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Leading sustainability transformations: On the role of leadership development for organizations change in the German automotive industry

Schulz, Lea Sina LU (2024) In Master Thesis Series in Environmental Studies and Sustainability Science MESM02 20241
LUCSUS (Lund University Centre for Sustainability Studies)
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... (More)
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. (Less)
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author
Schulz, Lea Sina LU
supervisor
organization
course
MESM02 20241
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
Organizational Change, Transformation, Leadership, Automotive, Sustainability Science
publication/series
Master Thesis Series in Environmental Studies and Sustainability Science
report number
2024:034
language
English
id
9155777
date added to LUP
2024-05-31 08:51:19
date last changed
2024-05-31 08:51:19
@misc{9155777,
  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     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  series       = {{Master Thesis Series in Environmental Studies and Sustainability Science}},
  title        = {{Leading sustainability transformations: On the role of leadership development for organizations change in the German automotive industry}},
  year         = {{2024}},
}