Leadership styles, knowledge management and strategy design: An empirical study in small and medium-sized firms Estilos de liderazgo, gestión del conocimiento y diseño de la estrategia: Un estudio empírico en pequeñas y medianas empresas

Abstract

The relationship between leadership styles, knowledge management and strategy design is analyzed. To this end, a sample of 78 top managers of small and medium-sized firms in northern Chile was gathered. The results show that there is a relevant relationship between leadership styles and knowledge management. Leadership styles can significantly explain the process of creating, sharing and using knowledge in small and mediumsized firms. Moreover, it is shown that knowledge management has a statistically significant impact on the design of strategies. Consequently, in the analyzed small and medium firms there is a causal relationship between leadership styles and knowledge management; and between knowledge management and strategy design.