<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<sec><h3>Background and purpose</h3>
<p>The purpose of this study was to examine generational differences and leadership style preferences in service and manufacturing organizations in south-eastern (SE) Slovenia. The focus was on preferred leadership approaches and generational differences.</p>
</sec>
<sec><h3>Methods</h3>
<p>Quantitative research was conducted using the Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire (MLQ) to collect data on a sample of 208 employees in manufacturing and service organizations in SE Slovenia. The questionnaire was distributed online and responses were analysed using Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, Shapiro-Wilk test, and the Kruskal Wallis test.</p>
</sec>
<sec><h3>Results</h3>
<p>The results showed that the transformational leadership style was most preferred by the respondents, followed by the transactional and the least preferred was the laissez-faire style. A significant generational difference was found in the preference for the transactional leadership style, with Baby Boomers showing the highest preference and Generation Z the lowest.</p>
</sec>
<sec><h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>Although the study was limited to SE Slovenia and generalizability is limited, the results suggest that organizations should provide leadership training adapted to generational preferences to promote effective leadership. Future research should consider longitudinal and sector-specific studies, as well as the inclusion of variables such as cultural background and organizational culture.</p>
</sec>
</abstract>

Background and purpose
The purpose of this study was to examine generational differences and leadership style preferences in service and manufacturing organizations in south-eastern (SE) Slovenia. The focus was on preferred leadership approaches and generational differences.

Methods
Quantitative research was conducted using the Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire (MLQ) to collect data on a sample of 208 employees in manufacturing and service organizations in SE Slovenia. The questionnaire was distributed online and responses were analysed using Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, Shapiro-Wilk test, and the Kruskal Wallis test.

Results
The results showed that the transformational leadership style was most preferred by the respondents, followed by the transactional and the least preferred was the laissez-faire style. A significant generational difference was found in the preference for the transactional leadership style, with Baby Boomers showing the highest preference and Generation Z the lowest.

Conclusion
Although the study was limited to SE Slovenia and generalizability is limited, the results suggest that organizations should provide leadership training adapted to generational preferences to promote effective leadership. Future research should consider longitudinal and sector-specific studies, as well as the inclusion of variables such as cultural background and organizational culture.

Leadership Styles and Generational Differences in Manufacturing and Service Organizations

Organizacija

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Background and purpose
The purpose of this study was to examine generational differences and leadership style preferences in service and manufacturing...

Leadership Styles and Generational Differences in Manufacturing and Service Organizations

Published Online: Aug 22, 2023

Page range: 221 - 232

Received: Jan 05, 2023

Accepted: May 24, 2023

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/orga-2023-0015

Keywords
Management, Generational cohort, Leadership style, Leadership, Employees, Organization

© 2023 Nadia Molek et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Leadership Styles and Generational Differences in Manufacturing and Service Organizations

Published Online: Aug 22, 2023

Page range: 221 - 232

Received: Jan 05, 2023

Accepted: May 24, 2023

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/orga-2023-0015

KeywordsManagement, Generational cohort, Leadership style, Leadership, Employees, Organization

© 2023 Nadia Molek et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Keywords
Management, Generational cohort, Leadership style, Leadership, Employees, Organization