Abstract
Understanding the systemic dynamics that drive leadership development in the
retail environment in order to develop a conceptual model for leadership
architecture within stratified system theory for sustainable leadership development
is the primary aim of this research. This model may serve as a catalyst towards
successfully implementing and executing leadership. Sub-aims of this research
include:
Establishing the underlying perceptions of the phenomenon of leadership,
assessing the perceptions of sustainability of leadership development, appraising
and creating countermeasures for the barriers that stand in the way of sustainable
leadership development in the retail environment, assembling the strategic
positioning of leadership architecture in retail that will enable a culture conducive
to this environment and, finally, formulating meta-insights to assist the retail
environment in the development of leadership architecture that may result in a
model for practice.
The research involved an investigation of the way in which leadership is
conceptualised, appreciated, applied and prioritised within the South African retail
environment. Insights gained from the research may be transferred across highpressure,
profit-driven organisations. The intent was to create practical leadership
architecture to ensure that leadership becomes a strategic priority, to enable
leadership development and to influence leadership practice. The current reality of
leadership in the retail environment and possible barriers to leadership
development and practice in the retail environment were investigated. The
research also sought to discover the non-negotiable imperatives needed for
leadership to become a sustainable strategic concern.
A qualitative research approach was adopted. Grounded theory research was
used with a purposeful sample of five retail Store Managers, two Regional...
Ph.D.