Effects of participative and directive leadership in a GSS-mediated environment under time pressuren

Authors: Shin-Yuan Hung, Tsan-Ching Kang, Li-Shuang Huang, Hsin-Yi Huang

Journal: Chiao Da Management Review. Jun. 2010, 30(1): 47-80.

Keywords: Group support system; Group decision making; Leadership style; Time pressure

Abstract:
Previous studies did not precisely examine the effects of leadership style in Group Support System (GSS) meetings. Decision makers in organizations also face time pressure frequently. Thus, this study aims to examine the effects of leadership style and time pressure on group interaction and decision outcomes. A 2*2 factorial design experiment was conducted. Sixty groups participated in the experiment. "Personal Trust Foundation" was adapted as the decision task. The manipulated variables were leadership styles (participative or directive) and time pressure (under or without). The dependent variables include equality of participation, GSS process satisfaction, number of solutions, number of solutions per minute, perceived decision quality, and GSS outcome satisfaction. Results indicate that: (1) Leadership style has significant effects on group decision making. Groups with participative leaders outperform those with directive leaders; (2) Groups under time pressure generate both less solutions and solutions per minute, and perceive lower GSS process satissfaction; (3) Under time pressure, groups with participative leaders generate more solutions per minute than those with directive leaders.