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Shared leadership in projects: a matter of substance over style

Shared leadership in projects: a matter of substance over style
Shared leadership in projects: a matter of substance over style
Purpose: this paper aims to advance our understanding of the conditions under which shared leadership would contribute to successful outcomes in projects and factors associated with its development.

Design/methodology/approach: this is a conceptual paper that draws upon existing research on shared leadership in teams and the literature on the characteristics of soft projects, to put forward a number of testable propositions to form the basis of future research in this area.

Findings: the assumptions underpinning style perspectives of leadership and their usefulness for projects are called into question given the ambiguity and complexity with which the majority of projects now have to contend. Instead, shared project leadership is suggested to be better suited to respond to the dynamic and changing circumstances characteristic of most projects.

Research implications: three major areas of research are proposed that focus on (1) External factors enabling shared leadership; (2) Internal factors enabling shared leadership and (3) Shared leadership processes. Longitudinal, qualitative studies that capture the contextual variables and conditions that influence shared leadership in projects are suggested to enhance our theoretical understanding of this systems-level perspective on leadership.

Originality/value: style leadership perspectives have dominated research on leadership in projects offering a parochial and narrow understanding of the contribution leadership perceived more broadly can make to the effectiveness of projects. The propositions put forward in this paper aim to extend our theoretical understanding of shared leadership specifically within project contexts
1352-7592
Clarke, Nicholas
65a3df67-32ff-4e0a-8dd6-a65b5460dca1
Clarke, Nicholas
65a3df67-32ff-4e0a-8dd6-a65b5460dca1

Clarke, Nicholas (2012) Shared leadership in projects: a matter of substance over style. Team Performance Management. (In Press)

Record type: Article

Abstract

Purpose: this paper aims to advance our understanding of the conditions under which shared leadership would contribute to successful outcomes in projects and factors associated with its development.

Design/methodology/approach: this is a conceptual paper that draws upon existing research on shared leadership in teams and the literature on the characteristics of soft projects, to put forward a number of testable propositions to form the basis of future research in this area.

Findings: the assumptions underpinning style perspectives of leadership and their usefulness for projects are called into question given the ambiguity and complexity with which the majority of projects now have to contend. Instead, shared project leadership is suggested to be better suited to respond to the dynamic and changing circumstances characteristic of most projects.

Research implications: three major areas of research are proposed that focus on (1) External factors enabling shared leadership; (2) Internal factors enabling shared leadership and (3) Shared leadership processes. Longitudinal, qualitative studies that capture the contextual variables and conditions that influence shared leadership in projects are suggested to enhance our theoretical understanding of this systems-level perspective on leadership.

Originality/value: style leadership perspectives have dominated research on leadership in projects offering a parochial and narrow understanding of the contribution leadership perceived more broadly can make to the effectiveness of projects. The propositions put forward in this paper aim to extend our theoretical understanding of shared leadership specifically within project contexts

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More information

Accepted/In Press date: June 2012
Organisations: HRM and Organisational Behaviour

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 336997
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/336997
ISSN: 1352-7592
PURE UUID: 042f4ca1-5a22-41da-a6fa-6c46462aac89

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 13 Apr 2012 08:44
Last modified: 11 Dec 2021 00:08

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Contributors

Author: Nicholas Clarke

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