The Influence of Different Leadership Styles on the Entrepreneurial Process: A Qualitative Study

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

The work is well documented on the chosen topic, however research methodology (Purpose, objectives, sample, description of research methods, period in which the research was conducted), is not complete. Describe in detail how to conduct the survey, sample (total number), ecc. Please include the Interview Guide in an appendix at the end of the paper

Another limitation of the research is the comparative analysis you do including different business areas, which leads to irrelevant results. You can include it in future research directions.

Author Response

R: Dear reviewer, thank you for your comments. Now in Introduction and Methodology sections we present more clearly the purpose, objectives and methodological procedures used.

As suggested in Appendix 1 and 2 we present the Interview Guide (leader and followers)

Reviewer 2 Report

Abstract. The abstract needs to be improved. This part must start by describing the scientific problem and the need for the study. Please briefly clarify problematic points and the study's actuality. The authors must clarify the main purpose of this study as the aim cannot be “to understand”: “…to understand which leadership styles are most commonly followed in the different phases of the entrepreneurial process and how they influence the differente stages of the entrepreneurial process” (5-7 lines). Please correct the word “differente”. Also, you should follow up with your research methods and main findings. The study's purpose must be defined clearly and fit with the same purpose mentioned in the introduction.

Introduction. Please revise your study purpose (in detail, explained in the Abstract part). The introduction lacks in gaining attention and highlighting the need for the study. Many general sentences generally present and describe the research object (for example, "Leadership and its different styles have an important role in firms’ performance, and are essential for their growth and success”). Briefly highlight your study's main problematic points and actuality by integrating the 2021-2022 literature review. Please present research methods.

Theoretical part. The authors present different authors’ definitions. However, their insights and definitions of the main research object (for example, leadership, four leadership styles, entrepreneurial process, etc.) are lacking. In order to show that this research object is still actual, there is a strong need to systematically review scientific literature sources, update the literature review with the latest scientific literature sources (2021-2022), and properly define the main research object. There is a recommendation to avoid such expressions as “As mentioned earlier,” “can be understood,” etc.

Research part. There is a strong need for a detailed description of the main findings for theory and practice. The implications for theory and practice are less developed. The authors should provide more insights related to implications for theory and practice. The discussion needs to be improvised with a theoretical contribution. The findings’ discussion also needs to be strengthened concerning the previous research work.

Conclusions. The authors should include some novel implications and unique contributions of this study.

Proofread the whole manuscript as many typos and grammar errors are present, for example, “works4on”, “differente,” etc.  

Author Response

R: Dear reviewer, thank you for your comments.

The Abstract was re-written. Now we present the main purpose of this study and our research objective. This last objective is the same in Introduction and Conclusions sections. In Introduction section, we present more clearly the gap identified from the literature, the methodology used and the contributions of our study.

Some typos were considered accordingly (e.g., different….).

As suggested, the Introduction section was totally re-written. Now, we present more clearly the problem statement, the gap identified, the purpose, research objetive, as well as the method used, as well as the contributions. All these concerns were reinforced and exrended with new literature more recent (the 2021-2022 literature review).

The last secrtions were reinforced and extended. The theorectical and pratical implications were presented more clearly and more innovative contributions are also presented.

Reviewer 3 Report

The topic of the article is quite relevant and significant in the development of research on problems in the field of science. Scientific insights are revealed, the level of research of the scientific problem is presented, based on the opinions of other authors and their research, the theoretical justification of the problem under consideration is presented. Although the research methodology, the theoretical and methodological alignment of justification is not sufficiently described, a lot of attention is paid to the empirical part of the research and its interpretations. When presenting the research methods, the reasons for choosing the research methods must also be indicated. Of course, the study contributes to the improvement of knowledge in the analyzed area by showing how the leadership style works and influences not only the entrepreneurial process, but also the behavior and attitudes of the followers. However, there is a lack of concrete solutions, suggestions, and insights that would be significant to substantiate the research problem. Discussions and conclusions are sufficient, but concrete proposals, their implementation possibilities and generalizations are missing from the point of view of the development of the scientific field, because the analyzed topic has prospects for further research in the future.

Author Response

R: Dear reviewer, thank you for your comments. Now in Introduction and Methodology sections we present more clearly the purpose, objectives and methodological procedures used.

The last secrtions were reinforced and extended. The theorectical and pratical implications were presented more clearly and more innovative contributions are also presented.

Round 2

Reviewer 2 Report

(1) The main purpose mentioned in the abstract and Introduction must be clarified as English style errors exist: "This study aims to analyse the different leadership styles present throughout the various stages of the entrepreneurial process (discovery, application, implementation and growth) in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) context and the effects those leadership styles can have on this type of firm." 

(2) Please avoid using such expressions as "understanding", for example, "This study will provide understanding ..." (109 line).  These are not proper expressions for scientific studies as a measurement of "understanding" is enough problematic.

Author Response

Dear reviewer,

Thank you.

These typos were considered accordingly.