Societal Development and the Change of Leadership Style in Oriental Chinese Societies

Abstract

The development of East Asian Chinese societies in recent decades has led to observed change in leadership styles among business managers. This study examines the relationship between societal changes, especially the change in culture, and the change in leadership styles. The subjects of this study are Chinese managers in four major Oriental Chinese societies: Mainland China, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Taiwan. It is argued that, due to different political, economical, and cultural developments in recent decades, the leadership styles in these Chinese societies have also changed in different directions. Based on data from the Global Leadership and Organizational Behavior Effectiveness Program (GLOBE) study, our findings show some significant and interesting differences in leadership style among business leaders in these Chinese societies. The implications of the findings are discussed.