Walden University ScholarWorks Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies Collection 2017 Challenges Facing Organizational Leaders: A Phenomenological Study of Nigerian Organizational Leaders Adesina Olufemi Adegunle Walden University Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations Part of the Business Administration, Management, and Operations Commons, Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods Commons, and the Organizational Behavior and Theory Commons This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies Collection at ScholarWorks. It has been accepted for inclusion in Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Walden University College of Management and Technology This is to certify that the doctoral dissertation by Adesina Adegunle has been found to be complete and satisfactory in all respects, and that any and all revisions required by the review committee have been made. Review Committee Dr. Donna Brown, Committee Chairperson, Management Faculty Dr. David Cavazos, Committee Member, Management Faculty Dr. Abraham Meilich, University Reviewer, Management Faculty Chief Academic Officer Eric Riedel, Ph.D. Walden University 2017 Abstract Challenging Organizational Leaders: A Phenomenological Study of Nigerian Organizational Leaders Adesina Olufemi Adegunle MPP, University of Ibadan, 1998 Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Management Walden University June 2017 Abstract In the first decade of the 21st century, the number of functioning business organizations in Nigeria decreased by 45%. The high rate of business failures in Nigeria has left many questions about what is needed for creating business success. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore the influence of internal and external dynamics on leaders in Nigerian microfinance organizations. Twenty leaders from microfinance institutions participated in face-to-face semistructured interviews. The data analysis process involved the use of Moustakas’s modified van Kaam method, which resulted in the emergence of 12 themes. The themes that emerged included: (a) staff turnover, (b) financial fraud, (c) knowledge gap, (d) lack of real-time technology, (e) ethical behavior of leaders, (f) organizational bureaucracy, (g) foreign exchange fluctuation, (h) poor state of Nigerian economy, (i) competition from unethical practices of other organizations, (j) constant changes of government policies and poor regulatory controls, and (k) noncompliance with the Microfinance Policy and Framework by stakeholders. There was a common perception among the participants that there was a need for government intervention in providing improved infrastructure and adequate regulatory controls. The findings provide indications from participants’ responses that business success is dependent upon business leaders’ effectiveness in their roles and ethical practices as perceived by the followers. The study is significant in that its findings may assist businesses and government to focus on the effectiveness of leaders, increase labor relations, and increase the overall success of business which in turn improve the economy of Nigeria. Challenging Organizational Leaders: A Phenomenological Study of Nigerian Organizational Leaders Adesina Olufemi Adegunle MPP, University of Ibadan, 1998 Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Management Walden University June 2017 Dedication I dedicate this study to my dearest wife Oluwatoyin; the greatest gift that I could ever receive from God. Thank you for giving me all reasons to go on in life. I will forever appreciate you for your love, patience, kindness, understanding, and especially your prayers. Acknowledgments I would like to appreciate my entire family for their patience and understanding throughout this long journey. I thank my children Oluwaseun, Ifeoluwani, and Oluwafemi, for their understanding and believing in my dreams to succeed. A special thank goes to my best friend, Bolaji Adisa for his support, prayers, and for always encouraging me. I thank my parents, my siblings, my friends, and my mentors-Prince Goke Oladinni, Chief Joop Berkhout, and General Oladayo Popoola, for their confidence, encouragement, andsupport. I specially thank Dr. Donna Brown, my dissertation chairperson, for her unflinching support. She gave me hopes when I was almost giving up on this journey and encouraged me to go on. I thank Dr. David Cavazos, my second committee member and Dr. Abel Meilich, my URR, for putting me on the right path. I will not forget my external editor, Dr. Randall Thompson for his support and encouragement. Appreciations go to my course mates, for all we shared together during the long journey. I would like to acknowledge the support and contributions from members of other faculties and departments of Walden University. Finally, to God Almighty, the only wise God, that knows the end from the beginning. I thank God, for mercy and grace to complete this study. Mark 10:27 “With men, it is impossible, but with God; all things are possible.” Table of Contents List of Tables .......................................................................................................................v List of Figures .................................................................................................................... vi Chapter 1: Introduction to the Study ....................................................................................1 Background of the Study ...............................................................................................2 Problem Statement .........................................................................................................6 Purpose Statement ..........................................................................................................7 Research Questions ........................................................................................................7 Conceptual Framework ..................................................................................................8 Nature of the Study ......................................................................................................12 Definition of Terms......................................................................................................16 Assumptions .................................................................................................................17 Scope and Delimitations ..............................................................................................18 Limitations ...................................................................................................................19 Significance of the Study .............................................................................................20 Significance to Practice......................................................................................... 20 Significance to Theory .......................................................................................... 21 Significance to Social Change .............................................................................. 21 Summary and Transition ..............................................................................................22 Chapter 2: Literature Review .............................................................................................23 Literature Search Strategy............................................................................................23 Conceptual Framework ................................................................................................25 i Organizational Challenges Facing Business Leaders in Nigeria .................................29 Contemporary Challenges Faced by Organizational Leaders ............................... 33 External Challenges Faced by Business Leaders in Nigeria ................................. 35 Organizational Culture and Leadership .......................................................................41 Culture and Organizational Performances ............................................................ 47 Leadership Effectiveness .............................................................................................50 Leadership Models and Theories .................................................................................51 Trait Approach to Leadership ............................................................................... 52 Behavioral Approach to Leadership ..................................................................... 54 Transformational Approach to Leadership ........................................................... 56 Horizontal Leadership Theory .............................................................................. 57 Ethical and Critical Leadership Theory ................................................................ 58 Authentic Leadership Theory ............................................................................... 59 Leadership Styles .........................................................................................................60 Leadership and Ethics ..................................................................................................63