Table Of ContentAdvances in Information Systems
and Business Engineering
Nadine Poser
Distance Leadership
in International
Corporations
Why Organizations Struggle
when Distances Grow
Advances in Information Systems
and Business Engineering
Herausgegeben von
U. Baumöl, Hagen, Deutschland
J. vom Brocke, Vaduz, Liechtenstein
R. Jung, St. Gallen, Schweiz
Die Reihe präsentiert aktuelle Forschungsergebnisse verschiedener methodischer
Ausrichtungen an den Schnittstellen der wissenschaftlichen Disziplinen Wirt-
schaftsinformatik, Informatik und Betriebswirtschaftslehre. Die Beiträge der Rei-
he sind auf anwendungsorientierte Konzepte, Modelle, Methoden und Theorien
gerichtet, die eine Nutzung von Informationssystemen für die innovative Gestal-
tung und nachhaltige Entwicklung von Organisationen aufgreifen. Die Arbeiten
zeigen in besonderer Weise, inwiefern moderne Informations- und Kommunika-
tionstechnologien neue unternehmerische Handlungsspielräume eröffnen können.
Zudem wird die Verbesserung bestehender Modelle und Strukturen aufgezeigt.
Zugleich kennzeichnet die Beiträge ein ganzheitlicher Ansatz bei der Entwicklung
und Einführung von Informationssystemen, bei dem der organisatorische Hand-
lungskontext in den Dimensionen Mensch, Aufgabe und Technik systematisch be-
rücksichtigt und aktiv gestaltet wird.
Herausgegeben von
Prof. Dr. Ulrike Baumöl Prof. Dr. Reinhard Jung,
FernUniversität Hagen, Deutschland Universität St. Gallen, Schweiz
Prof. Dr. Jan vom Brocke
Universität Liechtenstein, Fürstentum
Liechtenstein
Nadine Poser
Distance Leadership
in International
Corporations
Why Organizations Struggle
when Distances Grow
Nadine Poser
University of Liechtenstein
Vaduz, Liechtenstein
Dissertation University of Liechtenstein, 2016
Advances in Information Systems and Business Engineering
ISBN 978-3-658-15222-2 ISBN 978-3-658-15223-9 (eBook)
DOI 10.1007/978-3-658-15223-9
Library of Congress Control Number: 2016947921
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Preface
This work would not have become reality without the support of some very im-
portant people.
I would like to dedicate this work to my parents Veronika and Wolfgang. During
my whole life you provided me with an environment filled with love and security.
You taught me to work hard and to fight for my values and beliefs. My optimistic
view on life is grounded on your education. You encouraged me at all stages and
have always had my back. Without your trust, I would have never taken on this
challenge. I am so proud to call you my parents.
I would also like to thank my best friends, Annett and Christian, you both are in-
credibly important to me. You were always there for me when I needed you, espe-
cially during the really rough times. I would be happy if I could still call you my
BBF in 50 years from now.
I would like to express my deepest gratitude to Prof. Urs Baldegger. Urs, you are
one of the few people who truly inspired me. More than subjects, you taught me
lessons for life. Thank you for your confidence, giving me the chance to write this
dissertation under your supervision.
My sincere thanks also go to my co-supervisor Prof. Marco Furtner for his continu-
ous support during my study and related research, for his motivation and methodo-
logical assistance.
For the trust and faith in me, I would like to thank my friend Daniel. With your un-
breakable optimism you showed me that everything will work out eventually.
Nadine Poser
Abstract VII
Abstract
The purpose of this study is to examine the influence of leadership behavior on the
work-related outcomes of self-leadership and individual performance by investigat-
ing the role of physical distance, relationship quality, and interaction frequency in
international corporations. Research was conducted in 19 business units of interna-
tional firms headquartered in Liechtenstein and Switzerland. The sample consisted
of 372 followers reporting to 122 leaders. Structural equation modeling was used to
conduct a confirmatory factor analysis of the recently developed Self-Leadership
Skills Inventory (SLSI) by Furtner and Rauthmann (in prep.). Hypotheses tests
were completed using multiple linear regressions, moderation, and mediation anal-
yses. Study outcomes include that physical distance moderates the influence of
transformational and passive leadership on follower self-leadership and entails neg-
ative effects on followers’ perceptions of relationship quality. Relationship quality
was observed to mediate the influence of transformational and passive leadership
on performance outcomes. Relationship quality was furthermore discovered to have
indirect positive effects on the influence of transactional leadership on perfor-
mance. Interaction frequency moderated the influence of transformational leader-
ship on follower performance. Summarizing the findings, it can be concluded that
the influence of physical distance on the leader-follower relationship is exaggerat-
ed. Instead, the quality of the relationship between leader and follower has shown
to be the tie that binds the two individuals. Frequency of interaction has the capa-
bility yet to enhance the positive influence of transformational leadership on fol-
lowers’ performance. In addition to highlighting the potential that underlies dis-
tance leadership, this work outlines the key influence factors of the leader-follower
relationship in the context of physical distance. This work extends current leader-
ship literature as it examines the roles inherited by physical distance, relationship
quality, and interaction frequency in the leader-follower relationship. In addition,
this research applies Full Range Leadership (FRL) holistically to a physically dis-
tant organizational structure. The research further integrates post-heroic compo-
nents (e.g., self-leadership) that have only recently found application in distant
leadership research.
VIII Abstract
Key-words
Full-Range leadership; distance leadership; e-leadership; physical distance; rela-
tionship quality; leader-member exchange; interaction frequency; self-leadership;
performance
Table of Contents IX
Table of Contents
Abstract ....................................................................................................................... VII
Table of Contents ..........................................................................................................IX
1 Introduction .................................................................................................................. 1
2 Literature Review ......................................................................................................... 9
3 Hypotheses ................................................................................................................. 89
4 Methodology .............................................................................................................. 97
5 Data Analysis ........................................................................................................... 117
6 Results ...................................................................................................................... 131
7 Discussion ................................................................................................................ 161
8 Conclusion and Outlook ........................................................................................... 185
References ................................................................................................................... 203
Figures ........................................................................................................................ 233
Tables ........................................................................................................................ 235
Abbreviations .............................................................................................................. 237
Appendices .................................................................................................................. 239
Table of Contents XI
Table of Contents
Abstract ...................................................................................................................... VII
Table of Contents ....................................................................................................... IX
1 Introduction ................................................................................................................ 1
1.1 Motivation .................................................................................................................... 1
1.2 Problem Statement ....................................................................................................... 3
1.3 Knowledge Gap ............................................................................................................ 3
1.4 Research Objectives ..................................................................................................... 5
1.5 Research Methodology ................................................................................................ 6
1.6 Quality Control ............................................................................................................ 7
1.7 Structural Design .......................................................................................................... 7
2 Literature Review ...................................................................................................... 9
2.1 Leadership Theories – From Early Stages to Modern Concepts ................................. 9
2.1.1 Full Range Leadership ........................................................................................ 12
2.1.2 Relationship Quality ........................................................................................... 21
2.1.3 Empowering Leadership ..................................................................................... 32
2.1.4 Self-Leadership ................................................................................................... 38
2.1.5 Leadership and Context ...................................................................................... 50
2.2 Distance Leadership ................................................................................................... 53
2.2.1 E-Leadership ....................................................................................................... 56
2.2.2 Virtual Leadership .............................................................................................. 58
2.2.3 Virtual Teams ...................................................................................................... 61
2.2.4 Physical Distance ................................................................................................ 65
2.2.5 Leader-Follower Interaction Frequency ............................................................. 70
2.2.6 Distance Dimensions: Potential Influencers of the Leader-Follower
Relation ............................................................................................................... 81
