Exploring organizational leadership in informal apprenticeship sector in Ghana: A focus on auto mechanics, carpenters, dressmakers and hairdressers

Date

2018-04

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Abstract

This study explores organizational leadership in Ghana’s informal apprenticeship sector to determine whether it creates an environment for the growth of apprentices in the trade. The study focuses on four apprenticeship trades: auto mechanics, carpentry, dressmaking, and hairdressing in the Madina Municipality in Greater Accra Region, Ghana. The research questions that this study addresses include: a) Does the organizational leadership in the informal apprenticeship sector transform apprentices to become effective masters by developing their potential as leaders? b) Whether the nature of the relationship between the master and apprentice is of dominance or servitude? c) What factors influence organizational leadership in the apprenticeship sector? To address these questions, 17 individuals were interviewed from 8 apprenticeship businesses.
The findings suggest that, organizational leadership in informal apprenticeship trades create an environment for growth and learning. The findings revealed that, masters have vision and motive, the two major elements established by literature. In addition, masters serve apprentices and intently provide support to make them grow. Finally, the study showed that leadership of masters is greatly influenced by the number of apprentices in the trade, and the traits masters adopted from their own masters when they were apprentices.

Description

Thesis submitted to the Department of Business Administration, Ashesi University, in partial fulfillment of Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration, April 2018

Keywords

Ghana, Madina, informal sector, apprenticeship, leadership, auto mechanics, carpenters, dressmakers, hairdressers, knowledge

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