Impact of Despotic Leadership on Project Success in the Software Development Projects: Mediating role of Self-Efficacy and Job Autonomy

Abstract

Despotic leadership in the form of abusive supervision is a negative form of leadership that badly affects the project's success and organizational goals. This study aims at measuring the impact of despotic leadership on project success through the mediation of Self-Efficacy and Job Autonomy. Data was collected from Software Development Projects of Punjab from the 212 professionals working in software development projects. The data analysis was performed through SmartPLS 3.3. The current study's findings showed that despotic leadership negatively affects project success. Findings also reveal that due to despotic behavior of the leader, employees lose their interest in their tasks which results in decreased self-efficacy and job autonomy that adversely affects the project success. This research work underwrites to the literature on Self-efficacy and Job Autonomy by revealing the relationship between Despotic leadership and Project Success. The results of this study show that the relationship amongst despotic leadership and project success is mediated by self-efficacy and job autonomy.