Important Points for the Research:

Identifying potential harm in social science research is somewhat more difficult

than in scientific research, as the determination of what might cause reputational
or emotional harm requires both familiarity and empathy with the population
being studied. Risk of harm can be avoided, for the most part, if students
understand the importance of the following basic social science procedures
which safeguard research subjects:
Since informational interviews were already conducted with faculty members,
professionals, faculties on the same subject and social workers, we were very
pretty clear as to the approach, target and sample size.

Research Design

Need for Primary Research:

Since we had used secondary research for the purpose of ascertaining the
leadership skills in various industries, a different approach was required. Though
it is undoubtedly true that “situational leadership” is the best leadership style, the
key would be the behaviour that is driving the same. The better half of ‘Corporate
Leadership’ is ‘Corporate Citizenship’. There has been hardly any work on the
strategy and approach required to deal effectively with subordinates. Hence we
started by classifying the target sample as effective/successful leaders and
derailed leaders. But leadership is not complete without the “team”. Taking a cue
from every team member who is responsible for his part of the work while he is
still answerable to the leader; in leadership too, getting appropriately the right
work done from the right people at the right time is extremely important. It
becomes absolutely necessary to know that the key to success in leadership
is success in getting the right work from the team. Team members or
subordinates can be classified as under:
1. Autocratic:
2. Benevolent
3. Chaotic
4. Democratic
Since the outcome of the study was not known at the beginning, Exploratory
research would not be sufficient to provide solutions. At the most it would hint us
on methods to be followed. On the other hand, causal research would be
ineffective as the objective has never been to ascertain the cause and effect
relationship but to ascertain the right strategy by investigating successful people.
Although there were options to do causal and exploratory research the most
appropriate method had to be selected. Finally the most appropriate technique
that selected was Descriptive Research. Descriptive research is a type of
conclusive research that has its major objective the description of something-
usually market character or functions.

DISADVT EXP:

Objectives of the Research:

Before a fresh full fledged study is conducted on the successful leadership
approaches, we need to clearly define the broad objectives on which the study
must revolve. The study, being done for the first time, has more than one
objective. Since the broad areas for research had been demarcated, our study
had to focus on specific areas viz;
1. Leadership through people skills – Strategies for success
2. The art of managing effectively
3. Leadership styles suited for various types of direct reports.
4. Behaviour mix possible
5. Appropriate behavioural mixes for different situations and different
subjects
6. Creating receptivity to ideas
7. Motivating Team members
8. Democratic interaction
 9. Developing a model to benchmark the behavioral traits

Before experimental interviews, these objectives were chalked out. On exploring

the people with this there was continuous refinement at every stage.
Consequently the crudely prepared questionnaire was also upgraded to touch
the object of studies as well as have an approach of impartiality. The reviewee
would not be able to guess the essence of the sequence and weightage of the
questionnaire although he is clearly told the objectives in advance. Based on the
above needs, a comprehensive checklist that would also form the forerunner to
the final questionnaire was prepared.

The comprehensive checklist that broadly covers:

Who should we cover in the study?

The population covers various industries (esp. service sector ).

What type of data to be collected?

Regarding their perception on leadership qualities

When it has to be done?

Period in which this is administered can help in minimizing errors

Where is the place in which this is going to be administered?

It is always better that the administration does not affect the answers

Why – Or the purpose of the data collection is not disclosed to prevent them from
putting personal opinions

Way in which the questionnaire is administered?

The questions framed do not cast an impression on the assessee

Design
The questionnaire has a longitudinal design such that asks the same questions
at two or more points in time. This is done in order to ascertain that the spirit of
the questions is upheld in the review at self assessment. Cohort study is aimed
at how historical periods change over time.

The object has been to reduce/eleminate chances of error. The following

were the potential sources of error.

 Reactivity - respondents tend to give socially desirable responses that

make them look good or seem to be what the researcher is looking for
  Sampling Frame -- it's difficult to access the proper number and type of
people who are needed for a representative sample of the target
population

 Measurement Error -- surveys are often full of systematic biases, and/or

loaded questions

Errors on account of non response have been eliminated as the pursuance was
strong. Efforts have also been made to control those errors that can be avoided
viz; measurement and user bias. Random sampling error has been minimized by
focusing and planning the sample .

Administration:

Personal Interviews of the people with prior well co ordianted appointments made
the study efficient. Non biasdness was ensured by not allowing the interviewees
aout the aimof the research. A good deal of transparency and understanding
prevailed at the time of the respective interviews.

Two important aspects that were taken care of were:

1. obtaining informed consent of subjects prior to the research and

2. Ensuring anonymity to research subjects.

Insuring Anonymity :

Data was collected in such a way that the identity of the subject is protected.
This means that no names, telephone numbers, permanent account numbers, or
addresses should appear on survey sheets or in the research report. Interview
subjects were given fictitious names.

Obtaining Informed Consent :

Social scientists believe that a great deal of potential harm can be avoided by
obtaining informed consent of research subjects prior to the research. In
essence, we believe informed consent was practiced as the following were
ensured:
 Subjects are made aware that they are part of a research project,
 Subjects are told what the purpose of the research is,
 Subjects are forewarned about what their participation will involve,
  Subjects are not forced in any way to participate, and
 Subjects are given the opportunity to withdraw their participation at any
time.
 The content of the interview was not sensitive (i.e., would not put the
respondent at risk of financial, legal, reputational, or emotional harm, as
discussed above).

Research practices that violate the principle of informed consent include those
that involve deception and/or coercion. The two are related in the sense that if a
we do not tell people that they are being studied (deception), we are therefore
forcing the people to participate (coercion). Coercion can occur by itself when
people are made aware that they are the subjects of research but not given the
option of non-participation. These are currently very controversial in the social
science community and researchers who engage in such practices are expected
to justify them by demonstrating that their research has great social benefits.
Additionally, these kinds of proposed research projects often face opposition
when presented to institutional committees that approve and/or sponsor
research. Stress was given on quality and hence even though the sample size
was low on representation, quality of delivery and administration made all the
difference.

Also the Human Resources Dept. of the respective companies had played a
critical role in taking this message clearly to the target subjects.

Scaling Techniques:

After establishing the psychometric properties of the questions and a testing was
done in controlled environment, the questions were finalized. It must be
reiterated that the exercise was a measurement of attitudes and hence
quantitative operations would be difficult. In order to qualify the data for
mathematical operations, it was impending to use a scale that shall help this.
The summated Rating or Likert Scale was used as this scale allows quantitative
analysis.

Sampling Plan and Sample Size:

Since the research involves large scale introspection of people’s behaviour, a

representative study had to be carried out.

Determining the target:

In the first step, the target population had to be determined. For the above
explained objectives, a focused approach had to be framed. The prima facie
observations from the experimental interviews had led to the formation of a
checklist that was also the harbinger to the questionnaire. Mumbai being a
cosmopolitan city with about 70% of the population engaged in service sector
was an ideal choice. But targeting the millions of the city would lead to random
errors. Hence four leading sectors that represented the countries population in
terms of demograph(age, sex, occupation etc;) were selected. These sectors are
promising and have shown a very strong growth track record, without being
affected by cycles. Thus they exhibit qualities of a stable, stratified, random and
neutral sample. These sectors are:

1. Commercial Banking
2. Insurance

3. Brokerage House

4. Management Consultancy

5. ITES

6. Hospitality

7. Media

Determining the target population’s size:

Developing the above points with the help of figures was made easy by
approaching the Indian Merchant Chamber and NASSCOM that provided us with
the list of people engaged in these occupations. The population data obtained
was as under:

1. Financial Services - 24: Total no. of Organisations (with turnover greater

than Rs. 10 crores and number of employees exceeding 100). These
include “one stop shop” types of setup that provide total financial
solutions - Brokerage services, Insurance, mutual funds etc;
2. ITES(Information Technology Enabled Services) – 110 Total no. of
organizations(with turnover greater than Rs. 10 crores and number of
employees exceeding 200).

3. Hospitality – 39 : Total no. of organizations(with turnover greater than Rs.

10 crores and number of employees exceeding 200). These include five
star and above hotels.
 4. Media - 19 : Total no. of organizations(with turnover greater than Rs. 10
crores and number of employees exceeding 100). These include
production houses, media channels and print media.

All these aggregate to over 192 medium to large scale organizations.

With 99% confidence levels and post deduction of margin of error, the sample
size of the population was frozen to 80 people. This was stratified by
having multiple companies in each sector and people at different roles of
leadership.

Logic of the Questionaire:

As the research went through various stages as in the flow diagram, a final
questionnaire was frozen keeping all objectives in mind. Since executives
have limited time to spare, the time factor was of utmost importance. This
became particularly important since most of the interviews were at the
premises of the Organisation, they were willing to allocate a limited time
and limited personnel only. Hence the questionnaire as well as the entire
interview process ought to be very well planned and administered. it was
also decided that the flow and evaluation scheme would conceal the
process of extraction of information. It must be reiterated that the subjects
in all cases ought to be clearly informed on the objective, time taken etc;

Previous studies include “Vroom Yetton Jago model(1973)”, “Ohio and Michigan
studies”, Fiedler’s Contingency Theory Hershey Blanchard’s life cycle theory of
leadership and the Path Goal Theory.

Based on previous studies such as two basic traits –

1. leader’s attitude towards productivity and

2. leader’s attitude towards employees morale.

Each question was alternately sequenced such that they

As we covered people at di

Development of Questions: