The Relationship between Perceptions of Company Leadership Climate and Measures of Unit Effectiveness
Abstract
A model of company leadership was developed by means of extensive interviews with troops and leaders in a USAREUR battalion. Surveys (one for troops and one for leaders) were built using this model, and revised on the basis of a pilot study. Revised surveys were administered to 513 troops and 237 leaders in a USAREUR brigade. Criterion measures of personnel readiness at company level were collected for a 6-month period immediately preceding survey administration. T-tests were then performed on each survey item, examining the differences in means between troops from companies falling above vs. below the median on that criterion. Items showing significant mean differences on at least two criteria were factor analyzed and scores on items loading moderately on the factors were also calculated. T-tests were also performed on the scale scores. Results indicated that troops and leaders from companies with higher rates of complaints, punishments, and awards, as well as lower numbers of sick calls, rated leaders highly in task-related and interpersonal areas. Thus, effective leaders may use higher levels of punishments as well as rewards, and perhaps inspire more complaints among soldiers resenting the structure effective leaders impose.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 01, 1981
- Accession Number
- ADA130907
Entities
People
- Bruce Sterling
- Dwight Carnes
Organizations
- U.S. Army Research Institute for the Behavioral and Social Sciences