The Impact of Leadership Styles and Inter-Organisational Networks on Employee Performance: A Case of John Lewis

RESEARCH METHODS/ THE IMPACT OF LEADERSHIP
STYLES AND INTER - ORGANISATIONAL NETWORKS
ON EMPLOYEE’S PERFORMANCE: A CASE OF JOHN
LEWIS.

Abstract
This dissertation has discussed about leadership style and it influence employee performance.
Report has discussed literature review of research topic in order to get proper knowledge of
research topic. Research is conducted through qualitative technique. Questionnaire method is
used in order to conduct primary research and 30 participants are selected randomly for the
purpose of survey.

Table of Contents:
INTRODUCTION ..........................................................................................................................3
Background..................................................................................................................................3
Rationale......................................................................................................................................4
Problem identification..................................................................................................................4
Literature review..............................................................................................................................5
Concept of leadership style and inter organizational network.....................................................5
Methods of leadership style ........................................................................................................7
Association between leadership styles and inter - organisational networks with employee
performance.................................................................................................................................9
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY...................................................................................................11
Research philosophy..................................................................................................................11
Research type.............................................................................................................................12
Research Approach....................................................................................................................12
Data collection...........................................................................................................................13
Data analysis..............................................................................................................................14
Sampling....................................................................................................................................14
Reliability and validity...............................................................................................................15
Ethical considerations................................................................................................................16
Results............................................................................................................................................16
Discussions....................................................................................................................................32
CONCLUSION AND LIMITATION ...........................................................................................36
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................41

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION
Background
Retail sector is one of the most growing sector in worldwide. As it includes those
products and items which are necessary for survival (Adnan and Valliappan, 2019). It includes
products like clothing, footwear, accessories, bags, perfumes, grocery etc. this sector is highly
contributing in the economic development of UK. John Lewis is the multinational company
which manufacture products for men, women, and children. Company have stores across the
globe. They are famous for its innovative and good quality of products. They have wide product
portfolio and deals with fashion, electricals, furniture and many more. They have high end
departmental store which is located at different parts of the world. This research has discussed
about the problem which is identified while doing the research along with research aims and
objectives. Further it has shed light on literature review so that topic can be understand clearly.
It has evaluated methods through which the research will get conducted and will also discuss
results and discussion.
Rationale
The main issue is as there are many leadership styles so which style should be
implemented is the biggest issue (Megheirkouni, 2017). It has become issue now because
organisation want to retain its top performer employees so it is essential that they select such
leadership style which will retain employees and also help company in getting good employee
performance. This research will help organisation to know that which leadership style they
should select which suits their employees. As every organisation cannot select same leadership
style. Leadership style is selected by the organisation according to its workforce and also it
depends on the task which has to be accomplished. Through this report company can able to
improve employee performance and also help them to build organisational network within the
workforce. Organisational network is very important. As healthy networks or connections
between workforce will help organisation to attain success even fast. When employees will have
healthy relations then they will coordinate or help each other and it also does not arise conflicts
within the organisation between employees.

This research will give benefit to the scholar who will in the future conduct research on the same
topic. Researcher can review this research and can take idea before conducting their original
research. It will also benefit retail industry in order to manager their employee performance. By
reviewing this research industry will get idea about various leadership style and which leadership
style should be implemented. They will also get information about inter organisational networks.
As organisation should understand the importance of inter networks within the company. If
employee will coordinate with each other they company will grow rapidly.
Problem identification
The topic is chosen for the research because it has observed that many organisation in
today's world is facing leadership style related issues. As there are many leadership styles and
leaders are often confuse that they have to choose which leadership style so that the performance
of the employees can be improved. Good employee performance defines growth and success of
company. It is found that inter organisation networks also helps in improving employee
performance. This research will guide organisation about leadership style and also how inter
organisation networks are helpful in achieving expected employee performance. Leadership style
is itself complex procedure (Mwesigwa, Tusiime and Ssekiziyivu, 2020). Company cannot opt
same leadership style in achieving every task. Leaders have to choose leadership style as per the
situation and to understand which leadership style has to choose is not an easy task. It is very
important that formal and informal communication between employees or team members are
essential. Employee performance have become major problem for organisation. The good
performance delivered by employees are majorly dependent on their leaders and managers so
that is why it is important that leaders should adopt best leadership style.
Aim
The aim of the current study is to ascertain the impact of leadership styles and inter -
organisational networks on employee’s performance.
Objectives
 To understand the concept of leadership styles and inter - organisational networks.
 To identify methods of leadership styles in the company.
 To analyse association between leadership styles and inter - organisational networks with
employee performance.

 To recommend effectual strategies of leadership styles and inter - organisational networks
to John Lewis.
Research questions
 what is the concept of leadership styles and inter - organisational networks?
 What are the methods of leadership styles in the company?\
 what are the association between leadership styles and inter - organisational networks
with employee performance?
 What are the strategies of leadership styles and inter - organisational networks to John
Lewis?

Chapter 2: Literature review
Literature review refers to the comprehensive summary of old research on a selected topic. The
Literature review surveys done by the researches and scholars so that they may get the critical
review on the selected topic. This review summarizes the selected topic and brings in depth
information to the researcher. The key purpose of Literature review is to achieve an
understanding on the existing topic and get data for the same. Establishing Literature review will
also help in building knowledge about the topic.
1. Concept of leadership style and inter organizational networkAccording to Aunger and et.al
(2021). leadership style defines the characteristics of a leader and their behaviour when they
direct, motivate and guide the group of people. It has been seen that great leaders always inspire
and motivate people at the workplace and help them to attain their individual goal along with the
goal of the company. Besides this, leader can also have made different changes in the
organisation and behaviour of employees as well. If the organisation does not have great leaders,
then it becomes difficult for employees to perform innovative and creative work. In addition to
this Gentili (2021) states that inter organisation network refers to the relationship between
employees. It can be formal and informal in nature. It is very important for the employees to
build a good network and connections with each other so that they can share all the valuable
resources and information to each other and determine their priorities so the organisation can
achieve all the pre – determined goals. Inter organisational network is helpful in creating
coordination among channels. Besides this, it also reduces the situation of employee recruitment
and turnover. So an effective leadership styles help the employee of the organisation to set a
good relation with all so that in future if they need to work in a team then they can easily
corporate to each other and make the project successful. As per Wind and et.al (2020) Leadership
style is helpful in managing healthy competition among employees and competition will help the
employees to increase their skills and knowledge while working in a team so that they can help
the company to gain good growth and build a connection between every employee. So the
organizational leaders help the employees to set strategic goal for every employee and also they
motivate others to perform extra – ordinary in the organization. Besides this, leadership will help
the management to make their strategies successful so that organization can easily reach to their
goal. Leader4ship refers to the action thorough which they can lead the employees and people in
the organization so that they can attain goals. Leaders can influence the behaviour of employees

in different manner and this will help the management of the company to built inter
organisational network as well. In arguing with this Cepiku and et.al (2021) said that it is not
necessary that if the company has good leadership then only they can build inter – organization
relation. There are many organisation available which are working well and generating good
return in the absence of leadership because in such organisation employees are well versed with
their job and responsibilities. When the employees know their work then they can put their all
efforts so that they can attain their individual and company's goal. But Alberti and et.al (2021 )
argued that in the absence of leadership employees will not get proper guidance and there is high
chances that they may commit errors and mistakes at the work place. As it is the main objective
of leaders that they must show right path to their employees and help them in each and every
step. One of the major role of leader in the organization is that they provide clear direction to the
employee and let them know the value of discipline, standards and rules. Kinder and et.al
(2021) states that It is the responsibility of the leader that they must provide an effective strategy
to the employees so that all employees and team member can understand how they have to share
valuable information to each other so that inter organisational network can take place in the
organization. As the end goal of each and every organization is to increase their market share and
make good reputation in the market.
Kinder and et.al (2021) states that leader can only become successful when they have
followers, if the leader do not have any follower and people are not ready to follow the guidance
and rules of the leader then it becomes difficult for the leader to make employees understand
about the importance of strategies and leadership. It is the responsibility of leader that they must
celebrate the progress of company along with their employee. Besides this, leader has to follow
appropriate style so that they can take suggestions of the employees as well to generate good
goal of the company. Along with this, leader provides proper resources to the employees and
give them all the training so that they do not commit mistakes and errors. Apart from this, leader
is responsibility of the leader to create structure and also job role so that employees can produce
quality work. Leader should not follow servant leadership style in their organization. Leader
must collect review and feedback from each and every employee so that they may share their
review and point of view. Broadhurst and et.al (2021) also states that leader must follow
command and control in the organization. They also have to build trust among employees so that
employees can also share their feelings and thoughts with the leaders so that they can reduce the