A Comparative Analysis In Germany And The United States

Abstract

Purpose – The research aims to analyze how gender impacts the leadership style of top-level business leaders. The study explores how culture affects the relationship between gender and leadership style.

Design/methodology/approach – This investigation proposes a quantitative method to collect data through a survey distributed by email to top-level managers of the 500 largest organizations, measured by total revenue, in the United States and Germany.

Findings – Expected findings demonstrate that gender does condition leadership style however, culture impacts this relationship as a moderator.

Research limitations/implications – A lower than expected total response rate of the survey may project limitations as well as the effect of globalization, and acroeconomic and socioeconòmic characteristics not considered in this research.

Originality/value – This paper is expected to provide theoretical and managerial implications by acquiring greater awareness of the relationship between gender and leadership with culture as a moderator. This study provides information for managerial training programs focusing on international management and leadership, specifically for organizations operating between the two cultural settings of Germany and the United States.