LEADERSHIP CHARACTERISTICS OF ... - Drake University

1996; Yammarino, 1999), little information is available about the
relationship between the individuals' values, age, and experiences and
their leadership style.
There are many indications that leadership style can affect
organizational success. Transformational leaders create greater alignment
around strategic visions and missions; are associated with organizational
sales increases, market share, earnings and return-on-investment
(Barling et at., 1996); create greater unit cohesion, commitment and lower
turnover (Bass & Avolio, 2003); and create safer work environments
(Yammarino, 2002). Additional research is needed to contribute to the
current knowledge base as it relates to health care administrators and
rural and urban hospitals. The hospital CEOs, boards of directors, and
health care communities will likely benefit from additional information
about leadership success predictors.
Leadership and Economic Considerations
Hospitals throughout lowa contribute economic support while
struggling with $309.5 million in uncompensated care and $2 billion in
payment shortfalls from Medicare and Medicaid, ranking lowa as one of
the lowest reimbursement states in the nation. Since 1993, lowa hospitals
have suffered an 85.7% increase in bad debt and charity care. In addition,
the patient care demographics have shifted significantly from inpatient to