Yobouet, Nguessan Thostao (2025) Exploring transformational leadership's role in shaping project teams' motivation and success: A systematic review. PhD thesis, Capitol Technology University, USA.
Abstract
Transformational leadership is well recognized for improving team motivation, cohesion, and project success. Yet, current literature tends to investigate isolated leadership qualities without incorporating how transformational leadership develops engagement and performance. This research aimed at filling this gap by systematically reviewing peer-reviewed articles published from 2020 to 2024 to determine how transformational leadership affects project team motivation and success. Through a qualitative systematic review methodology examining 157 articles, this research responds to the primary question: How does transformational leadership influence teams in terms of motivation and success? The thematic analysis revealed three overarching themes. First, leadership competencies, embodied in communication, decision-making, and emotional intelligence, are the primary drivers of team performance. Second, team dynamics, as influenced by collaboration and psychological safety, foster trust and team member engagement. Third, motivational strategies, particularly individualized consideration, play a key role in maintaining team commitment. Results confirm that transformational leadership requires a blend of technical competence, interpersonal influence, and motivational approaches. The appropriate application of transformational leadership significantly enhances employee commitment and project performance. This study offers practical recommendations for project leaders and calls for further research on the long-term consequences of transformational leadership in project settings.Alternate abstract:Le leadership transformationnel est largement reconnu pour améliorer la motivation des équipes, la cohésion et la réussite des projets. Pourtant, la littérature actuelle a tendance à examiner des qualités de leadership de manière isolée, sans intégrer la façon dont le leadership transformationnel favorise l'engagement et la performance. Cette recherche visait à combler cette lacune en passant en revue systématiquement des articles évalués par des pairs publiés entre 2020 et 2024, afin de déterminer comment le leadership transformationnel influence la motivation et la réussite des équipes de projet. À travers une méthodologie de revue systématique qualitative portant sur 157 articles, cette recherche répond à la question principale : comment le leadership transformationnel influence-t-il les équipes en termes de motivation et de réussite ? L'analyse thématique a révélé trois grands thèmes. Premièrement, les compétences en leadership, incarnées par la communication, la prise de décision et l'intelligence émotionnelle, sont les moteurs principaux de la performance des équipes. Deuxièmement, la dynamique d'équipe, influencée par la collaboration et la sécurité psychologique, favorise la confiance et l'engagement des membres de l'équipe. Troisièmement, les stratégies de motivation, en particulier la considération individualisée, jouent un rôle clé dans le maintien de l'engagement des équipes. Les résultats confirment que le leadership transformationnel nécessite une combinaison de compétences techniques, d'influence interpersonnelle et d'approches motivationnelles. Une application appropriée du leadership transformationnel améliore considérablement l'engagement des employés et la performance des projets. Cette étude propose des recommandations pratiques pour les chefs de projet et appelle à de futures recherches sur les conséquences à long terme du leadership transformationnel dans les environnements de projet.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Doctoral) |
|---|---|
| Thesis advisor: | Wyandt, Matthew |
| Index terms: | transformational leadership, psychological safety, commitment, motivation, systematic literature review, project performance, strategy, project team, emotional intelligence, team motivation, project success, thematic analysis, methodology, competence, cohesion, decision-making, team performance, team dynamics, collaboration |
| Subjects: | personnel development, management, psychology, project management theory and practice, research evaluation and metrics, occupational health and safety management, project delivery, research methods, decision analysis, methods and analysis, structural engineering |
| Topics: | Engineering Principles, Business Strategy, Organizational Design, Research Practice, Project Management, Health and Safety, Risk Management, Human Resources |
| Descriptive scope: | 5 PCTEA |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here