Short answer

When designing management development programs, focus on robust mentoring structures as they offer the most comprehensive influence on leadership style adoption.

Field
Innovation & Design
Source
Quality Innovation Prosperity (2015)
Method
Survey-based quantitative research
Evidence
Strong effect

Mentoring programs demonstrate a significant and consistent relationship with all examined management styles, making them a powerful tool for influencing leadership approaches. This innovation & design research insight is drawn from a 2015 study published in Quality Innovation Prosperity. Using Survey-based quantitative research, researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: When designing management development programs, focus on robust mentoring structures as they offer the most comprehensive influence on leadership style adoption.

Study
Innovation & DesignHigh ImpactStrong effect

Mentoring is the most effective management development program for shaping diverse management styles.

Mentoring programs demonstrate a significant and consistent relationship with all examined management styles, making them a powerful tool for influencing leadership approaches.

Quality Innovation Prosperity · 2015

01

Key Findings

  • 01Mentoring showed a significant relationship with all seven measured management styles.
  • 02Mentoring was the only program significantly predicting all management styles.
  • 03Assessment programs had a significant, but negative, relationship with participative style.
  • 04On-the-job development programs were only significantly related to two management styles.
  • 05Delegating style was significantly related to all management development programs.
02

Application

Design takeaway

When designing management development programs, focus on robust mentoring structures as they offer the most comprehensive influence on leadership style adoption.

How to apply

When developing training for managers, structure formal mentoring components and ensure mentors are adequately trained and supported.

Project actions

  • 01When researching leadership development, consider how different training methods might influence a range of management styles.
  • 02If you are designing a training program, think about incorporating a strong mentoring component.
03

Method & Evidence

AimTo investigate the relationship between different management development programs and the adoption of various management styles among junior executives and young managers.
MethodSurvey-based quantitative research
ProcedureData was collected from professionals under 45 years old holding middle to higher-level positions using survey forms to assess their perceptions of management development programs and their adopted management styles.
ContextManagement development in Malaysia

Variables

IV["Types of management development programs (mentoring, assessment, on-the-job)"]
DV["Management styles (e.g., participative, delegating, ethical)"]
CV["Age of participants (< 45 years)","Position level (middle to higher)","Professional background"]
04

Strengths & Limitations

Strengths

  • +Investigated the outcomes of management development programs by measuring perceived management styles.
  • +Identified mentoring as a consistently effective development tool.

Limitations

The study's findings might be limited by the relatively weak correlations found, suggesting that other factors also play a significant role in management style development.

Reliability & validity

The study notes limitations regarding Cronbach's alpha values for some variables, suggesting potential issues with internal consistency and reliability of the measurement instruments.

Think critically

Given that mentoring is the most effective program, what specific characteristics of mentoring (e.g., mentor training, mentee selection, program structure) contribute most to its success across diverse management styles?

05

Design Principles

"The effectiveness of a development intervention is directly proportional to its systematic integration and its ability to foster a broad spectrum of desired behaviors."

Understanding the differential impact of various development programs allows organizations to strategically invest in initiatives that yield the broadest positive influence on leadership behavior. This insight is crucial for designing effective training and development strategies that align with desired organizational culture and performance outcomes.

06

What This Means for Your Design

Mentoring is the best way to teach managers different leadership styles because it works for all of them.

How to use in your project

  • 1.This study can be used to justify the inclusion of mentoring in a proposed management development program, citing its proven effectiveness across multiple styles.
07

Add to My Project

08

Quick Cite

Paragraph starter

Research by Juhdi et al. (2015) indicates that mentoring is a significantly effective management development program, demonstrating a positive relationship with all seven management styles examined. This suggests that a well-structured mentoring component within a broader development strategy is crucial for influencing a wide range of leadership behaviors.

09

Source

Quality Innovation Prosperity

Management Development Programs and the Aspired Management Style: A Study in Malaysia

journal · 2015

View source

Questions About This Research

What does the research say about mentoring is the most effective management development program for shaping diverse management styles?
When designing management development programs, focus on robust mentoring structures as they offer the most comprehensive influence on leadership style adoption. Evidence: Quality Innovation Prosperity (2015).
Why does "Mentoring is the most effective management development program for shaping diverse management styles." matter for design?
Understanding the differential impact of various development programs allows organizations to strategically invest in initiatives that yield the broadest positive influence on leadership behavior. This insight is crucial for designing effective training and development strategies that align with desired organizational culture and performance outcomes.
How can designers apply this research?
When designing management development programs, focus on robust mentoring structures as they offer the most comprehensive influence on leadership style adoption.
What were the main findings?
Mentoring showed a significant relationship with all seven measured management styles.. Mentoring was the only program significantly predicting all management styles.. Assessment programs had a significant, but negative, relationship with participative style.. On-the-job development programs were only significantly related to two management styles.
What research method was used?
Survey-based quantitative research.
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence strength is rated Strong effect, based on a 2015 journal from Quality Innovation Prosperity.
What should I do differently in my next project?
When developing training for managers, structure formal mentoring components and ensure mentors are adequately trained and supported.
What are the limitations?
Correlation values were weak-to-moderate, and some variables had low reliability (Cronbach's alpha).