EFFECT OF AUTHORITY DIMENSION ON LEADERSHIP PERFORMANCE OF MEDIAN ENTERPRISES (SMES) IN ENUGU STATE (SMES) IN ENUGU STATE

Abstract

In the study we evaluated the Effect of Authority Dimension on Leadership performance of SMEs in Enugu state. The specific objectives were to: examine the effect of Founder authority on the development of SMES in Enugu State and evaluate the effect of Relational authority on the accomplishment of tasks of SMEs in Enugu State.  The population of the study was five (5) selected small and Median Enterprises (SMEs) with three hundred and twenty-two (322) staff in Enugu State. The whole population was used due to small number. The study used the descriptive survey design approach. The primary source of data was the administration of questionnaire.  294 staff returned the questionnaire and accurately filled. Data from the questionnaire was administered and analyzed using simple percentages, mean and standard deviation, and the research hypotheses were tested using Z – test. The findings indicated that Founder authority had significance positive effect on the development of SMEs in Enugu State, Z(95,n= 294)= 5.861 < 8.369,P<0.05. Relational authority had significant positive effect on the accomplishment of tasks of SMEs in Enugu state, Z(95,n= 294)= 5.230 < 11.664,P<0.05.  The study concluded that Founder authority and Relational authority had significant positive effect on development and accomplishment of tasks of SMEs in Enugu state. The study recommended among others that the management should endeavour to entrust responsibility to staff to help provide the organisation with consistency and security.