The role of leadership in organizational transition: a case of Kyambogo University

Abstract

This study was conducted to establish the role of leadership in organisational transition: a case of Kyambogo University (KYU). The study particularly sought to: establish the role of leadership in organisational transition process; examine the transition process challenges; and to suggest strategies for addressing the transition process challenges. The study was a descriptive research, based on one hundred eighty one (181) respondents selected from a sample population of three hundred forty (340) staff. Specifically, 30 top Management and senior administrative staff, 100 teaching staff and 51 support staff at Kyambogo University were used in the study and were selected through simple random and purposive sampling techniques. Data was collected during the months of January to February 2010, using a set of self-constructed questionnaire and structured interview. The data was analysed using Frequency Tables, Percentage Distributions and Descriptive statistics especially means. Established was that leadership plays a crucial role in any organisational transitional process and on the other hand, it was discovered that the transitional process can also be affected by numerous challenges such as poor organisational culture, climate structure, insufficient funding and lack of leadership competence among other things. The study as well found out that a number of strategies can be adopted to mitigate the challenges faced during the transitional process such as embracing leadership education and training of the university officers and adequate funding. It concludes that if any transitional process is to be effective it must have able leadership in place. The researcher recommends that university management recruit a well trained, developed and motivated workforce with good leadership skills, should make due effort to study and understand the transitional process challenges, should set up a vibrate Human Relations and Organisation Development Department to deal with changes the institution is likely to face both at the present and the future.