An Analysis Of National Culture And Leadership Practices In Cameroon

Culture becomes important in understanding leadership because leadership is essentially a social phenomenon. Empirical studies on management and leadership practices in sub-Saharan Africa are fairly limited. The few studies... [ view full abstract ]

Culture becomes important in understanding leadership because leadership is essentially a social phenomenon. Empirical studies on management and leadership practices in sub-Saharan Africa are fairly limited. The few studies conducted on leadership practice in sub-Saharan Africa have not taken into consideration the impact of indigenous dimensions and contextual factors on leadership. The purpose of this qualitative study is to explore what aspects of national culture impacts the leadership practices of some leaders in Sub Saharan Africa with an emphasis on Cameroon. Participants highlighted several aspects of society that influence the way they lead: closeness with employees, ethnic and tribal loyalties, and tradition. Other aspects that affect participants’ leadership practices include patience and spirituality. Participants also highlighted barriers to women in leadership positions. The authors offer practical suggestions that can be useful to executives operating in this business environment.

Keywords: leadership, national culture, sub-Saharan Africa, tradition