Challenges facing Islamic Azad University academic leaders in managerial positions

2014 ◽  
Vol 28 (6) ◽  
pp. 694-704 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fatemeh Hamidifar
Keyword(s):  
Leadership Development ◽  
Professional Growth ◽  
Qualitative Content Analysis ◽  
Middle Level ◽  
Development Programs ◽  
Leadership Development Programs ◽  
Academic Leaders ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Managerial Positions ◽  
High Level

Purpose – Over the past three decades, academic leaders at Islamic Azad University (IAU) have been facing different challenges for the success of the institutions. The purpose of this paper is to identify the challenges confronting IAU academic leaders in managerial positions. Design/methodology/approach – In this qualitative study, questionnaires containing open-ended questions were sent to academic leaders in managerial positions at IAU branches in Iran and the collected data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Findings – The results revealed that the main challenges were categorized into two themes: internal and external environmental factors. Internal challenges were sub-categorized into administration and managerial affairs, financial issues, organizational culture, and students’ affairs. External challenges were sub-categorized into political, economic, social, and technological factors, and international and national competitions. Research limitations/implications – This study is limited to Iran and IAU academic leaders who worked mainly in high-level and middle-level of managerial positions; therefore, the results cannot be generalized. The key implications are related to applying continuous professional growth through collaborative and qualified development programs. The implications could be appropriate for other higher education institutions in Iran. Originality/value – This is the first attempt to study the challenges confronting IAU academic leaders in Iran. The findings can help IAU academic leaders plan the most appropriate framework for professional academic leadership development programs.

What’s the fuss? Gender and academic leadership

2018 ◽  
Vol 32 (6) ◽  
pp. 779-792 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne Wong ◽  
Colleen McKey ◽  
Pamela Baxter
Keyword(s):  
Leadership Development ◽  
Gender Equity ◽  
Gender Gap ◽  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
Final Analysis ◽  
Development Programs ◽  
Leadership Development Programs ◽  
Academic Leaders ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Leadership Potential

PurposeWomen continue to be disproportionately represented in top leadership positions. Leadership development programs typically focus on skills attainment. The purpose of this paper is to explore the perceptions and experiences of academic leaders in order to inform how leadership development programs may more effectively address the gender gap in leadership.Design/methodology/approachA sequential mixed methods study design was used. Participants completed the Leadership Practice Inventory ®(LPI) survey followed by individual interviews of a subset of participants. The survey results were analyzed and compared by gender using thet-test. Thematic analysis was used to compare themes across and between genders. Quantitative and qualitative findings were integrated in the final analysis.FindingsIn total, 65 leaders (38 women; 27 men) (37.7 percent response rate) participated in the survey. There were no significant demographic or statistical differences between women and men on any of the LPI® components. Five women and five men were interviewed. Thematic analysis revealed common leadership aspirations and values. Gender differences were noted in leadership attainment, mentorship and the influence of gender on leadership. While the male narratives reflected cognitive awareness of gender inequities, the female narratives also included lived experiences. Male participants focused on the importance of meritocracy whereas the female participants emphasized the gendered social and structural influences on leadership attainment.Practical implicationsLeadership development programs need go beyond generic “skills-building” in order to conceptualize leadership within a gendered social context. This framework will enable critical awareness and tools for developing both women and men’s fullest leadership potential.Originality/valueThis study was conducted in order to better understand how academic health leaders experience the intersection of gender and leadership. The findings contribute to the current literature by providing insight into perceptual gaps that exist at the level of practice between women and men leaders. In doing so, the authors discuss how leadership development programs may play a more effective role in addressing gender equity in leadership.

Leadership development strategy: the missing links

2018 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 11-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shilpa Kabra Maheshwari ◽  
Jaya Yadav
Keyword(s):  
Leadership Development ◽  
Development Strategy ◽  
Scale Up ◽  
Competitive Growth ◽  
Development Programs ◽  
Leadership Development Programs ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Business Complexity ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose Current volatile environments, business complexity, and leadership gaps are compelling organizations to deploy effective leadership development strategies. Fueled by competitive growth and people challenges, efforts continue to scale up but fail to create the desired leaders. This paper aims to address the missing links and calls for new ways of deploying leadership development strategy. Design/methodology/approach Qualitative data on experiential feedback have been collected from participants and stakeholders of leadership development programs in Indian organizations. Findings An integrated six-step approach to leadership development has been proposed for scholars and practitioners. Practical implications From the practitioner’s perspective, this study contributes to the field of leadership development by challenging the relevance of current approaches. It also adds to the scholarly literature on leadership development in the context of the organization and the individual. Originality/value Current studies in the area of leadership development in the Indian context are scarce.

Leadership self-efficacy: review and leader development implications

2019 ◽  
Vol 38 (8) ◽  
pp. 637-650
Author(s):  
Laura Paglis Dwyer
Keyword(s):  
Leadership Development ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Cognitive Modeling ◽  
Group Performance ◽  
Leader Effectiveness ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Big Five Personality ◽  
Development Programs ◽  
Leadership Development Programs ◽  
Content Type

Purpose The purpose of this paper, on self-efficacy and leadership, has two objectives. First, it comprehensively reviews approximately 25 years of research on leadership self-efficacy (LSE), beginning with LSE measurement and related criticisms. Findings concerning LSE’s relationships with leader effectiveness criteria, as well as individual and contextual influences on LSE, are presented. Second, it examines the evidence on efficacy enhancement interventions and offers some preliminary recommendations for increasing LSE through leadership development programs. Design/methodology/approach The author conducted a comprehensive literature review of the existing research on LSE, covering the main contributors to this research stream and their findings. Findings The review revealed substantial diversity in LSE construct development and measurement approaches. Regarding LSE and leader effectiveness, many studies reported positive relationships with potential, performance and behavioral ratings of leaders. Collective (team) efficacy has emerged as a significant mediator between LSE and group performance. Influences on LSE include several of the Big Five personality traits, while contextual antecedents are under-researched, and potentially fruitful areas for further study. Executive coaching and mentoring, as well as cognitive modeling techniques and training in constructive thought patterns, received support for enhancing LSE in developing leaders. Originality/value This paper’s review and implications should be of substantial value to current and future LSE researchers, as it summarizes past research, synthesizes the findings to draw out common themes and consistent, corroborated findings, and identifies opportunities for future research. For practitioners, the reviewed research on interventions for increasing LSE through leadership development programs provides practical guidance.

Learning to lead from outsiders

2015 ◽  
Vol 34 (10) ◽  
pp. 1262-1271 ◽  
Author(s):  
Igor Kotlyar ◽  
Julia Richardson ◽  
Len Karakowsky
Keyword(s):  
Leadership Development ◽  
Qualitative Methodology ◽  
Peer Coaching ◽  
Development Program ◽  
Development Programs ◽  
Leadership Development Programs ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Personal Coaching ◽  
Leadership Development Program ◽  
Depth Interviews

Purpose – An increasingly popular method of facilitating employee and leadership development is via a career community (Parker et al., 2004), where individuals self-organize to obtain career support. This study was driven by the following research question: how do external peer coaching groups – which are a form of career community – impact leadership development? The purpose of this paper is to report the findings of a research study that examined one such career community focussed on providing peer coaching for managers in business organizations. The authors conducted in-depth interviews with participants who attended a leadership development program that was based on harnessing a career community for the purpose of peer coaching. The authors report the results of the study and its implications for leadership development programs. Design/methodology/approach – The authors chose a qualitative methodology to conduct this exploratory examination, where the authors conducted in-depth interviews with participants in a unique leadership development program which involved peer group coaching supplemented by one-on-one personal coaching. A key reason for adopting a qualitative methodology was that the authors were looking for a deeper understanding of interviewees’ perceptions and experiences regarding peer coaching. The first component of the leadership program involved eight peer coaching sessions over a 12-month period. Participants met in small, exclusive groups – typically in cohorts of seven to eight peers, but as many as 12 peers – every six weeks to discuss a variety of topics relevant to their jobs and stage of career and to provide each other with peer coaching and advice. Each group was comprised of people from different organizations. Sessions were led by a facilitator and lasted three hours each. The authors conducted in-depth interviews with 17 graduates of the program. The sample comprised 14 women and three men. Interviews were audio taped and transcribed verbatim and then analyzed using thematic analysis (King, 2004) to identify the key themes in interviewees’ experiences of the respective program. Findings – Thematic interpretation of participants’ responses yielded the following four major themes: first, the value of a learning community; second, the utility of a formal approach to peer coaching; third, the value of diversity and “externality”; and fourth, the value of an open learning environment (each fully described in the manuscript). The study revealed that external peer coaching and personal coaching deliver distinct types of value as part of a complete leadership development program. Research limitations/implications – This was a case study and specific to one leadership development program. Consequently, the authors cannot necessarily generalize the findings. Practical implications – The findings draw critical attention to the major contribution that learning communities can make toward leadership development. Although many leadership development programs assume that “leadership” is best learned from top leaders (e.g. Presidents and CEOs), organizations can acquire unique benefits by leveraging the concept of peer coaching, which can produce substantial results by having managers at the same organizational level learn from each other. In addition, the study underscores the potential value of external sources of peer coaching and leader development. Organizations may further maximize such benefits by sending their mid and senior-level managers to external peer coaching programs, which can deliver unique value in addition to any internal leadership development initiatives. Social implications – This study underscores the need to better bridge the gap between two literatures – careers and leadership development. Career scholars explore the activities involved in developing careers (e.g. career communities) and leadership development scholars explore activities involved in developing leaders. This study demonstrates the value of integrating knowledge from both these literatures to suggest that learning communities can impact leadership development in significant and positive ways. Originality/value – This study makes a novel contribution to the literature addressing leadership development. It draws attention to the use of career communities for leadership development – an issue which has largely been ignored. In addition, while much of the extant research has focussed on either academic or student participants, the study focussed on business professionals. Few studies have examined the use of peers from outside organizations to serve as coaches for leadership development.

Strategic leadership competencies: what is it and how to develop it?

2016 ◽  
Vol 48 (8) ◽  
pp. 394-399 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zumalia Norzailan ◽  
Rozhan B. Othman ◽  
Hiroyuki Ishizaki
Keyword(s):  
Leadership Development ◽  
Leadership Competencies ◽  
Learning Theories ◽  
Strategic Leadership ◽  
Development Programs ◽  
Leadership Programs ◽  
Empirical Examination ◽  
Leadership Development Programs ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Practice Experience

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to discuss the nature of strategic leader competencies and the learning methodologies that should be used to develop them. Design/methodology/approach A review of the literature on strategizing was done to formulate a model of strategic leadership competencies. This paper also draws from various work on learning to propose how strategic leadership competencies program should be designed. Findings The literature highlights the importance of incorporating deliberate practice, experience density, reflective learning and mentoring into strategic leadership development programs. Research limitations/implications This is a conceptual work that draws from secondary material. Further empirical examination can help validate the ideas proposed here. Practical implications This paper provides a better understanding of how developing strategic leadership competencies are distinct from other leadership programs. It also provides practitioners with an understanding on how to design their strategic leadership development programs. Originality/value This paper adds a new dimension to the discourse on strategic leadership development programs by bringing together learning theories from sports education and managerial learning.

Crane company raises the standards in employee development

2014 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 31-34
Keyword(s):  
Leadership Development ◽  
Employee Development ◽  
Leadership Competencies ◽  
Development Programs ◽  
Self Assessment ◽  
Leadership Development Programs ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Leadership Quality ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Lifting Equipment

Purpose – The purpose of this article was to explore the wide variety of employee-development initiatives at an international manufacturer of lifting equipment. Design/methodology/approach – Examines the reasons for the various programs, the form they take and the results they have achieved. Findings – Describes the company’s system of self-assessment questionnaires, its key leadership competencies, the measurement of leadership quality, the various leadership-development programs, the talent-management system, the employment of apprentices and the company’s new training center. Practical implications – Reveals the wide range of benefits that having a well-trained workforce brings to the company and its clients. Social implications – Highlights the benefits to individual workers, and so to society as a whole, of good employee development. Originality/value – Details the wide variety of ways in which a successful international manufacturing company develops its employees.

Courageous leadership: delivering results in turbulent times

2020 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 59-66
Author(s):  
Jack J. Phillips ◽  
Patti P. Phillips
Keyword(s):  
Leadership Development ◽  
Development Programs ◽  
Leadership Development Programs ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Spheres Of Influence ◽  
Turbulent Times ◽  
Leadership Success ◽  
The Face ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
The Impact

Purpose In uncertain times, courageous leaders must be in place, stepping forward to take action to drive results. Because there is really no such thing as a natural-born leader, the organization must constantly develop current and new leaders. Leadership skills and leader behavior are shaped and molded over time, but also can be dramatically changed and improved with a variety of effective leadership development programs. The perplexing issue about leaders and leadership development is the negative press it often receives. The root cause of this problem is not necessarily the content of leadership development programs or even the way that they are delivered, it is the definition of leadership success and the success of leadership development. Design/methodology/approach The purpose of this paper is to illustrate the success of a courageous leader does not occur until impact is achieved in the organization. Findings The courageous leader is one who can deliver on all levels of outcomes in the face of many difficulties, challenges and uncertainties in ambiguous environments. Originality/value Great leaders deliver great results, including the impact they have on their organizations or spheres of influence. Without impact, leaders are ineffective. To achieve success in these turbulent times requires leaders to be effective in delivering on five levels of outcomes, including impact and ROI. The courageous leader is one who can deliver on all levels of outcomes in the face of many difficulties, challenges and uncertainties in ambiguous environments.

Enhancing leadership skills with action learning: a promising way to improve the effectiveness of leadership development

2016 ◽  
Vol 30 (6) ◽  
pp. 13-15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Belet
Keyword(s):  
Leadership Development ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Leadership Skills ◽  
Action Learning ◽  
Leadership Education ◽  
Development Programs ◽  
Leadership Development Programs ◽  
Content Type ◽  
New Learning ◽  
Management Institutions

Purpose The paper aims to describe the use of the World Institute for Action Learning method to develop leadership skills of managers and future managers. Design/methodology/approach Brief description of the methodology of this version of action learning (AL) based on field experiences. Findings AL is an effective tool for the development of leadership skills. It proposes a new learning model, and it opens up new opportunities for future leadership development programs and management education curriculum. Originality/value This paper will be of value to organizations considering various approaches to develop the competencies of their managers, leaders and to management institutions looking for ways to improve their leadership education offerings.

Secondhand learning from graduates of leadership development programs

2014 ◽  
Vol 26 (8) ◽  
pp. 511-528 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ellen F. Goldman ◽  
Marilyn Wesner ◽  
Margaret M. Plack ◽  
Nisha N. Manikoth ◽  
Yolanda Haywood
Keyword(s):  
Leadership Development ◽  
Development Program ◽  
Training Transfer ◽  
Development Programs ◽  
Leadership Development Programs ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Leadership Development Program ◽  
Interview Methodology ◽  
Member Checks ◽  
The Impact

Purpose – This paper aims to explore the impact leadership development program graduates had on their workgroup, the nature of that impact and how that impact occurred. Design/methodology/approach – This research was conducted at three sites using a qualitative interview methodology with thematic data analysis. Techniques to ensure trustworthiness included purposive sampling, triangulation of researchers, member checks and code checking. Findings – Analysis of the data revealed secondhand learning as specific changes in practices, behaviors and attitudes, transferred by program graduates to their peers and supervisors. The transfer of learning was described as both intentional and informal learning during episodes of varying duration, and occurred through a variety of dyadic and group interactions in a manner generally consistent with the 4I framework of organizational learning. Research limitations/implications – The study was limited to medical educators. Recommendations for supervisors and organizations to maximize training transfer are identified. These suggestions advocate for actively encouraging graduates in departmental leadership and faculty development; focusing transfer on specific practices, behaviors and attitudes; and considering both short- and long-term outcomes. Originality/value – This paper makes an original contribution to the literature by describing the process of secondhand learning from leadership development program graduates. The paper also expands our understanding of the nuances in transfer methods and associated learning episodes in the context of an educational environment. Finally, the research illustrates how qualitative methods can be used to expose secondhand learning.

scholarly journals The Need for Sustainable Leadership in Academia – a German Case Study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Verena Haage ◽  
Linn Voss ◽  
Daniela Nguyen ◽  
Friderike Eggert
Keyword(s):  
Leadership Development ◽  
Leadership Skills ◽  
Third Party ◽  
Development Programs ◽  
Sustainable Leadership ◽  
Leadership Development Programs ◽  
Academic Leaders ◽  
Current State ◽  
Academic System ◽  
Party Funding

AbstractAcademic leaders are selected based on their publication record, citation index and acquisition of third party funding. However, heading a successful research team, also requires leadership skills. Despite the clear need, leadership development has been systematically neglected in the present academic system. At the same time, growing evidence suggests that leadership styles of academic supervisors can dramatically affect the mental health of academic employees as well as drive highly skilled researchers out of academia. Here, we assessed the current state of academic leadership in the German academic system by surveying 368 participants currently employed in academia in Germany. We report that 64% of current academic leaders did not feel prepared for their current position while 86% of participants expressed their interest in leadership development programs offered by their research institutions. Our results highlight the demand for leadership development programs in German academic institutions to ensure a more efficient academic system.

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