Leader Effectiveness: Validation of the Vroom-Yetton Normative Model of Leadership

Abstract

“What effect does a leader's decision-making behavior have on organizational effectiveness?” Leaders make decisions that have impact on the entire organization, its performance and its results. Consequently, the construct of leadership is important because of its critical impact on organizational effectiveness. The purpose of the current study is to investigate decision-making aspects of leadership behavior and the extent to which the Vroom-Yetton Normative Model ot Leadership (1973) contributes toward leadership effectiveness and leadership development. Thus, the relationships between leader decision-making behavior, leadership effectiveness, leader demographics and organizational variables are investigated. Leadership effectiveness outcomes are measured with the Bass and Avolio Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire (MLQ). . A total of 55 leaders and 253 followers from government and non- government organizations Participated in this correlational field study. Although findings provide some empirical support for the model, practical applicability of the model is limited. The model does describe leader behavior. However, the use of the model to prescribe appropriate decision-making behaviors cannot “guarantee more effective decisions or leaders.