A Situational Leadership Framework for Enhancing the Survival and Sustainability of SMEs in Botswana's Agrifood Sector
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.14738/abr.133.18498Keywords:
Situational Leadership Style, Situational Leadership Framework, Survival, Sustainability, Agrifood Sector, Verbatim TranscriptionAbstract
This research aims to develop a Situational Leadership style Framework for the survival and sustainability of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Botswana's Agriculture and Food (Agrifood) Sector. Toward this end, this study adopts a convergent mixed-methods methods approach. The data is collected through physical questionnaires and in-depth interviews. A simple linear regression model is estimated using the R programming language for quantitative data analysis. The qualitative data is analysed using thematic analysis, verbatim transcription, and quotations. The research examines the Situational Leadership style and its influence on the survival and sustainability of SMEs in the Agrifood Sector in Botswana. The study's findings indicate that the Situational Leadership style significantly influences SMEs' survival and sustainability in Botswana's Agrifood Sector. The contribution to knowledge is the Situational Leadership framework for leadership styles that depicts the emerging leadership styles from this study: mentorship, coaching, flexible, responsive, agile, adaptable, empowering, and exemplary leadership. These emerging leadership styles are depicted in the Situational Leadership framework, which identifies leadership styles that influence the survival and sustainability of SMEs in Botswana's Agrifood Sector. The study's main limitation is that a Google Scholar search yielded no results from previous matching studies that researched how the Situational Leadership style influences the survival and sustainability of SMEs in the Agrifood Sector in Botswana. However, this limitation does not necessarily affect the study's validity because the research findings can be generalised to other SMEs, since SMEs tend to face similar survival and sustainability challenges.
References
Desa G, Jia X. Sustainability transitions in the context of pandemic: An introduction to the focused issue on social innovation and systemic impact. Social Innovation and Sustainability Transition. 2022;273-81.
Benavides-Espinosa M.D.M., and Ribeiro-Soriano D., Gieure C. How can agrifood businesses improve performance? The role of digital transformation. British Food Journal. 2024;126(4):1682-97.
Sari S.A., Ahmad N.H. Connecting the dots: Linking entrepreneurial leadership and strategic agility towards SME competitiveness. Vision. 2022;09722629221091658.
Judijanto L., Arisanti I., Papia J.N.T., and Abidin Z. Influence of sustainable leadership, social factors and technological infrastructure on MSME business sustainability in the modern era. International Journal of Business Law and Education. 2024;5(1):90-104.
Subramanian S.N., Banihashemi S. Towards modern leadership styles in the context of the engineering sector. Project Leadership and Society. 2024;5(May):100133.
Echols S. Transformational/servant leadership: A potential synergism for an inclusive leadership style. Journal of Religious Leadership. 2009;8(2):85-117.
Fourie L., van der Merwe S., and van der Merwe C. Leadership challenges in African SMEs: The role of strategic vision. South African Journal of Business Management. 2017;48(2):23-38.
Chaudhary S., Dhir S., Meenakshi R., and Christofi M., SME adaptability and situational leadership: A review and future research directions. Strategic Management Journal. 2023;15(2):200-217.
Amoah-Mensah T., and Darkwa E. Leadership flexibility and organisational sustainability: A case study of SMEs in developing economies. International Journal of Business and Economics. 2018;12(3):67-89.
Novelli M., de Souza P. Leadership in the agrifood sector: A situational approach. Journal of Agriculture and Leadership Studies. 2024;11(1):78-94.
Qadir M., and Yeşiltaş M. Leadership influence on SME resilience and growth. International Business Review. 2020;21(3):88-104.
Pett T., Haddad K.., and Nagpal R. SME leadership styles and sustainability: A global perspective. Entrepreneurship and Business Management Journal. 2024;18(2):132-50.
Rusu D., Sandu C., and Frangieh A. SME leadership in food supply chains: Challenges and solutions. Journal of Agribusiness Management. 2020;15(2):87-102.
Langton N., and Mafini C. Leadership and SME resilience: Evidence from sub-Saharan Africa. African Journal of Business Management. 2023;17(3):89-102.
Suriyankietkaew S. Leadership in turbulent environments: Corporate sustainability and innovation. Journal of Business Research. 2021;125(4):312-28.
Chuang Y.T., Chiang H.L.,and Lin A.P. Full-range leadership, follower envy, and the effects on organizational citizenship behaviors and work deviances. Current Psychology. 2025;1-15.
Nordhagen S., Igbeka U., Rowlands H., Shine R.S., Heneghan E., and Tench J. COVID-19 and small enterprises in the food supply chain: Early impacts and implications for longer-term food system resilience in low- and middle-income countries. World Development. 2021;141:105405.
Klein J., and Todesco J. The impact of financial and leadership constraints on SMEs in volatile economies. Global Business Review. 2021;20(1):55-73.
Kalina J. The importance of agility in leadership: Adapting to market changes. International Journal of Leadership and Innovation. 2020;12(2):78-95.
Egan T. Flexibility in leadership: Adapting to new business realities. Journal of Contemporary Leadership Studies. 2024;19(1):121-137.
Zizile T., and Tendai C. The importance of entrepreneurial competencies on the performance of women entrepreneurs in South Africa. Journal of Applied Business Research. 2018;34(2):223-36.
Majama N.S., and Magang T.I. Strategic planning in small and medium enterprises (SMEs): A case study of Botswana SMEs. Journal of Management and Strategy. 2017;8(1):74-103.
Gagoitseope P.K., and Pansiri J. Evaluation of critical success factors for developing small and mediumsized enterprises in Botswana. Journal of African Business. 2012;13(1):51-61.
Zahari A.I., Manan D.I.A., Razali F.M., Zolkaflil S., and Said J. Exploring the viability of remote work for SMEs. Journal of Open Innovation Technology Market and Complexity. 2024;10(1):100182.
Northouse P.G., Leadership: Theory and practice. Thousand Oaks (CA): Sage Publications; 2016.
Thompson G., Glasø L. Situational leadership and its effect on organisational outcomes. Leadership and Organization Development Journal. 2015;36(5):527-40.
Bosekeng M., The effects of government support on the sustainability of smallholder farmers in Botswana. African Journal of Agricultural Economics. 2020;45(1):33-47.
Adamson K., Local farmers still can’t meet demand despite ban [Internet]. Business Weekly. 2024 [cited 2024 Oct 10]. Available from: https://businessweekly.co.bw/news/local-farmers-still-cant-meet-demanddespite-ban.
Chirapanda S., Why SMEs fail: A study on leadership and sustainability. Journal of Business Research and Development. 2019;11(3):87-102.
Akhtar P., Tse Y.K., Khan Z., Rao-Nicholson R. Data-driven and adaptive leadership contributing to sustainability: Global agri-food supply chains connected with emerging markets. International Journal of Production Economics. 2016;181:392-401.
Henkel T., Bourdeau D. A field study: An examination of managers’ situational leadership styles. Journal of Diversity Management. 2018;13(2):7-13.
Goodson J.R., McGee G.W., and Cashman J.F. Situational leadership theory: A test of leadership prescriptions. Group and Organization Studies. 1989;14(4):446-61.
Thompson G., and Vecchio R.P. Situational leadership theory: A test of three versions. Leadership Quarterly. 2009;20(5):837-48.
Zigarmi D., and Roberts T.P. A test of three basic assumptions of Situational Leadership ® II Model and their implications for HRD practitioners. European Journal of Training and Development. 2017;41(3):241-
Bhatt P., The role of situational leadership in fostering SME growth and sustainability. Small Business Journal. 2018;14(2):122-137.
Bosse T., Duell R., Memon Z.A., Treur J., and van der Wal C.N. The role of task and relationship behavior in leadership effectiveness: A computational model. Journal of Artificial Intelligence and Leadership Science. 2017;10(1):55-70.
Doeleman H.J., Dun H., and Wilderom C.P.M. Leading open strategizing practices for effective strategy implementation. Journal of Strategy and Management. 2022;15(1):54-75.
Phillips K.M., Tichavakunda A.A., and Sedaghat A.R. Qualitative research methodology and applications: A primer for the otolaryngologist. Laryngoscope. 2024;134(1):27-37.
Saunders M., Lewis P., and Thornhill A. Research methods for business students. Essex (UK): Pearson; 2016.
Creswell J.W., Creswell J. Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches. 5th ed. Los Angeles: SAGE; 2018.
Keng S.L., AlQudah H.N.I. Assessment of cognitive bias in decision-making and leadership styles among critical care nurses: A mixed methods study. Journal of Advanced Nursing. 2017;73(2):465-81.
Espinoza A.S., Muguerza H.M., Alejandro A.P., and Flores H.E. Transformational leadership and sustainable green environmental development in teachers at Hermilio Valdizan National University. Revista de Comunicación de la Seeci. 2020;(53):135-51.
Kidanemariam M.G., and Henning S. A leadership model for the optimal institutionalisation of a resultsbased performance measurement and management culture in the agricultural and natural resource sector of Ethiopia. African Journal of Employee Relations. 2019; 43:1–26.
Rocha R., and Pinheiro P. Business education: Filling the gaps in the leader’s awareness concerning organizational phronesis. Sustainability (Switzerland). 2021;13(4):1-18.
Blanchard K.H., Zigarmi P., Zigarmi D. Leadership and the one-minute manager: Increasing effectiveness through situational leadership. Management Review Quarterly. 1993;17(2):88-101.
Creswell J.W. Research design: Qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods approach. 3rd ed. New Delhi: SAGE; 2015.
Krejcie R.V., and Morgan D.W. Determining sample size for research activities. Educational and Psychological Measurement. 1970; 30:607-10.
Statistics Botswana. Botswana agricultural census 2015 report. 2018.
Hair J.F., Hult G.T.M., Ringle C.M., Sarstedt M.,and Danks N.P. An introduction to structural equation modeling. Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) using R: A Workbook. 2021;1-29.
Godoy S., Labarca C., Somma N., Gálvez M., and Sepúlveda M. Circumventing communication blindspots and trust gaps in technologically-mediated corporate relationships: The case of Chilean business-toconsumer e-commerce. Journal of Theoretical and Applied Electronic Commerce Research. 2015;10(2):19-
Ghazzawi K., Shoughari R.E., and Osta B.E. Situational leadership and its effectiveness in rising employee productivity: A study on North Lebanon organization. Human Resource Management Research. 2017;7(3):102-10.
Aigbogun O., Tay Y.H. Leadership styles and business performance: A study of service-backed SMEs amidst the COVID-19 pandemic in Klang Valley, Malaysia. International Journal of Business Performance Management. 2023;1(1):1-20.
Akbar S., Pranajaya S.A., Nurkadarwati N., Hoesny R., and Mutmainnah I. Leadership dynamics in the era of educational transformation: Integrating the concept of adaptable leadership in sustainable educational administration. International Journal of Teaching and Learning. 2024;2(1):223-35. 224
Kaya A. Agile leadership in SMEs: Creating value in uncertain markets. Journal of Business Strategy and Change Management. 2023;15(1):99-115.
Rialti R., and Filieri R. Agile leadership and market competitiveness: A study of SMEs. Journal of Business Strategy and Leadership. 2024;29(1):55-71.
Olatoye F.O., Elufioye O.A., Okoye C.C., Nwankwo E.E., and Oladapo J.O. Leadership styles and their impact on healthcare management effectiveness: A review. International Journal of Science Research Archive. 2024;11(1):2022-32.
Tortorella G., and Fogliatto F.S. Implementation of situational leadership in SMEs: A review. Leadership and Organizational Change Journal. 2017;13(2):144-59.
Oguka C.M.G., Onwuka E.M., and Nwakoby N.P. Succession planning and organisational continuity in selected food and beverage firms in Anambra State. International Journal of Management and Entrepreneurship. 2020;2(1):158-70.
Kim H., and Beehr T.A. Empowering leadership and employee performance: A meta-analytic review. Journal of Applied Psychology. 2022;107(4):621-35.
Adamska-Chudzińska M. The influence of situational leadership on employee retention and organisational success. Journal of Management Studies. 2020;58(4):245-61.
da Silveira A.S., Rosa C.B., and Siluk J.C.M. Strategic drivers of innovation as a lever for the competitiveness of agribusiness to face COVID-19. International Journal of Productivity and Performance Management. 2024;1741-0401.
Wuryani R., Rodlib H., Sutarsib D., Dewib A. and Arifb R. Situational leadership and employee motivation: A cross-cultural study. Journal of Human Resource Development. 2021;19(1):99-115.
Mustofa M., Muafi M. Situational leadership and delegation effectiveness in SMEs. Journal of Organizational Leadership. 2021;16(2):101-12.
Parker B.A., Ellis J.D., and Rogers D. Leadership in Kansas agriculture: Examining organization CEOs’ styles and skills. Online Journal of Rural Research & Policy. 2017;12(3):1–17.
Okeke V., Halkias D., and Levitt K. Leadership style and SME sustainability in Nigeria: A multiple-case study. International Leadership Journal. 2021;13(1):17-46.
Gupta A., Sharma R., and Singh M. Leadership adaptability and SME performance: The moderating role of situational leadership styles. Asia-Pacific Journal of Management. 2024;41(3):212-28.
Temtime Z.T. The strategic planning practices of SMEs in Botswana: Implications for competitiveness. African Journal of Business Management. 2008;2(1):34-42.
Botha L. Botswana border shut could lead to cheaper fresh produce in SA [Internet]. Farmers Weekly. 2023 [cited 2024 Oct 10]. Available from: https://www.farmersweekly.co.za/agri-news/africa/botswanaborder-shut-could-lead-to-cheaper-fresh-produce-in-sa/
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Gugulethu Ndebele, Akhabue A. Okharedia
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
