The influence of transformational leadership and leader-member exchange on project success

Abstract

This study aimed to examine the direct influence of transformational leadership on project success and the role of Leader-Member Exchange (LMX) as a mediating mechanism. The study focuses on projects completed within the last 05 years in major cities across different regions of Vietnam. Applying the PLS-SEM technique for multivariate data analysis, a survey of 437 project managers with a snowball sampling method reveals that transformational leadership favors project success. Additionally, LMX is an intermediary between transformational leadership and project success. The results indicate that project-based organizations should prioritize employing transformational leadership in project management roles and provide training in transformational leadership to enhance the effectiveness of project managers. Subsequent investigations could utilize longitudinal data to gain a deeper comprehension of how the influence of these factors on project performance changes over time.