Date of Conferral

2022

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Management

Advisor

Thomas Butkiewicz

Abstract

The newest generation entering the workforce, Generation Z, has unique characteristics and workplace preferences that distinguish this generation from previous generations. The specific management problem is that current organizational leaders lack knowledge regarding which leadership style Generation Z employees perceive as most effective and risk not providing a productive and supportive workplace climate. The purpose of this quantitative correlational study was to examine leadership style preferences as perceived among Generation Z office employees as most effective for providing a productive and supportive workplace climate. Generational theory and social exchange theory comprised the theoretical framework. The research questions were designed to determine to what extent, if any, Generation Z office employees perceive transformational, transactional, laissez-faire, and authentic leadership as effective. The random sample included 112 office employees aged 18-25 in the southwestern United States. Results of the Spearman correlation supported a perfect positive correlation of perceived effective leadership and authentic leadership (rs = 1, p < .001), a strong positive correlation with transformational leadership (rs = .78, p < .001), and a moderate positive correlation with transactional leadership (rs = .56, p < .001). There was no correlation between laissez-faire leadership and perceived leadership effectiveness (rs = -.01, p = .89). The results indicated authentic leadership as the leadership style perceived by Generation Z office workers as the most effective for providing a productive and supportive workplace climate. This study may promote positive social change by providing knowledge about Generation Z office employees’ leadership style preferences, which may assist organizational leaders in improving leader and follower relations at work.

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