Influence of Leadership Styles on Performance of Insurance Projects: a Case of Eagle Africa Insurance, Kenya

Abstract

The main aim of the study was to investigate the influence of project leadership styles on performance of insurance projects in Kenya A case of Eagle Africa Insurance Limited. The specific objectives were to determine the influence of Transformative leadership style on performance of Eagle Africa Insurance Limited, to examine the influence of Autocratic leadership style on performance of Eagle Africa Insurance Limited, to assess the influence of Democratic leadership style on performance of Eagle Africa Insurance Limited, and to establish the influence of Permissive leadership style on performance of Eagle Africa Insurance Limited. The research question for the study was what is the influence of project leadership styles on performance of insurance projects in Kenya? The study is significant as it serve as a source of policy guidance to the organization and provide necessary leadership incentive for increasing productivity. The study utilized descriptive research survey design. The sample size was 90 respondents. This study adapted the stratified sampling technique. The study utilized both the questionnaire and an interview guide to collect primary data. The data collected was sorted, keyed in and analyzed with the aid of Statistical Package for the Social Sciences. The Quantitative Data generated was subjected to the Descriptive Statistics feature in Statistical Package for the Social Sciences to generate mean, median, mode, standard deviation and variance, which was presented using tables, frequencies and percentages. The qualitative data was analyzed by grouping responses from respondents by categorizing and coding of the common responses and were presented as frequency distributions and percentages in thematic forms in line with research questions. Correlation analysis was used to establish the strength of association between variables. Further the data was regressed to determine the relationship between variables. The study established that there existed a significant positive relationship between Transformative leadership, democratic leadership and insurance project performance, In addition, the findings showed there exist of a significant and negative relationship between autocratic leadership and insurance project performance. The study also found that increased in permissive leadership had a significant positive impact on insurance project performance in insurance companies. From the findings, the study concluded that exist a significant positive relationship between Transformative leadership and insurance project performance that there is a weak and negative correlation between autocratic leadership and insurance project performance in insurance companies and a significant negative relationship between autocratic leadership and insurance project performance. Project management insurance project adopted democratic leadership where employees were involved in decision making, allowing consensus building in management of the project, consults the employees and encourages employee’s feedback employees in management of the project to a great extent. There was increased permissive leadership which had a significant positive influence on performance of insurance companies. However the there is weak and positive relationship permissive leadership style and insurance project performance. The study recommend project management in insurance and other financial institutions should adopt transformative leadership to achieve project performance.