Thesis:

Influence of leadership styles on the succession planning among project firms a case of Uasin Gishu county government, Kenya

The successful transition of leadership across generations is a critical milestone for an organization to maintain longevity and competitive advantage. F Firms that succeed in this endeavour build a strong industry reputation, while those that fail serve as cautionary examples in the succession planning process. The study aimed to determine the influence of leadership styles on the performance of projects. To achieve this objective, the relationship between leadership style components, team commitment, and organizational culture on project performance was analysed. This study examined ongoing construction projects in Uasin Gishu County. The research objectives were: (1) To assess the influence of transactional leadership styles on housing construction project performance. (2) To examine the effect of transactional leadership style on project performance. (3) To establish the intervening influence of team commitment on project performance. (4) To determine the moderating effect of organizational culture on project performance. The study respondents included construction project managers and employees from ongoing construction projects in Uasin Gishu County. A descriptive survey design was used, targeting a population of 290 ongoing construction projects within the study area. The questionnaire was administered to one project manager and one project team member from each selected project, with a sample of 273 projects identified using a stratified random sampling technique. The questionnaire contained both open- and closed-ended questions. Data for project performance was collected from project records. A pilot test was conducted, followed by a reliability test. The collected data was reviewed for completeness. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS version 27. Descriptive statistical methods were applied in the study. The results were displayed using frequency distribution tables and percentages. The findings showed a strong positive correlation between leadership styles (independent variables). The findings revealed a positive and strong correlation between leadership styles (independent variables) and succession planning (dependent variable). Transactional leadership had the most significant influence on succession planning, followed by transformational leadership, while laissez-faire leadership had the least impact. The study established a link between transactional, transformational, and laissezfaire leadership styles and succession planning in private telecommunications firms in Uasin Gishu County, Kenya. According to the research findings, leaders in the project firms in Uasin Gishu County, Kenya should adopt leadership styles that lead to an effective succession planning program in their firms. This will ensure the smooth transition of businesses from one generation to the next. The study faced limitations due to time constraints and limited respondent availability, as most respondents worked remotely and preferred online questionnaires. The study recommended further research on other companies in the sector to generalize the findings.