Implications of Leadership Theories for Management Development and Practice: Contemporary Perceptions

Leadership perhaps has the unique and dubious distinction of being the most researched and written about and yet the least understood topic in organisational behaviour. Despite or possibly because of the lack of understanding and common agreement on what leadership is and/or should be, the subject continues to attract researchers' interest. The latest comprehensive review by Bass, for example, referenced over 5000 independent studies. This accumulation of research and writing has also resulted in a fair number of controversies in the area. Some of the more prominent issues include the following: