Book Description

The overall purpose of this study was to explore frame usage across several dimensions, using Bolman & Deal's Leadership Orientations Survey (LOS). More specifically, the study addressed the following: (1) whether statistically significant differences exist in mean scores between two groups--senior level executives from Fortune 500 companies in business and industry and senior level administrators from four year-public colleges and universities--when they are compared simultaneously on the four leadership orientations (frames); (2) whether there was a statistically significant difference in frequencies between age and use of the four leadership orientations (frames); (3) whether there was a statistically significant difference in years of work experience as an executive or administrator and use of the four leadership orientations (frames); (4) whether executives and administrators use single, paired or multiple frames; and (5) if there is a dominant leadership orientation used by executives and administrators. Leadership orientations were measured by using Bolman and Deal's (1990) LOS. The hypotheses in the study were tested by using a one-way MANOVA and chi-square tests of independence; research questions #4 and #5 were answered by using descriptive statistics. The results of the one-way MANOVA indicated there were no statistically significant differences in mean scores between the two groups, when compared simultaneously on the four leadership orientations (frames). Further, the chi-square test of independence showed statistically significant differences in frequencies between age and use of the Political frame; however, no statistically significant differences were found between age and use of the Human Resources, Structural and Symbolic frames. In addition, there were no statistically significant differences in frequencies between years of work experience as an executive or administrator and use of the four leadership orientations. The results demonstrated that fewer than 1/2 of the subjects in the study used multiple (three or four) leadership orientations (frames) and that the dominant (most used) leadership orientation was the Human Resources frame. The following conclusions were derived: leadership "at the top" seems highly similar, despite contrasting work environments; the leadership orientations of executives and administrators in the study were restricted to traditional managerial frames (Human Resources and Structural) and less inclusive of Political and Symbolic frames required for leading organizations in increasingly competitive and diverse environment. Recommendations for education and leadership practice and future research include providing opportunities for aspiring leaders to learn and practice multiple leadership orientations; additional analysis of the LOS's psychometric properties; and greater analysis of the factors reported for the LOS.