Effect of leadership styles on organizational commitment and performance in small- and medium-sized enterprises in Iraqi Kurdistan

Authors
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.2224/sbp.9197
Keywords:
transformational leadership, transactional leadership, organizational commitment, organizational performance, small- and medium-sized enterprises, leadership style, entrepreneurship
Abstract

Since 2003 the number of small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) has increased exponentially in Iraqi Kurdistan. To facilitate further growth the owners and chief executive officers of these enterprises have sought to improve their leadership skills. This study examined the effect of transactional and transformational leadership styles on organizational commitment and performance in Iraqi Kurdistan SMEs, and the mediating effect of organizational commitment in these relationships. We distributed 530 questionnaires and collected 400 valid responses (75% response rate) from 115 SME owners/chief executive officers and 285 employees. The results demonstrate there were positive effects of both types of leadership style on organizational performance. Further, the significant mediating effect of organizational commitment in both relationships shows the importance of this variable for leader effectiveness among entrepreneurs in Iraqi Kurdistan, and foreign entrepreneurs engaging in new businesses in the region.

Author Biographies
  1. Karwan Hamasalih Qadir, Cyprus International University
    Department of Business Administration, Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences
  2. Mehmet Yeşiltaş, Cyprus International University
    Department of Business Administration, Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences
References
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Published
2020-06-30
Issue
Vol. 48 No. 9 (2020)
Section
Articles
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