Why is Leadership So Misunderstood? Inquiring Minds Want to Know

Keywords

leadership, leadership development

Abstract

Purpose– This paper examines leadership and its associated prominent theories from the perspectives of Mitroff and Linstone’s (1993) five inquiry systems.

Design/methodology/approach– Five inquiry systems: Lockean (Inductive-Consensual); Leibnitzian (Analytic-Deductive); Kantian (Multiple Realities); Hegelian (Dialectic); and Singerian (Unbounded Systems Thinking)– are used to consider the advantages and disadvantages of major theories of leadership.

Findings– Although each inquiry system has some beneficial application to leadership theory development, the article posits that the Kantian, Hegelian, and Singerian inquiry systems offer the greatest potential to understand the complex phenomenon of leadership.

Practical implications/limitations– Implications for leadership research are offered based on each of the five inquiry systems.

Originality/value– The value of this article comes from using the inquiry systems to look at leadership theory and research from fresh philosophical perspectives.

Original Publication Citation

Nielson, T. R., & Pate, L. E. (2008). “Why is leadership so misunderstood? Inquiring minds want to know.” International Journal of Organizational Analysis, 16(4), 249-259.

Document Type

Peer-Reviewed Article

Publication Date

2008

Publisher

Journal of Career Development

Language

English

College

Marriott School of Business

Department

Marketing

University Standing at Time of Publication

Full Professor

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