The Effect of Leadership Style on the Organizational Culture: Evidence from Turkey

Abstract

The leadership-style of an organization leader plays an important role in forming and maintaining organizational culture. The main objective of this study is to determine the leadership styles of leaders in armed forces and reveal the effects of leadership styles on the typologies of the organizational culture. The study had an explanatory method and the data collection tool was a questionnaire. According to the results, while the transactional leadership style was brought to forefront from the leadership styles of leaders in armed forces, the hierarchy culture was brought to forefront from the typologies of the organizational culture. It was determined that while the transactional leadership style did not affect the clan and adhocracy culture, it positively affected the market and hierarchy culture. Furthermore, the transformational leadership style positively affected the clan and adhocracy culture, whereas it negatively affected the market and hierarchy culture. Besides, some differences were observed on cultural dimensions perceived by commanders performing a duty in provinces in eastern and western regions. Commanders performing a duty in the eastern region perceived greater adhocracy culture compared to commanders performing a duty in the western region. Commanders serving in the western region perceived greater market and hierarchy culture than commanders serving in the eastern region. As a consequence, it could be asserted that the leadership styles of leaders shape the organizational culture.

Keywords: Leadership style, Organizational culture, Armed forces

JEL: M14, D23