A Quantitative Study of the Perceived Leadership Practices of Business and Educational Leaders in North Georgia

Quality leadership is the key to the success of any organization. It is important for leaders to understand the key attributes needed to be successful in their positions. While leadership studies have focused on both leadership in specific contexts and on broad-based leadership ideas, little has been done in researching the specifics of business and educational leadership simultaneously. It is important for leaders to understand each other, especially in these two contexts, as changes in the world are requiring further collaboration and business ideas are beginning to have an impact on public schools in the form of items such as new funding formulas and charter schools operated by private businesses. The purpose of this study was to examine the perceived leadership practices of business and educational leaders using Kouzes and Posner's (2002) Leadership Practices Inventory-Self and to identify the differences and similarities in both types of leaders through a quantitative study. The research questions used to guide this study were: (a) what are the self-perceived traits among business leaders regarding the practices of Model the Way, Inspire a Shared Vision, Challenge the Process, Enable Others to Act, and Encourage the Heart; (b) what are the self-perceived traits among educational leaders regarding the practices of Model the Way, Inspire a Shared Vision, Challenge the Process, Enable Others to Act, and Encourage the Heart; (c) what differences, if any, exist between business leaders and educational leaders on Model the Way, Inspire a Shared Vision, Challenge the Process, Enable Others to Act, and Encourage the Heart; and (d) what differences, if any, exist between business leaders and educational leaders on Model the Way, Inspire a Shared Vision, Challenge the Process, Enable Others to Act, and Encourage the Heart after controlling for age and length of employment? Results of the quantitative study imply that few differences exist between business leaders and educational leaders and their use of the five exemplary practices of leadership.Pate, James L.Ed.D