Abstract
M.Ed.
This research report focuses on increasing the effectiveness of the transformational leadership abilities of seven managers at Retek, a pharmaceutical retail organisation, by specifically using transformational teaching and learning strategies in a Management Development Programme. The study is framed by the theories of adult education, including transformational teaching and learning as well as transformational leadership. I used a focus group interview to collect the data and analysed it by using content, descriptive and narrative analysis. The data was coded by using descriptive and interpretive coding techniques which relied on obtaining a reflection of the managers’ learning experience. Five dominant themes emerged from the data. The themes explored the Retek environment, the Management Development Programme (MDP), transformational learning and teaching strategies and transformational leadership. The results of this study indicated that transformational leadership could be developed and improved by using a training programme in which the content was relevant and applicable to retail managers’ leadership and management practice by using transformational teaching and learning strategies. It highlighted the benefits of attending a MDP to enhance personal and professional development. It confirmed the contention that a corporate retail environment which allows for transformational teaching and learning, promotes transformational leadership and management development.