A Review of J. L. Komaki's Leadership from an Operant Perspective

Abstract

The book, Leadership from an Operant Perspective, by Judith L. Komaki is reviewed. The book describes a series of studies by Komaki and others that have contributed to an understanding of the dynamic, evolving performancerelated interactions between leaders and followers, which include behaviors such as performance monitoring by leaders. A useful resource for researchers, practitioners, and students of Organizational Behavior Management, the book describes an entire area of operant research, including original predictions, empirical findings, and implications for future research and practice. In addition, the book is instructive in terms of how a theory, research methodology, and research stream are developed over time.

LEADERSHIP FROM AN OPERANT PERSPECTIVE. J. L. Komaki. 1998. London: Routledge, 277 pages, ISBN 0415098734, Price (amazon. com) $87.95. Reviewed by Sonia Goltz.

Key Words:

• Leadership
• monitoring
• performancerelated communications
• reciprocal interactions