Exploring tTransformational lLeadership and fFellowship in a cCultural cContext: The cCase of the Philippines

John Paolo R. Rivera, cynthia.cudia@dlsu.edu.ph, De La Salle University, Philippines
Leveric T. Ng, lng@ateneo.edu, Asian Institute of Management, Philippines

Journal: The Asia-Pacific Social Science Review
Volume 17 Issue 3 (Published: 2018-03-01)

Abstract

The concepts of transformational and transactional leadership were introduced by Burns (1978), which Bass (1985) further developed. According to Bass (1985), transformational and transactional leadership are independent but complementary constructs. The latter focuses on the exchange of productivity for reward (i.e., productivity can be achieved by giving rewards and no productivity can mean the withdrawal of rewards or benefits). The former is concerned about achieving extraordinary outcomes and in the process allows employees to develop their own leadership capacities (Bass & Riggio, 2006; Avolio, Waldman, & Einstein, 1988). Consequently, as cited by Pawar and Eastman (1997), transformational leadership occurs when leaders and followers raise one another to a higher level of motivation (Pawar & Eastman, 1997). Despite the wide acceptance of the Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire (MLQ), there have been criticisms in some areas of its conceptual definition and measurement factors (Muenjohn & Armstrong, 2008; Van Knippenberg & Sitkin, 2013). Its nuances were captured in the interviews conducted that showed individual consideration as the most identified dimension of the transformational leadership construct. Hence, we explore in this study how the Filipino trait of fellowship (i.e., the concept of kapwa) can become a hallmark of good leadership.? A study by Zacher, Pearce, Rooney, and McKenna, (2014) postulated that individualized consideration as a dimension mediates the relationship between a leader’s wisdom and leader-member exchange. A leader manifests genuine concern and care for others, which is driven by empathy and compassion. Our research objective is to provide further understanding on the conceptual definition of transformational leadership dimension of individualized consideration, specifically in the Philippine cultural context —– kapwa. A clearer perspective of this dimensional aspect of the construct will aid in improving management practices by reinforcing leadership-training programs in this area. We will extend the research on transformational leadership, specifically on the analysis of the dimensions and how future metrics may be improved to provide leadership researchers and scholars a firmer grasp of the construct in Philippine management studies.

Keywords: nan

DOI: https://www.dlsu.edu.ph/wp-content/uploads/pdf/research/journals/apssr/2018-March-vol17-3/11-exploring-transformational-leadership-and-fellowship-in-a-cultural-context-the-case-of-the-philippines.pdf