLUSIONS / CONTRIBUTION1. Change leadership may positively stimulate the

implementation of change

but the public sector context matters!

2. Red tape makes it more difficult for change leaders to stimulate participation during change

3. Leadership styles may affect the effectiveness of change leadership

transformational leaders may be especially effective change leaders

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Thank you for listening!

vandervoet@fsw.eur.nl

www.jorisvandervoet.com