Which leadership style is characterized by fostering innovation and change in quality management?

The leadership style characterized by fostering innovation and change in quality management is transformational leadership. Transformational leaders inspire and motivate their teams by encouraging creativity and pushing the boundaries of traditional practices. They focus on developing their team's potential and driving significant change toward improvement and excellence in processes.

Transformational leadership is particularly effective in quality management because it promotes a culture of continuous improvement, where employees feel empowered to contribute new ideas and take calculated risks. This is essential for organizations looking to adapt to changing market conditions and customer needs, as it aligns with the principles of quality management that emphasize innovation and the importance of stakeholder involvement.

In contrast, transactional leadership tends to focus on maintaining the status quo and rewarding compliance, which may limit innovation. Autocratic leadership relies on top-down decision-making, which can stifle creativity and discourage input from team members. Laissez-faire leadership, while allowing freedom and autonomy, may not provide the necessary guidance or motivation for innovative initiatives to thrive. Thus, transformational leadership stands out as the most conducive to fostering innovation and driving change in quality management.