Exploring Types of Leadership Strategies Adopted During and After Crises

Abstract

The significant role played by women entrepreneurs towards national economic development has prompted the growth of SMEs in Malaysia. Nevertheless, very few studies have concentrated on women entrepreneurs and leadership strategies they employed during times of crises and thereafter for business success (White, & Özkanlı, 2010). The present study attempts to identify the types of leadership strategies adopted by women entrepreneurs in Klang Valley over the period of crises and beyond crises. The sample comprised 100 women entrepreneurs of SMEs who operated in the vicinity of Klang Valley, Kuala Lumpur. A questionnaire consisting of items based on a 5-point Likert scale on strategies employed under Transformational, Servant and Strategic leadership was administered to the sample to identify their leadership style. The findings suggest that the most important strategies employed by women entrepreneurs for ensuring business success during and after crises were identified as transformational and servant leadership followed by strategic leadership.