Transformation leadership and firm performance in Uganda’s Aviation industry, a case study of Uganda national airlines company limited

Abstract

The study aimed at examining the relationship between transformation leadership and firm performance in Uganda's Aviation Industry. A Case Study of Uganda National Airlines Company Limited (UNACL). Specifically, it examined the association between idealized influence and firm performance, determined how firm performance of UNACL is related with inspirational motivation, and to understand the correlation between intellectual stimulation and performance. The adopted the correlational and case study research design, while employing a purely quantitative approach; from a targeted study population of 583; a sample of 237 respondents was determined using Yamane Formula, (1967). Survey and interview methods were used to collect data. Quantitative data analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics, while qualitative data was analyzed using, thematic analysis. Correlation results indicated significant strong positive significant relationships between idealized influence, inspirational motivation, intellectual stimulation and firm performance. From the regression analysis results, transformation leadership in form of idealized influence, inspirational motivation and intellectual stimulation highly contributed positively firm performance in UNACL by 69%. In conclusion, therefore, transformation leadership in form of idealized influence, inspirational motivation and intellectual stimulation is highly related with firm performance in UNACL. The study recommends that management of UNACL ought to adopt idealized influence leadership, recognize all their employees’ needs and demands and ensure that they have been met as effectively as possible involve the employees at all level of decision-making because it encourages high devotion among the workforce, increases employees’ morale and satisfaction who as a result perform at their best on an individual level. Future research studies should explore other industries like the manufacturing, hospitality, aviation industry, education among others, with different methodologies and different case studies, while employing a mixed approach, since the current study was purely quantitative.