Thesis
Literature Review
Chapter 2
Introduction
Despite the vast amount of research on leadership, there is still more to be learned. The study of leadership commenced in the late 19th century with the focus on “Great Men” (Bass, 1974). This theory examined the lives of great leaders in history. Primarily these were men, however, some women leaders were included in these studies. Some examples are figures such as Moses, Winston Churchill, Thomas Jefferson and many others who have shaped the course of history for good or evil (1974).
From these early studies of great leaders of history, researchers and theorists in the early 20th century identified traits that set these great leaders apart from the average person. Later empirical evidence revealed that these lists of traits were inconclusive and failed to capture the essence of leadership or provide a solid framework to identify effective leaders (Johns & Moser, 1989). Through the rest of the 20th century to the present time, researchers have formulated variety of theories in an attempt to explain how leadership works and what distinguishes effective leadership from the ineffective. These theories addressed questions of leadership behavior, effects of situations on leadership, and the relationship between leaders and followers. Among these were those that focused on the leader, on how the leader influences the followers, and how the leader effects change and is changed personally through the process of leadership (Van Seters & Field, 1990).
Leadership continues to be a subject of study in the modern world (Zaccaro, 2007). The extensive research during the past six or seven decades has not exhausted the topic of leadership, on the contrary, it has discovered new aspects of leadership and opened uncharted territory for further study and research (Bennis, 2007).
To set the stage for the study of the leadership approach of Steve Jobs, this chapter reviews the development of leadership theory. Peter Northouse
Chapter 2
Introduction
Despite the vast amount of research on leadership, there is still more to be learned. The study of leadership commenced in the late 19th century with the focus on “Great Men” (Bass, 1974). This theory examined the lives of great leaders in history. Primarily these were men, however, some women leaders were included in these studies. Some examples are figures such as Moses, Winston Churchill, Thomas Jefferson and many others who have shaped the course of history for good or evil (1974).
From these early studies of great leaders of history, researchers and theorists in the early 20th century identified traits that set these great leaders apart from the average person. Later empirical evidence revealed that these lists of traits were inconclusive and failed to capture the essence of leadership or provide a solid framework to identify effective leaders (Johns & Moser, 1989). Through the rest of the 20th century to the present time, researchers have formulated variety of theories in an attempt to explain how leadership works and what distinguishes effective leadership from the ineffective. These theories addressed questions of leadership behavior, effects of situations on leadership, and the relationship between leaders and followers. Among these were those that focused on the leader, on how the leader influences the followers, and how the leader effects change and is changed personally through the process of leadership (Van Seters & Field, 1990).
Leadership continues to be a subject of study in the modern world (Zaccaro, 2007). The extensive research during the past six or seven decades has not exhausted the topic of leadership, on the contrary, it has discovered new aspects of leadership and opened uncharted territory for further study and research (Bennis, 2007).
To set the stage for the study of the leadership approach of Steve Jobs, this chapter reviews the development of leadership theory. Peter Northouse