Generation as a Moderator of the Relationship Between Global Leadership Competencies and Global Leadership Effectiveness

Abstract

An increasing emphasis on globalization necessitates effective global leaders. Although past research has focused on identifying competencies that comprise global leadership and the relationships between global leadership competencies and several outcomes, little attention has been paid to examine how global leadership competencies would be related to global leadership effectiveness. Furthermore, the current workforce consists mainly of Gen Xers and Gen Yers who have different attitudes, beliefs, and characteristics. Thus, generation might moderate such a relationship. The major purposes of this study were to examine the relationship between global leadership competencies and global leadership effectiveness and whether generation moderated such a relationship. A total of 226 college students participated in the study. It was expected that global leadership competencies would be related with global leadership effectiveness and that generation would moderate the relationship between global leadership competencies and global leadership effectiveness. Results did not support these hypotheses. However, generation was related to global leadership effectiveness such that Gen Xers were higher on global leadership effectiveness than Gen Yers. Organizations could use these findings to their advantage by using Gen Xers to mentor and train Gen Yers in regards to global leadership effectiveness.