Role of Transformational Leadership in the Relationship between Top Management Support and Performance of Public Organizations: A Look at State Corporations in Kenya
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47604/jhrl.3598Keywords:
Transformational Leadership, Top Management Support, Performance, Public Organizations, State CorporationsAbstract
Purpose: The aim of the study was to examine the role of transformational leadership in the relationship between top management support and performance of public organizations looking at state corporations in Kenya.
Methodology: The study adopted descriptive research design. The study targeted 221 state corporations in Kenya. 143 corporations were sampled. Respondents were Chief Executive Officers and Senior Managers, who are responsible for strategy and planning. The study utilized the use of self-administered structured questionnaires to collect primary data. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 25 was used in data analysis.
Findings: Pearson Correlation results indicate that top management support was positively and significantly related to performance of state corporations (.315, p<0.000). Results further exposed that top management support was found to affect performance (β=.065, p<.05). This suggests that, while top management support is important, its direct influence on performance is modest and may be affected by other variables. Introducing transformational leadership as a moderating variable reduced the F-statistic, indicating that transformational leadership affects the strength of these relationships. However, despite the reductions, the relationships remain statistically significant (p < .05) in all cases. Based on the study, transformational leadership moderates the relationship between top management support and firm performance. Despite reduced F-statistic, this relationships remain significant.
Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: The study recommends development of transformational leadership through Investment in leadership skill development to maximize strategy implementation effectiveness, integration of transformational leadership in strategy by embedding transformational leadership in strategy formulation and implementation for enhanced outcomes, aligning strategy with transformational leadership by customizing processes to fit transformational leadership. Next is to implement a training program that focuses on transformational leadership and strategy integration and establish a metrics and monitoring system that regularly assess the impact of leadership on strategy. These steps will improve firm performance through effective strategy implementation.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Evanson Njoroge Kamuri, Peter Wanjohi, Noor Ismail, Agnes Njeru
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