An examination of Bass's (1985) leadership theory in the project management environment

The successful development and implementation of organizational strategy in a rapidly changing environment is dependent upon the leadership and organizational system for leading and managing projects. Although many studies have focused on leadership, relatively few have effectively focused on leadership in the project management environment and context.; Project management is an important and powerful tool for operational management and leadership, particularly in implementing strategic change. The project management field is continuing to focus on increasing the leadership competencies and capabilities of project managers and their leaders in order to understand and effectively drive transformation efforts in organizations.; The leadership styles of project managers and the leaders of project managers is important to organizations operating in a competitive and rapidly changing environment.; The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship of leadership behaviors to employee outcomes in the project management environment. This research study examined the relationship among the transactional, transformational and laissez-faire leadership behaviors (styles) of the leaders of project managers, as perceived by subordinate project manager's self-reported outcomes of: satisfaction with the leader, perception of the leader's effectiveness and a willingness to exert extra effort in the project management environment.; This study involved a sample population from the project management field. Results indicate that the transformational leadership style produced the greatest effects on the outcome variables of extra effort, effectiveness and satisfaction, laissez-faire leadership produced negative effects on all of these variables, and the transactional leadership factor, contingent reward correlated positively and significantly with all of the transformational leadership traits, and correlated negatively with the other.; The leadership styles of project managers and the leaders of project managers are important to organizations operating in a competitive and rapidly changing environment. Further knowledge of Bass's (1985) transformational leadership model in the project management environment is needed to understand and further the development and effectiveness of project leadership, related competencies, capabilities and performance of project managers, their leaders and their organizations.