A Study of Leadership Perceptions of Managers in Select Companies in Taiwan That Utilize E-Learning

Date of Degree

12-2005

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Program

Education

Advisor

Gilberto M. Hinojosa

Advisor

Judith E. Beauford

Advisor

Dorothy Ettling

Advisor

Nancy Robbins

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between leadership styles and the stages of concern about e-learning in companies that have established internal enterprise e-learning in Taiwan. E-learning, Internet based learning, requires that organizations change from their traditional management of people to management of both people and knowledge. Implementations of e-learning innovations contribute to significant organizational changes and create the need for certain leadership styles to support a successful transformation. The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between leadership styles and the stages of concern about e-learning in companies that have established internal enterprise e-learning in Taiwan. Questionnaires from twenty-three leaders and 138 followers were returned and were found sufficiently complete to be used for analysis, yielding a response rate of 38% for evaluation on the demographic instrument, Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire (MLQ-5X), Paternalistic Leadership Scale (PLS), and the Stage of Concern Questionnaire (SoCQ). Once the quantitative results were analyzed, the researcher invited managers who are at higher stages of concern about innovation (refocusing, collaboration and consequence) to participate in interviews. Three managers were selected because they were identified as being at those higher stages of concern both by six employees and by the manager himself or herself. The leaders in this study judged e-learning to be the trend of the future and pointed to more advantages than disadvantages. Leaders should assist in the full development, execution, oversight, and performance of the overall change management plan for implementing e-learning by setting up goals for their followers, guiding them by giving directions, and asking for feedback. Leaders also should set themselves as good examples, and try to get along with their followers like friends or family members without intruding into their personal lives. To implement an e-learning program as the preferable mode for employee training, it is essential for the leader to model him/herself in these leadership styles: Transformational, Benevolent, and Moral leadership.

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