A Qualitative Study of Leadership Styles in Vietnamese Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises
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Abstract
This study examines the determinants of leadership styles in Vietnamese small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). It is among the first analysis to shed light on leadership’s behaviors, attitudes, and contextual culture. In this qualitative design of research, interviews with 51 managers were conducted to discover determinants related to enterprise characteristics, job features, leaders, and employees’ characteristics. Findings indicate that leaders should adjust their behaviors to fit business sectors, growth and developmental phases, firm size, and other dimensional relationships. Leaders’ qualitative traits such as personalities, capabilities, managerial level, EQ, past jobs, earlier superior, and employees’ specific characteristics like personalities, age, competencies, working experience, and behavioral attitudes should be considered. Endogenous and exogenous business environments and Vietnamese culture stem as main determinants in amalgamating leadership’ behaviors. The research contributes to the theoretical body of knowledge and behavioral science in general and leadership styles in particular. It may serve as a reference for Vietnamese SMEs’ managers to align their leadership behaviors with ideal models. They might also support agencies and training institutions to consult SMEs for operational and development purposes.
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