| dc.description.abstract |
The balance between task-oriented or relationship-oriented styles of leadership is of
constant concern regarding the efficiency of organizations, whether their focus is business,
education, religious, profit or non-profit, public or private, local, national or international,
to name a few. Whatever the organization’s social environment or concern, behavioral
scientists note the significant degree to which culture impacts the organizations. Thus,
previous research emphasizes that effective managers should consider cultural influence on
leadership styles.
This research investigates the influence that national culture has on the task-oriented and
relationship- oriented leadership style in the private healthcare sector in Albania. The six dimensional national culture model developed by Geert Hofstede is used to measure the
cultural influences in the private healthcare system. The convenience sampling used in this
study is from American Hospital and International Hospital Hygeia, located in Tirana,
Albania. These two hospitals are the largest and most prominent in the country and own a
considerable share of the private health care market. A quantitative methodology, using a
structured, scaling technique questionnaire is the empirical basis of this study. Data was
compiled based on employee responses across different hospital categories.
Findings related with the identification of Albanian cultural dimensions, based on the six dimensional models developed by Hofstede, show that cultural values scores have moved
from the original measured position, toward more negative or positive poles.iv
Findings related with the perceived leadership style in the Albanian healthcare institutions,
show a balance between values of Task- and Relationship- Oriented Leadership style. In
terms of the influence of national culture on leadership styles, the most important cultural
dimension affecting both leadership styles is Uncertainty Avoidance.
About originality and contribution, given the lack of such studies in Albania, the research
is of great value to the field where the study is conducted, for all those who deepen in the
discourse of national culture and leadership style correlation. By using a combined
theoretical and empirical analysis carried out by analyzing previous studies related to this
field and the data collected from questionnaires, this thesis provides a clear picture of the
national culture impact on leadership style. |
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