The Role of Leadership in Successful Project Implementation: A Case Study of Zambia Rural Development Agency (ZRDA)

Simon Nyimbili, Ethel Tembo Mwanaumo, Ester Munalula Nkandu, Theresa Chalwe, Erastus Mishengu Mwanaumo and Michael Kalumbu Nsefu
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Simon Nyimbili: University of Lusaka
Ethel Tembo Mwanaumo: University of Lusaka
Ester Munalula Nkandu: University of Lusaka
Theresa Chalwe: University of Lusaka
Erastus Mishengu Mwanaumo: University of Zambia
Michael Kalumbu Nsefu: University of Lusaka

African Journal of Commercial Studies, 2025, vol. 6, issue 6

Abstract: This study investigated the role of leadership in successful project implementation at the Zambia Rural Development Agency (ZRDA), addressing the critical gap in understanding leadership effectiveness within rural development contexts. The investigation was guided by five specific objectives: to analyze the predominant leadership styles and their correlation with project success rates, identify critical leadership competencies, assess project management challenges, evaluate the effectiveness of leadership development initiatives, and develop an improved leadership framework for ZRDA's rural development context. The study employed a mixed-methods explanatory sequential design, combining quantitative surveys with qualitative interviews and focus group discussions. With 156 participants. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS 27.0 for quantitative analysis and NVivo 14 for thematic analysis of qualitative data. Findings revealed that transformational leadership demonstrated the strongest correlation with project success (r = .687, p

Keywords: Project leadership; transformational leadership; rural development; project success (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: M12 O22 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:cwk:ajocsk:2025-11

DOI: 10.59413/ajocs/v6.i6.11

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