Leadership Strategies and Inter-organisational Network at Lidl

This report investigates the correlation between leadership strategies and inter-organisational networks, using Lidl as a case study. The research employs both qualitative and quantitative data collection methods, including interviews with managers and questionnaires for employees. The report details the research methodology, including research choices (qualitative and quantitative), research approaches (inductive and deductive), and sampling techniques. The findings are presented through thematic analysis of qualitative data and frequency distribution analysis of quantitative data. The report explores the types of leadership strategies used by Lidl, their effectiveness in managing business activities, and the impact of inter-organisational networks on growth and team performance. It identifies benefits, challenges, and ways to improve inter-organisational networks. The conclusion and recommendations are based on the data analysis, and the research provides valuable insights into the relationship between leadership and network effectiveness within the organization.

Academic Skills - Assessment 2
(Relationship between the leadership
strategies and inter-organisational
network)

Contents
Topic................................................................................................................................................3
Data collection methods..................................................................................................................3
Evaluation and interpretation of qualitative and quantitative data..................................................6
Research outcomes........................................................................................................................15
Conclusion and recommendations.................................................................................................15
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................17

Topic
“An investigation for identifying the relationship between leadership strategies and inter-
organisational network”. A study on Lidl
Data collection methods
This is a part of research methodology that includes different types of methodologies that
will be explained as below:
Research choice: This is a significant process of collecting information about the specific field
of study. There are two effective choice of the research are known as qualitative and quantitative
(Dickerson and et. al., 2020). Both are choice are essential and significant within a study because
these helps in gathering of qualitative and quantitative data within minimum period of time.
Both choice of the research will be defined as below:
 Qualitative choice: This type of choice of research seeks to answer questions regarding
how and why people in the manner that they do. This choice gives in-depth information
regarding the topic. For gathering qualitative information, there are also different options
which are focus group, direct observation, interview etc. According to the current
investigation, interview is an effective instrument of qualitative data collection as it
supports researcher by providing in-depth information about the leadership strategies and
inter-organisational network (Elliott and Roberts, 2020).
 Quantitative choice: This is another type of research choice that will facilitate
investigator in collecting of numerical information. There are different methods for
collecting quantitative information such as questionnaire, experiments etc. These are
essential techniques of collecting quantitative data, but for gathering information about
the leadership strategies and inter-organisational network, questionnaire will be applied
(Levonian and et. al., 2020). This will facilitate in gathering of numerical information
within minimum period of time.
Research approach: This is significant methodology that is divided into two types which are
inductive and deductive. Both approaches are useful within an investigation. Inductive approach
facilitate investigator in analysing of qualitative data effectively (Fisher and et. al., 2020).
Deductive approach assists in analysing of quantitative information in less period of time.

Data collection: This refers to the significant process of collecting information regarding
the study. There are two essential methods of data collection which are primary and secondary.
According to the present study, both methods are essential and used for gaining valid outcomes.
Secondary data was gathered for literature review from books, articles, publication research and
many other sources relevant to the topic. In order to collect primary information, both interview
and questionnaire will be used as a research instruments (Fu, Chen, Wang and Wang, 2020).
Interview will be applied for collecting qualitative data, whereas questionnaire will be used for
collecting quantitative data.
Sampling: This refers to the process of selecting sample size from the total population.
There are two techniques of sample selection which are probability and non-probability.
According to the present study both types of sampling are essential. For selecting sample on
behalf of interview, non-probability sampling will be used because it not takes maximum time
and provides qualitative output (Ghauri, Grønhaug and Strange, 2020). On behalf of
questionnaire, probability sampling will be used as it helps in selecting of larger sample base in
less period of time. 5 managers of Lidl will be selected for collecting information for literature
review. 20 employees of Lidl will be chosen for questionnaire.
Research instruments: Interview and questionnaire are two selective instrument that will be
shown as below:
Interview
Q1. What types of leadership strategies used by Lidl?
Q2. According to you, following leadership strategies useful for Lidl in managing of business
activities?
Q3. According to you, what is inter-organisational network?
Q4. Do leadership strategies help Lidl in developing of strong relationship with other
organisations and members?
Q5. What are the effectiveness of inter-organisational network in growth of Lidl?
Questionnaire
Q1. Are you aware about the concept of inter-organisational network?
a) Yes
b) No

Q2. According to you, what kind of leadership strategies that would facilitate Lidl in improving
of its inter-organisational network?
a) Encourage recognition
b) Define & communicate vision
c) Delegate and empower their team members
Q3. According to you, above mentioned all are effective types of leadership strategies in
improving of team performance?
a) Strongly agree
b) Agree
c) Disagree
d) Strongly disagree
Q4. Is improved team performance help in enhancing of inter-organisational network?
a) Yes
b) No
Q5. What are the benefits of inter-organisational network for Lidl?
a) Shared risk
b) flexibility and responsiveness
c) Improved innovation
Q6. What are the useful ways that will help Lidl in encouraging of its inter-organisational
network?
a) Negotiating conflict
b) Dealing with the inclusion of new nodes
c) Developing clear mutual understanding about the sharing of resources
Q7. What are the possible challenges of inter-organisational network for performance of Lidl?
a) Achieving consensus on the network purpose and goals
b) Loss of autonomy
c) Culture clashes
Q8. According to you, what are the effective ways that would be used by Lidl for overcoming
the challenges associated with the inter-organisational network?
a) Adoption of proper leadership strategies
b) Hiring of diverse workforce

c) Provide tools to reach goals
Evaluation and interpretation of qualitative and quantitative data
Qualitative and quantitative are two types of data that were collected from interview and
questionnaire. Both are effective instruments of data collection. In order to analyse qualitative
information collected from interview, thematic analysis will be used as an analytical technique.
This technique helps in analysing of qualitative data in less period of time (Mays and Pope,
2020). For analysing quantitative data gathered from questionnaire, frequency distribution
analysis will be followed as an analytical technique. Therefore, data analysis of both types of
data will be shown as below:
Data analysis of qualitative data
Theme 1: Types of leadership strategies used by Lidl
Q1. What types of leadership strategies used by Lidl?
Interpretation: There are different types of leadership strategies such as define and
communication of vision, encouragement of recognition, delegate and empower etc. All these are
effective strategies that are used by company. 2 manger of the Lidl had idea as communication of
vision and encouragement of recognition is main strategies of leadership that used by Lidl. 3
managers had idea as delegate and empower is main leadership strategy that followed by Lidl for
improving performance of their team members.
Theme 2: Leadership strategies useful for Lidl in managing of business activities
Q2. According to you, following leadership strategies useful for Lidl in managing of business
activities?
Interpretation: Total selected participants are 5 managers in which 2 managers said as Lidl
followed leadership strategies in their business activities. Remaining 3 managers had idea as
there are different types of leadership theories but all theories are not used by company that have
direct impact on business activities.
Theme 3: What is inter-organisational network
Q3. According to you, what is inter-organisational network?

Interpretation: 4 Mangers of the company said as inter-organisational networks are the informal
and formal relationship the companies as independent organisation and the informal and formal
relations between their members. Remaining 1 participant had opinion as inter-organisational
networks links between companies that exist after single team original collaborative project.
Theme 4: Significance of leadership strategies in developing string relation with the
members or other organisation
Q4. Do leadership strategies help Lidl in developing of strong relationship with other
organisations and members?
Interpretation:1 manager of the Lidl said as leadership strategies played an important role in
making the strong relationship with their members and another organisation. 3 participants had
knowledge as leadership strategies are important for an organisation in developing of strong
brand image in marketplace. Remaining 1 respondent had opinion as leadership strategies
facilitated in retaining of talented workforce that results in strong relationship with the team.
Theme 5: Effectiveness of inter-organisational network in growth of Lidl
Q5. What are the effectiveness of inter-organisational network in growth of Lidl?
Interpretation: Total 5 mangers had equal opinion as inter-organisational network helps
business in developing of its strong brand image in marketplace.
Data analysis of quantitative data
Q1. Are you aware about the concept of inter-organisational network? Frequency
a) Yes 20
b) No 0
Q2. According to you, what kind of leadership strategies that would facilitate
Lidl in improving of its inter-organisational network?
Frequency
a) Encourage recognition 7
b) Define & communicate vision 8
c) Delegate and empower their team members 5

Q3. According to you, above mentioned all are effective types of leadership
strategies in improving of team performance?
Frequency
a) Strongly agree 8
b) Agree 10
c) Disagree 2
d) Strongly disagree 0
Q4. Is improved team performance help in enhancing of inter-organisational
network?
Frequency
a) Yes 15
b) No 5
Q5. What are the benefits of inter-organisational network for Lidl? Frequency
a) Shared risk 8
b) flexibility and responsiveness 5
c) Improved innovation 7
Q6. What are the useful ways that will help Lidl in encouraging of its inter-
organisational network?
Frequency
a) Negotiating conflict 6
b) Dealing with the inclusion of new nodes 4
c) Developing clear mutual understanding about the sharing of resources 10
Q7. What are the possible challenges of inter-organisational network for
performance of Lidl?
Frequency
a) Achieving consensus on the network purpose and goals 4
b) Loss of autonomy 10
c) Culture clashes 6
Q8. According to you, what are the effective ways that would be used by Lidl for
overcoming the challenges associated with the inter-organisational network?
Frequency
a) Adoption of proper leadership strategies 10
b) Hiring of diverse workforce 6
c) Provide tools to reach goals 4

Question 1: Awareness about the concept of inter-organisational network
Q1. Are you aware about the concept of inter-organisational network? Frequency
a) Yes 20
b) No 0
Interpretation: From the above mentioned graph, it has been interpreted that 20 out of 20
respondents had knowledge about the inter-organisational network. They said, inter-
organisational network helps company in developing off good relation with the members and
other parties.
Question 2: Kind of leadership strategies
Q2. According to you, what kind of leadership strategies that would facilitate
Lidl in improving of its inter-organisational network?
Frequency
a) Encourage recognition 7
b) Define & communicate vision 8
c) Delegate and empower their team members 5

Interpretation: There are various kind of leadership strategies used by company. 7
participants had idea as encourage recognition is main strategy that help Lidl in improvement of
its business activities. 8 participants had opinion as defining and communicating vision is main
strategy and remaining 5 employees had knowledge as delegate and power team members is
biggest strategy that assist in improvement of their business performance.
Question 3: Effectiveness of leadership strategies in improvement of team performance
Q3. According to you, above mentioned all are effective types of leadership
strategies in improving of team performance?
Frequency
a) Strongly agree 8
b) Agree 10
c) Disagree 2
d) Strongly disagree 0

Interpretation: This graph or table has been determined that leadership strategies are
effective in improving of team performance. For this statement, 8 employees are strongly
agreeing, 10 are agree and 2 are disagree.
Question 4: Effectiveness of team performance in improvement of inter-organisational network
Q4. Is improved team performance help in enhancing of inter-organisational
network?
Frequency
a) Yes 15
b) No 5

Interpretation: Improvement of team performance is an important part of the business
success and growth. 15 respondents said as improved team performance support Lidl in
improving of its inter-organisational network. As tem members’ performance their hundred
percent and work towards achievement of organisational goals. As it proofs, improved
performance of team helped company in its inter-organisational culture.
Question 5: Advantages of inter-organisational network for Lidl
Q5. What are the benefits of inter-organisational network for Lidl? Frequency
a) Shared risk 8
b) flexibility and responsiveness 5
c) Improved innovation 7
Interpretation: From the above mentioned table, it has been concluded different benefits
of inter-organisational network for company. For this statement, 8 out of 20 respondents had
knowledge as it supports company in sharing of risk. 5 had idea as inter-organisational network
support in improving its flexibility and responsiveness. As it helps them in its business
operations at national as well as international level. Remaining 7 participants had knowledge as
inter-organisational network improved business innovation that results are higher growth and
enhanced brand image.
Question 6: Ways for encouraging inter-organisational network
Q6. What are the useful ways that will help Lidl in encouraging of its inter-
organisational network?
Frequency