ABSTRACT
Popular writers like Peters and his associates (Peters and Austin 1985; Peters and Waterman 1982) emphasize the importance of executive leadership in creating “excellent” organizations. Others see executive leadership as a solution to crucial problems. For example, Yates (1983, 213), after an extensive critique of the American automobile industry, concludes that we need new leadership, not more resources. Similarly, Kotter (1988) argues that more leadership is needed for organizations to successfully adjust to greater worldwide competition and increased complexity. Such thinking is consistent with the popular belief that effective leadership causes organizations to perform effectively.
