An exploratory study of leadership differences in the Central Bank of Ireland through grade levels

Ní Choncubhair, Sinéad (2018) An exploratory study of leadership differences in the Central Bank of Ireland through grade levels. Masters thesis, Dublin, National College of Ireland.

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Abstract

This thesis aims to explore in what ways leadership in the Central Bank of Ireland, hereafter referred to as ‘the Bank’ or ‘CBI,’ differs dependant on grade levels. To be precise, the main goals are to identify differences in leadership styles and skills in the Bank at team lead and manager grades. In examining skills, the researcher focused on change, teamwork and collaboration, conflict management, communication, emotional intelligence, motivation and teaching. The researcher followed a qualitative, inductive approach with an exploratory focus. Semi structured interviews were conducted with ten interviewees from the CBI – five team leads and five managers. The Bank’s Behavioural Competency Framework (Central Bank of Ireland, 2013) acted as a main reference point for this thesis, describing the expected behaviours of team leads and managers within the Bank.

The overall results demonstrated similarities and dissimilarities in leadership style and skills across both grade levels, which both supported and contradicted previous findings. Precisely, managers focus more on flexibility and collaboration in terms of style compared to team leads who are more affiliative and focused on the development of followers. In terms of similarities, both grades demonstrated authority and an outcome focus. In relation to overall skill differences, managers focus more on vision, strategy, tailoring, encouragement and rationale, while team leads place more emphasis on emotional intelligence and again, staff development. With regard to overall similarities in skills, team leads and managers emphasised integrity, trust, intellect, understanding and acknowledgement. In addition, both grades consider communication as an important skill for leaders. However, the results showed managers apply this skill more than team leads.

The findings from this thesis provide more understanding on the ways in which leadership differs generally at grade levels but particularly within the CBI. There are also implications for the Bank’s response to the 2017 GPTW Trust Index Survey results (Central Bank of Ireland, 2018a), the design of career development programmes and succession planning within the CBI.

The views expressed in this thesis are those of the author and the unofficial responses from interviewees. Neither of which represent the official views of the CBI.

Item Type:	Thesis (Masters)
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HG Finance > Banking H Social Sciences > HM Sociology > Leadership H Social Sciences > HD Industries. Land use. Labor > HD28 Management. Industrial Management > Human Resource Management > Leadership J Political Science > JS Local government Municipal government > Public Sector
Divisions:	School of Business > Master of Science in International Business
Depositing User:	Caoimhe Ní Mhaicín
Date Deposited:	30 Oct 2018 17:07
Last Modified:	30 Oct 2018 17:07
URI:	https://norma.ncirl.ie/id/eprint/3366

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