Work Group Composition Effects on Leadership Styles

The use of contractor staffing continues to increase in an attempt to reduce labor costs. In the midst of these trends, the effect of a composite organic and contractor workforce is not clear. The present study was designed to determine if homogeneous versus heterogeneous workgroup in conjunction with leader demographics can predict leadership style in aircraft manufacturing organizations. Situational leadership theory was used to understand the types of leadership styles used in aircraft manufacturing organizations. A sample of 150 aircraft manufacturing leaders that was solicited through LinkedIn completed a Manufacturing Leader Demographic Questionnaire and the Leader Behavior Analysis II to obtain information on the workforce, leader, work environment, and responses to situations. Revising leadership training and awareness on negative issues that are often associated with contractual workers has the potential to incorporate contractors into the workgroup more efficiently and effectively. This study can lead to future studies that will further validate and expand on the need to improve leadership styles within both homogeneous and heterogeneous workgroups.