Understanding the Impact of Transformational Leadership on Project Success: A Meta-Analysis Perspective.

Area of Science:

• Organizational Behavior
• Project Management
• Leadership Studies

Background:

• Inconsistent findings exist regarding the relationship between transformational leadership (TL) and project success.
• Understanding the specific dimensions of TL that drive project success is crucial for effective management.
• Moderating factors such as mediating variables, cultural context, and document type may explain these inconsistencies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically analyze the reasons for variations in the TL-project success relationship.
• To identify the primary dimensions of TL that significantly contribute to project success through meta-analysis.
• To investigate the moderating effects of mediating variables, cultural background, and document type on this relationship.

Main Methods:

• A meta-analysis approach was employed, synthesizing data from 31 independent studies.
• The total sample size across studies was 6475 participants (N=6475).
• Theoretical moderators, including mediating variables, cultural background, and document type, were examined.

Main Results:

• Transformational leadership (TL) demonstrates a significant positive effect on project success.
• Leadership charm emerged as the most influential dimension of TL in driving project success.
• Mediating mechanisms significantly amplify the impact of leadership on project success.
• Eastern cultural contexts show a stronger inclination towards people-oriented project management for success compared to Western contexts.

Conclusions:

• TL is a vital factor for achieving project success, with specific dimensions like leadership charm being particularly impactful.
• The effectiveness of TL is influenced by mediating mechanisms and cultural orientations, highlighting the importance of context.
• Findings offer empirical insights for selecting and developing project leaders, emphasizing both technical and soft skills, and tailoring approaches to cultural nuances.