Effect of Change Agent Leadership Style on Successful ERP Implementation and Firm Performance

Abstract

The study aims to measure Change Agent’s Leadership style on successful ERP Implementation and Organizational Performance. The data was collected through a self-administered questionnaire from 290 employees working in 14 knowledge-based companies in United Arab Emirates with a response rate of 69.04%. The study uses cross sectional research design with snowball sampling method and data were collected using online survey method. Some of the findings include, all the three leadership styles (transformational, transactional, and laissez-faire) significantly contribute to ERP implementation success and in turn impacts Firm Performance. Transformational leadership style of change agent is found to have highest impact on Firm Performance with ERP implementation acting as a partial mediator. Present study opened the doors by linking leadership style with ERP implementation towards multidimensionality of change agent’s reach not being limited to some aspects. Practitioners can use the insights in understanding the impact of change agent’s deployment in organization.