Leadership … for success

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the underlying differences in the initial and ongoing development of business leaders on both sides of the Atlantic to see if causal links might be identified that could explain the leadership elements that lie beneath the US' productivity advantage.

Design/methodology/approach

Research was undertaken on a Fulbright Scholarship to study management and leadership development. The information was gathered through semi‐structured interviews with 45 internationally experienced human resource managers and management and leadership development practitioners in the public, private and not‐for‐profit sectors across eight states in the USA.

Findings

The determinates of business success are highly structural in nature. However, analysis indicates that dramatic improvements in productivity are readily, and universally, available to all business enterprises simply through the adoption of globally existing best practices.

Research limitations/implications

The results obtained from this work are the observations of well‐informed, managers and development practitioners. A high proportion of those interviewed had direct personal experience of working with managers in the UK and Ireland. Their views and opinions are, of course, anecdotal in nature but, where possible, they are either validated or rejected with reference to the current academic literature available.

Practical implications

For private enterprise and public sector policy makers alike, there are clear lessons on the value of investment in leadership and management development as one of the most cost‐effective ways to encourage higher levels of business and economic performance.

Originality/value

The paper provides an analysis of some of the factors that contribute to the persistent productivity gap between the USA and the UK and offers a range of action areas that would help to improve business and economic performance.

Citation

Mannion, K. (2009), "Leadership … for success", Leadership & Organization Development Journal, Vol. 30 No. 7, pp. 639-648. https://doi.org/10.1108/01437730910991655