Abstract: A search of the literature was conducted to determine the intersection between the role of executive leadership in effecting customer-focused quality and the role of executive leadership in effecting transformational change. The literature search did not reveal studies that specifically integrated these two topics. However, the search did reveal studies about the role of executive leadership within the two respective bodies of knowledge: (1) transformational change and (2) customer-focused quality.

The remainder of this chapter will integrate the literature about the role of executive leadership within the two bodies of knowledge. First, to help set the contact for the reader, a discussion of terms relevant to the study is provided. The discussion briefly answers the following questions:

1. What is customer-focused quality and why is it important?
2. What is transformational change and why is it important?
3. What is executive leadership?

Next, two bodies of knowledge relevant to this research project are discussed by answering the following two questions:

1. What is the role of executive leadership in effecting transformational change?
2. What is the role of executive leadership in effecting custom-focused quality?

Finally, a summary is provided that integrates the researcher's findings about the two bodies of knowledge, which will answer the questions: what is the role of executive leadership in effecting transformational change toward customer-focused quality?