Investigating Leadership's Role in Project Management within Hilton

This research project investigates the critical role of leadership in project management within an organization, specifically using Hilton Hotels as a case study. The report begins with an acknowledgement and abstract outlining the study's focus on how leadership motivates teams to achieve project goals. The introduction establishes the aims, objectives, and research questions, emphasizing the importance of leadership in guiding employees and ensuring project success. A literature review explores leadership concepts, styles, and their impact on project management, drawing on established theories and research. The methodology section details the research approach, design, data collection, and analysis techniques employed. Findings from the research are presented and discussed, highlighting the challenges and benefits of leadership in project management. The conclusion and recommendations offer insights into improving leadership practices for enhanced employee performance and project outcomes. The report covers various aspects of leadership, including its impact on decision-making, employee support, and the use of different leadership styles, culminating in suggestions for training and development to improve project success.

RESEARCH PROJECT

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
I would like to express my special thanks of feeling to my professor who provide me a golden
opportunity to do this wonderful report on the topic “Role of leadership in project management
within the organization” which assist me in doing lot of research and came to know about many
new things. I am really thankful to them.
Secondly, I would also like to thank my parents and friends who help me lot in finalizing the
report within limited time period.

ABSTRACT
Leadership can be defined as process that is used by leader to motivate team member to
work co-ordinately towards achievement of end objectives of project. The dissertation has
consisted of detailed related to role that leadership play in context of project management. It has
also specified about different leadership styles that can be used by leader to manage project of
company so that it can retained its maximum market share. The first chapters are about
introduction of leadership and project management that has included aim, objectives and
questionnaire. Moreover, it has consisted second chapters related to literature review of well
unowned author to support various arguments. The dissertation has also consisted of research
methodology that has explained about several methods that has been used to conduct research
and gathered useful information’s. Further from the data analysis section it was discussed that
leadership plays a crucial role in the management of the project. This is pertaining to the fact that
leadership assist in guiding employees what they have to do and attain goals of business. Further
it highlighted the fact that major benefit of leadership in project management is assisting in
decision-making. Along with this it was identified that major challenge for the company in
leadership is the lower support from subordinated. Further it was recommended that training and
development, use of democratic style of leadership was advised.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER 1- INTRODUCTION....................................................................................................5
1.1Background.............................................................................................................................5
1.2 Aims and Objectives..............................................................................................................6
1.3 Research questions.................................................................................................................6
1.4 Rationale................................................................................................................................6
1.5 Significance...........................................................................................................................7
1.6 Dissertation structure.............................................................................................................8
CHAPTER 2- LITERATURE REVIEW.......................................................................................10
2.1: Concept and importance of leadership in project management.........................................10
2.2: Different method of leadership in project management.....................................................11
2.3: Impact and challenges of leadership theories on project management..............................15
CHAPTER 3- RESEARCH METHODOLOGY...........................................................................20
3.1 Research Type.....................................................................................................................20
3.2 Research Approach..............................................................................................................20
3.3 Research Philosophy............................................................................................................21
3.4 Research Design..................................................................................................................22
3.5 Data collection....................................................................................................................22
3.6 Sampling..............................................................................................................................23
3.7 Data analysis........................................................................................................................24
3.8 Reliability and validity........................................................................................................25
3.10 Research Limitation...........................................................................................................26
CHAPTER 4- FINDING...............................................................................................................28
CHAPTER 5- DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS..........................................................................49
CHAPTER 6- CONCULSION AND RECOMMENDATION.....................................................52
Conclusion.................................................................................................................................52
Recommendations......................................................................................................................54
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................56
APPENDIX....................................................................................................................................59

CHAPTER 1- INTRODUCTION
1.1Background
Leadership is a process of being able to inspire others for work done on time and in
efficient manner. Leaders have critical thinking skills that help organization to knows the best
way to use resources and minimize wastage. Leadership is an important process for the
organization as it helps organization to set proper direction for employees. The major focus is to
achieve vision of a company. Leaders direct organization project team to complete project in
efficient manner with cost and time saving. Employees are being lead towards ultimate target to
achieve so that company can retain competitive advantages. Thus, leaders play a significant role
to motivate and guide in a manner to achieve organizational goal. In Project Management, leader
motivate employees to perform activities of the projects, moreover to complete it in a given time
period along with cost effective and time saving. Leader help in achieving the set target of
project by motivating and guiding towards task completion and ultimately lead to growth of
organization. Leader also helps company to save its time, cost and resources which are of high
value and involve high investment. Furthermore, lead towards adapting to new culture and
technology in an organization by training employees and staff.
Hilton Hotels is founded in the year of 1919, is an American Multinational Hospitality
which manage and franchiser of hotels and resorts and total of 584 are in number all over the
world. The company operate in travel and target travellers with a purpose of explore or business
or for leisure activities. It also has membership programs for exclusive consumers which include
benefits to all hotels and resorts of Hilton Group. Hilton is Operating in almost every country
which gives luxury experience to members.
This research projects are based on leadership activities, impact and involvement of
leadership in project management of Hilton group. This shows how Hilton followed leadership
activities to complete their projects with an efficient manner by motivating employees and
supporting employees on each level to complete their project on time. Leadership activities help
company to achieve target and improve employee performance of Hilton. It also helps company
to work as a team in company and complete task together effectively. However, leadership
theories and methods which are followed by company to achieve target goal with employee work
performance.

1.2 Aims and Objectives
Aim:
“To investigate the role of leadership in the project management within the
organization”. A study on Hilton hotel.
OBJECTIVES:
1. Specific- To understand the concept and importance of leadership in Project
management.
2. Measurable - To measure outcome of using different methods of leadership in Project
Management of Hilton.
3. Attainable- To determine the Impact and challenges of leadership in context of Project
Management of Hilton in order to understand whether it can be attainable or not.
4. Realistic- To suggest various changes in leadership contribute in improving performance,
commitment and efficiency of employee's.
1.3 Research questions
1. What is the concept and importance of leadership in Project management?
2. What are the different methods of leadership style to be followed by Hilton?
3. How different leadership style is being used by leaders to manage the projects of
organization?
4. What are the various changes in leadership to improve the performance, commitment and
efficiency of employee’s?
1.4 Rationale
The dissertation shows the leadership and their theories which impact on the project
management. The problems faced by company in projects due to lack of motivation in
employees and proper guidance has been addressed. Leadership theories are being selected by
companies because it helps them to achieve the target goal and increase the employee
performance. The issue is being rises in company's project due to lack of training to employee in
the company guidance and support. Employee need to be motivated and trained with the latest
technology and culture to adopt the changes and that couldn't be sacrifices on the project and the
management team of company. This research has been conducted to determine the leadership
importance and how they guide the employee for effective working in the organization for better

results. There are different leadership method and theories which are followed by companies in
their project management and to achieve the target goal of company efficiently. Also, leadership
help organization to cut the cost and time-consuming process in the projects which are invested
with huge amount of money. In this report, we have found that leadership is important part of
every organization to be followed. Leaders increase the overall performance of employees and
organization which results in addressing the target goal on time and efficient manner. Leader
focuses on the vision of the company by increasing the efficiency of employees in the
organization and move towards the set goal. The final statement shows that leadership leads the
company vision and their project towards the final achievement by guiding, directing and
supporting to employees. Whereas, company uses different methods in each department which
are directed by their leaders that contribute in to minimize the wastage of resource and maximize
the profit of the company. Leaders play the crucial role in the organization which saves the cost,
time and money by increasing the efficiency working of employee in the company and move
towards the final aim of the Hilton group.
1.5 Significance
The main purpose of study is to known about the role-play by leaders during the project
and challenges that arises with changing environment in market. This dissertation is concerned
with the leadership and the methods of leadership in the organization which directly impact on
project management. The main purpose of study is to know the roles and challenges that are
faced by leader in project management and how leader manages changing situations.
Leaders direct the employees towards the target and focus on the vision to achieve.
Moreover, the study is important because it helps in understanding the way leadership
contribute in effective management of project and achievement of end goals. It also helps in
gaining necessary information related to different leadership styles that can be used by
individual to manage the project so that maximum benefits can be enjoyed by company.
The study has lead in understanding the impact as well as challenges that are faced by
leaders in context of project management and the way they can be minimised for better
outcome. They also help company to increase the employee efficiency and lead to increase in
employee performance. Company's leader directs the employee in such a way that cut the overall
cost of project and achieves the target on time. Leader’s theories are being followed by the
company to make the employee effective and motivated towards the work to finish the project on

time efficiently. The study is being made on the Hilton group as Hilton management followed
different leadership style in their department to achieve the set goal by increasing the working
efficiency of employees to remain top in the market. These strategies are decided by the top
management to lead the employee towards company vision and mission and ultimately to
achieve the goal. Leader evaluates the opportunities to gain competitive advantage in the market
and earn good profit and reduce the cost of the management. The analysis is done for Hilton
group and how leaders of Hilton group help in to achieve the target through proper guidance of
employees towards their projects. Their level of involvement and impact on project management
so that targeted project can be achieved in limited time frame. Also, the purpose is to know the
leadership style that are followed by the Hilton and how they increase their employee
performance efficiency overall. The research shows the leadership structure of the Hilton Group
and how leaders influence in the project management to complete on time with cost effective
through increase in working efficiency of employees. It also shows the leadership strategies
followed by the Hilton Group in the project management for the successful completion of
projects and how they deal in changing environment that affect the company's project. This
dissertation can be used by any scholar working on the same industry or work in similar field can
us for their secondary data and help other scholar to know the impacts of leader and role-played
in organization. It is important for other companies’ leaders that are operating in hospitality
industry as through the study they are able to understand techniques and styles that can be used
to manage the project. Moreover, they can also take into account their consideration and follow
these strategies, methods that are followed by Hilton group.
1.6 Dissertation structure
Chapter 1: Introduction.
First chapter of dissertation will outline brief overview of company and about project
management aim and objective that will be framed. Research aims and objectives on leadership
style and that help in project management will be made and research questions significance of
research will be prepared which is mainly focused on ultimate aim. Whereas, scholar will more
focuses on aims and importance of topic selected.
Chapter 2: Literature Review.

The second chapter is an important chapter that shows thesis on the Topic which are
taken through books and Journal related to topic and authentic author. This shows statement of
authors related to research. It shows difference between literature review and literature summary.
Chapter 3: Research Methodology. Third Chapter shows methods which are used to critically
analysis of Data collection, data structure, data analysis of research conducted on the basis of
aims and objective through primary and secondary data collected through sample and survey and
analysis final result of research.
Chapter 4: Data analysis.
The most important is chapter 4 which evaluate and analyse the data we have collected
from the different sources which give the overall results and find the issues that are face by
organizations. The primary and secondary data is being analysis and represented through
different charts and diagrams with theme wise. Final results and discussion are being made
according to data collected and interpretation. Tool used in research by researcher is inductive
approach.
Chapter 5: Conclusion and Recommendation.
The last chapter is of conclusion of the research done by the scholar. This shows the final
results of the topic aim and objective that is being conducted for a reason and finds the
concluding statement of the research topic. Lastly recommendation is being given to improve the
strategies followed by company.

CHAPTER 2- LITERATURE REVIEW
Literature review provide overview of current knowledge, helps in identifying several
methods, theories and gaps in existing research or acts as secondary information published by
various well-known authors. In order to write literature review, by finding relevant publications
like books and journals, articles thus critically analysing them and explaining the things that has
founded. Thus, it can be stated that it demonstrates familiarity with topic and scholarly content
related to topic so that relevant facts can be collected to support the research.
2.1: Concept and importance of leadership in project management
As noted by Karin (2020), leaders have special characteristic, skills and talent that helps
it to influence other individuals to behave in particular manner so that end outcome can be
achieved. Or in other words, project leaderships are related to creation of good working
condition and culture so that each team member is ready to contribute in growth and success of
project. It directs employees regarding the way task can be completed or provide appropriate
guidance, direction so that they can easily complete the task in the best possible manner. So, as
per view of author it is process of thing getting done through thereby goals of project can be
achieved. It is continuous process in which leaders find different method to motivate team
member to give their best so that project can be made successful. Leadership is dynamic process
as leader has to understand skills of people, find alternative method or way that can be used to
influence team member for project completion. At the same time, leaders may be born or made
as there are some individuals that have capabilities to lead team in order to complete project in
effectively manner for better outcome. Therefore, it can be understood that leaders through their
influencing personality are able to induce individual to work hard for growth and success of
project. It also evaluates future challenge that may be faced by company and find alternative
method to cope up with those changes so that various operation related to project can be
completed in better manner.
From the point of Adams and Velarde, (2018), leader must have capabilities to build and
retained strong relationship with its team member in order to understand their key skills and find
task that they need to perform. Leader by providing support and direction to team member is able
to developed confidence in them thereby influenced to give their best so that project objectives
can be achieved. Moreover, the author dams and Velarde, illustrates some characteristic which
needs to be present in successful leaders so that it can lead team for completion of project. Like.

it must have pleasant personality that help in attracting more and more individual to make
optimum utilization of their capabilities for achievement of project goals. Another key
characteristic of leadership is that it must have knowledge regarding people diverse individual
can be motivated and coordinated to work together as team for common goals. Moreover, it can
be stated that integrity and honesty as most of the individual like leader that openly and truly
share necessary information. At same time, in leadership, leader must not discriminate among
team member on several bases so that they can feel valuable. It treats each individual on equal
basis that helps them in making team member motivated and determined to enhance their overall
performance. It also explain that leaders need to be much more intelligent so that it can analyse
situation, circumstances and find their pros and cons in order to take right decision.
As illustrated by Brdulak, Senkus and Senkus (2017), concept of leadership is important as helps
in resolving key issue and challenges that are faced by team member while completing several
activities related to the project. It is responsible for communicating vision, mission and goals of
organization to numerous team members so that they clear know about their respective roles and
responsibilities. Thus, it leads in easily completion of several tasks and activities of various
individual and achievement of end goals of project in the best possible manner. It always finds
alternative method that could be used to manage team member. The author further illustrated that
there are various benefits of leadership such as it helps in increasing overall productivity and
performance of team member. Moreover, it contributed in retention of high talented, experienced
and skilled team member within project so that best outcome can be gained. Increase in member
engagement is also one of the importances of concept of leadership as positive attitude and
motivating behaviour helps in making team member happy and satisfied. Thereby it yields in
getting maximum outcome at minimum efforts possible.
2.2: Different method of leadership in project management.
In the opinion of Western (2019), leadership make use of different method or strategies in
order to induce several team members to make optimum utilization of resources so that best
outcome can be gained. It by understand key issue which are faced by individual or team
member find better strategies that could help in gaining maximum outcome. Different project
leaders make use of different leadership styles to make team member motivated, happy and
satisfied such as participative, transformational, autocratic leadership styles. Like participative is
leadership style in which leader encourage team member to share their view, opinion and

feedback the way project can be made successful. Leaders by encouraging member is able to
bring innovative idea regarding the project can be completed thus helps in gaining maximum
results. It also motivates the employee towards the company work and creates loyal customers
towards the company.
As per view of Villaluz and Hechanova (2019), participative leadership style or method is
used by project leader that shows the involvement of employees in decision-making and leaders
considered their feedback towards the work. It helps employees to know their creativity and
knowledge towards the same. It also helps in raising morale and motivation level as each
member feel highly valuable to work for growth and success of project. Thereby making the best
use of its capabilities, skills and experienced to make project great success. It increases
productivity of employees due to delegation and clear communication in a company and to
achieve target goal of company in time. Quality of employees improved satisfactory towards
company projects and reduce cost of company with efficient working of employees. It also
motivates employee towards work and organization and increase job satisfaction.
Matta (2017) stated that, some disadvantages of using participative leadership style are
that different individual has different viewpoints so there are chances of conflict. This leads to
employee dissatisfaction for organization and their leaders which makes them inefficient worker.
This also lead to decrease in employee performance and de-motivation towards a company. It
may affect company overall performance and also affect vision of company. However, it
increases company cost and wastage of time and resources of company lead to suffer with huge
loss and lack of management of staff. It also makes decision-making slow in organization and
results in delay in achieving ultimate goal of company. It is difficult to check accuracy of
decision taken by subordinates and results in delay for final decision-making of project. These
style also make security issue for company as information is shared in all level of management
and it may affect the decision of company.
As per the Ul Haq, Parachaand Shakeel (2020), autocratic leadership style says that one
leader has entire control all over company and resources and decision-making. Leader makes
decision with their own choice and understanding; it is very effective strategy to be followed by
small business where number of employee are less and decision are taken for company
prospective. However, company can make effective decision for achieving vision and company
goal. While there are some advantage and disadvantage of this strategy which can effect and help