An open system model of leadership performance

Abstract

Abstract This study was conducted to investigate the relationship between a manager's rated effectiveness, the level of open communication which exists between himself and his subordinates, and the manager's ability to accept differences (to differentiate) between people. Forty-one managers, their superiors, and subordinates were surveyed. As hypothesized, a manager's rated effectiveness is highest in those cases where both a high level of open communication exists and the manager is a high differentiator. No direct relationships were found between a manager's effectiveness and the ability to differentiate or level of open communication. These results are felt to be consistent with previous research by Fiedler but conclusions somewhat different from Fiedler's are drawn.