LEADERSHIP BEHAVIORS AND ORGANIZATIONAL PERFORMANCE OF SMALL FARMER AGRICULTURAL COOPERATIVES LIMITED: EFFECT OF GENDER

Abstract

The research investigates the role of leadership behavior in predicting organizational performance. Leadership behavior was examined using transformational and transactional leadership. Moderating effects of gender on the relationships between leadership behavior and organizational performance is also explored. Primary data was collected from 256 SFACLs using the questionnaire previously used by (Xiaoxia, Xiaoxia, & Jing, 2006) and secondary data was collected from SFDB. Descriptive statistics were reported, followed by reliability analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, and hypotheses testing were carried out using linear regression model. Results of the study suggest that leaders of SFACLs practice both forms of leadership behavior; however, transformational leadership had significantly explained organizational performance. The findings are consistent with the findings of previous researchers. This study finds that gender moderates the relationship between transformational leadership behavior and organizational performance. This is in line with previous findings that females tend to show more transformational and males show more transactional leadership behavior. The outcome of the study contributes to the existing pool of knowledge on the relationship between leadership behaviors, organizational performance and gender.