A turnaround fuelled by transformational leadership
South Asian Journal of Business Studies
ISSN: 2398-628X
Article publication date: 19 October 2021
Issue publication date: 21 November 2023
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to understand how Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of the National Research Development Corporation, India, Hanumanthu Purushotham had facilitated a turnaround of the organization and ensured profitability during his tenure there. This is one of the series of interview-based studies that focuses on a South Asian CEO, with the goal of ascertaining his leadership and management style in a volatile situation. This brief paper expounds how leader traits and transformational leadership can positively impact an organizational turnaround and fuel growth.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper uses primary interviews and complements the findings with secondary data sources such as annual reports and management literature on leadership trait, transformational leadership and organizational turnaround.
Findings
The study found that socioeconomic factors have a bearing on leadership attributes. In this instance, the CMD's early years, diverse work experiences, bright traits and transformational leadership positively impacted organizational performance. Therefore, not only the qualifications but also the qualities of a leader are pivotal in shaping success of an organization.
Originality/value
The narrative provides an instance of how decision-making driven by strategic leadership can change firm performance. The rich experiences of the India-educated CMD, a government job holder all-through, provides a veteran's view to decision-making in a state-controlled firm and helps us understand how an organization can be transformed in a limited time and with scarce resources.
Keywords
Citation
Sengupta, M. (2023), "A turnaround fuelled by transformational leadership", South Asian Journal of Business Studies, Vol. 12 No. 4, pp. 465-472. https://doi.org/10.1108/SAJBS-01-2021-0025
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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