Leading sustainability transformations: On the role of leadership development for organizations change in the German automotive industry
Year: 2024
Type: dissertation
Abstract: The global need to take urgent action to address climate change presents the German automotive industry with its biggest transformation in history. While environmental targets are being set, the importance of leadership in the transformation process has so far received little attention. Using a Causal Model of Organizational Performance and Change, and the Transformational Leadership framework, this thesis explores the role of leadership development in shaping organizational change towards the sustainability transformation of the industry. By interviewing personnel developers at large German Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) and external leadership coaches as a control group, results reveal that OEMs are on track, however, the connection between Transformational Leadership and the sustainability strategy in leadership development programs is unclear, with a gap between academia and industry being identified. Due to future relevance and great potential impact on climate action, more company-specific studies and enhanced collaboration between researchers and industry are recommended.
Author: Schulz, Lea Sina
Language: English
Subfield: Strategy and Management
Domain: Social Sciences
SDG: Climate action
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W6983053810