Abstract:
The purpose of this study was to assess the current leadership style practices and challenges
in Malo Koza Wereda public sector organizations and then to suggest techniques of
overcoming the problems. To this end, descriptive survey research design as well as both
quantitative and qualitative research approach was employed. The study included 23 sample
public sector organizations selected by both purposive and stratified random sampling
techniques. A total of 135 subjects composed of 39 office heads, 68 work process
coordinators and 28 team leaders. A questionnaire of 135 copies were distributed and 100%
of which were collected and face-to-face interview was conducted with leaders. The
quantitative data were analyzed using mean, standard deviation, percentage, independent
sample t-test and ANOVA through SPSS version 20, whereas the qualitative data were
analyzed in narration. The finding revealed that democratic leadership style was dominant in
the study area with mean score value of 4.18 followed by transactional leadership style with
mean score value of 2.92. These two styles were commonly practiced ones in the study area.
In addition to this, the study disclosed that public reform program, leadership role,
technology advancement and satisfying customers, government and employees were the main
challenges for public sector organizations leaders (Mena <2.6). Moreover, the study
indicated that leadership development strategy in study area were poor because of poor
identification of leaders’ skill gaps & skill levels (Poor need assessment), poor coach systems
and low continuous training program (Mean <2.6). Thus, the researcher recommended that
public sector organizations leaders need to apply appropriate leadership style, prepare short,
medium and long plan to handle leadership challenges; equip & train public sector
organizations leaders to carefully implement leadership development strategies and to be
effective in leadership. Besides alternative methods need to be sought through rigorous
research.
