In contrast to hierarchical leadership within intra-organizational contexts leaders of
inter-organizational networks have to lead across organizational boundaries without
hierarchical fiat or directive authority. The central research question of Susanne Ruckdäschel
is how leadership behavior of network managers can influence network performance. Hereby
relational leadership in the form of empowering leadership is regarded as decisive criterion.
Her study focuses on the interplay between network leaders and network companies. The
perspectives of both the network managers and the network members are illuminated. Therefore
first a mixed methods study is conducted from the perspective of the network managers and
second a quantitative analysis based on a structural equation model focuses on the perspective
of the network members.
