Relationships among applications of tacit knowledge and transformational/transactional leader styles: An exploratory comparison of the MLQ and TKML

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine intercorrelational relations among the self-report behavioral construct Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire (MLQ) 5X transformational and transactional subscales and the Tacit Knowledge for Military Leaders Inventory (TKML) leader-level specific situational judgment test scenarios.

Design/methodology/approach

In total, two leadership measures, the behavioral construct MLQ and the cognitive construct TKML assess different aspects of how a leader functions and were administered to 125 active US Army officers representing three leader levels: platoon, company, and battalion. The authors examine the intercorrelational relationship between these two measures.

Findings

Results show a correlational pattern that contours the evolution of a leader’s skills (from novice platoon leader to expert battalion leader), with the strongest correlation at the higher leader levels.

Research limitations/implications

The decision to restrict the number of TKML scenarios provided to respondents and to administer the MLQ and TKML to the same sample is considered a limitation.

Practical implications

Pairing the MLQ and TKML makes use of self-reported leader behaviors with maximal assessment scales that directly assess respondents’ understanding of what the best approaches to good leadership are.

Social implications

Response patterns from both measures permits direct counseling on the misconceptions about leadership to create better leaders.

Originality/value

No previous research has examined correlative relations among the scales/subscales of the MLQ and TKML.

Citation

Taylor, T.Z., Psotka, J. and Legree, P. (2015), "Relationships among applications of tacit knowledge and transformational/transactional leader styles: An exploratory comparison of the MLQ and TKML", Leadership & Organization Development Journal, Vol. 36 No. 2, pp. 120-136. https://doi.org/10.1108/LODJ-01-2013-0008