Title: Leadership, organisations and the environment: applying population ecology models to understand a leader's influence on organisational performance

Authors: M. Ronald Buckley, Michael G. Harvey, Milorad M. Novicevic, Jonathon R.B. Halbesleben

Addresses: JC Penney Company Business Leadership Chair, Michael F. Price College of Business, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, USA. ' Hearin Chair of Global Business, School of Business Administration, University of Mississippi, Oxford, MS, USA. ' Assistant Professor of International Business, School of Business Administration, University of Mississippi, Oxford, MS, USA. ' Assistant Professor, Department of Health Management and Informatics, University of Missouri, Columbia, MS, USA

Abstract: Attempts to elucidate the link between leadership on organisational performance have been equivocal. The link between these two variables continues to intuitively appeal. We argue that leadership and organisational performance can be understood through alternative ideas, namely the application of population ecology to leadership. Population ecology posits that environment serves as a selection device and those organisations that best match with the environment will survive through natural selection. Leadership will be effective in influencing organisational performance when leaders facilitate the match between an organisation and its environment. We discuss the theory and research implications for leadership theory and research.

Keywords: leadership; population ecology models; organisational performance; strategic change management.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSCM.2006.011102

International Journal of Strategic Change Management, 2006 Vol.1 No.1/2, pp.61 - 72

Published online: 16 Oct 2006 *

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