Styles of leadership vary with national and organizational cultures. Workers in some organizational and national cultures expect highly directive leadership while workers in other cultures expect leaders to create conditions that permit meaningful participation in decision making by all members of the organization.

Leaders serve a variety of functions in organizations including setting the climate for ethical and legal behavior, acting as mentors or teachers, determining organizational goals, and creating systems of meaning--organizational culture--for other members of the organization.

An increasingly important leadership role is the initiation and management of the change process in organizations. Effective leadership is particularly important in organizations with dynamic environments that require frequent change to survive.

Examine the following Web sites for information on:

• Types of leaders and leadership styles
• Ways that leaders gain and maintain authority
• The role of leaders in managing organizational change
• Ways that leadership varies across cultures

1. International Institute for Management Development
   http://www.imd.ch/
   This site focuses on executive development from an international perspective.
   
   
2. Leadership Facilitation
   http://www.oise.on.ca
   This site provides links to information to help facilitators of leadership and management development.
   
   

1. Which leadership style is most appropriate for the culture in which your university is located?
2. To what extent is the leadership style you identified influenced by national culture and organizational culture?
3. Is there evidence of leadership styles in your university that are not appropriate or effective? If so, why do they persist? How can they be made more effective?
4. What leadership style is appropriate for initiating and managing change at your university?