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The multilevel effectiveness of entrepreneurial leadership: A meta-analysis

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 February 2021

Qin Lin Open the ORCID record for Qin Lin [Opens in a new window]  and
Lingfeng Yi
Qin Lin
Affiliation:
School of Business Administration, Faculty of Economics and Management, East China Normal University, Shanghai200062, China
Lingfeng Yi*
Affiliation:
School of Business Administration, Faculty of Economics and Management, East China Normal University, Shanghai200062, China
*
Author for correspondence: Lingfeng Yi, E-mail: lfyiecnu@163.com
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Abstract

The effectiveness of entrepreneurial leadership (EL) at different levels has been widely recognized by scholars who have carried out substantial exploration; however, the empirical studies on the effectiveness of EL are scattered and their results are mixed. This study aims to organize these findings, advance knowledge about the multilevel effectiveness of EL and clarify the heterogeneity in the relationship between EL and effectiveness outcomes. Based on a systematic review of the extant literature and the construction of an integrated framework, this study examines the influence of EL on effectiveness outcomes at multiple levels and the moderators of this relationship through meta-analysis of 35 empirical studies including 35 independent samples. The results show that EL can improve effectiveness outcomes at different levels of organization, team and individual; cultural context obviously moderates this relationship, whereas the moderating effects of enterprise type and EL measure are all not significant. This study helps to determine the specific association of EL with effectiveness outcomes at different levels, and identify important factors influencing this relationship, which broadens the understanding of leadership effectiveness and provides certain value for enterprises to give full play to the role of EL at all levels.

Keywords

entrepreneurial leadershipleadership effectivenessmeta-analysismultilevel
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Management & Organization , First View , pp. 1 - 19
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press and Australian and New Zealand Academy of Management 2021

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