A Systematic Review on Leadership Styles in Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises

Abstract

Objective - The purpose of this paper is to conduct a systematic review of the leadership style practiced by leaders in small and medium-sized enterprises. Methodology/Technique - Following the protocol guidance known as the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) flowchart, a total of six articles were reviewed and analysed after meeting inclusion criteria and being deemed relevant to the goals of this paper. Findings - The results of the study suggested that the leadership styles of leaders in the context of small and medium enterprises are based on the following elements: 1) the background of an organization; 2) the characteristics of the leader; 3) the relationship between leader and followers; and 4) the position of the followers. Novelty - This paper contributes to the knowledge on leadership style in general, specifically in the context of small and medium-sized enterprises. Type of Paper - Review. Keywords: Leader; leadership style; PRISMA; small and medium-sized enterprises; systematic literature review. JEL Classification: L20, L29.