Afghanistan: Leadership Development

Author(s):  
Noor Ali

This case study investigates the leadership styles of Afghan men and women managers as practiced in Afghanistan, originally prepared as background research to developing their leadership skills in the context of a public sector organization receiving extensive international donor funding. The case includes a detailed study of the barriers that women managers face in Afghanistan. The research revealed that compared with men, Afghan women managers are more balanced in terms of being people-oriented and task-oriented and practice a mix of transformational and transactional leadership styles (rather than mostly transactional). To overcome the existing barriers that prevent Afghan women from reaching senior leadership positions in Afghanistan, the case concludes that Afghan women need more access to higher education and need more training in management skills. Increased awareness of women's leadership talents by men, requiring the need to change male attitudes towards female participation in leadership, may help improve the situation. This process may need greater mobility in workplaces in Afghanistan.

2016 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 193
Author(s):  
Fatemeh Hamidifar ◽  
Mansoureh Ebrahimi

<p class="apa">This study explores effective academic leadership as well as hindrances within Iran’s private higher educational institutions. The author employed a qualitative approach that utilized purposive sampling to collect and analyze data. Findings were categorized into three classes comprising the (i) setting of direction, (ii) organizational and (iii) staff development at three administrative levels: central office, branch office and faculty personnel. Obstacles confronting effective academic leadership were identified as (i) centralization of power; (ii) bureaucratic hierarchy; (iii) budgetary restraints; (iv) ineffective interaction including ineffectual communications as well as social, political and cultural interventions; and (v) unqualified staffing policies that eschewed meritocracy. This study reveals that the functional purview of an effective academic leader is to drive an institution’s vision forward towards achievement and define its mission and objectives. Moreover, it signifies an indispensable need for academic leadership development programs that incorporate, protect and support scientific management skills based on sound moral values, mutually established trust, collegial respect, and the application of transactional cum transformational governance methods in teaching, learning and research.</p>


Author(s):  
Thamer M. Maharmeh Thamer M. Maharmeh

The current study explored the relationship between leadership styles and employee engagement in the case of a Qatari public corporation. Survey research method was used in the research. In order to meet the research objectives, an online survey questionnaire was developed and distributed to a simple random sample of 294 employees. Descriptive and analytical statistical techniques available in SPSS were used to analyze the data of the 125 returned surveys. The results of the current study revealed that: (1) about 75% of the respondents are engaged in their work, (2) employees perceive their supervisors as transformational leaders rather than transactional leaders. Nonetheless, employees perceive their supervisors as neither pure transformational leaders nor pure transactional leaders, (3) there is strong and positive correlation between employee engagement and both transformational and transactional leadership styles. However, the correlation between transactional leadership and employee engagement was stronger than the correlation between transformational leadership and employee engagement. Based on that it is recommended to: (1) encourage supervisors to mix both transformational and transactional leadership styles by considering the situation and the nature of the task assigned to employees, (2) take action to develop leadership skills and behaviors, (3) show recognition for employee contributions and efforts, (4) strengthen the relationships between employees and their supervisors. In conclusion, it is important to develop strategies and practices to enhance employee engagement. One of the key factors in doing so is the development of leadership styles and behaviours.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Esther Arinola Arapasopo ◽  
Clement Ola Adekoya

Purpose The current scourge of COVID-19 in educational enterprise requires that libraries tame the wave of the pandemic through effective leadership. This paper aims to investigate library leadership in Nigeria and COVID-19 pandemic. Design/methodology/approach Descriptive research design was used for the study. A structured questionnaire designed with Google Form and administered online was used to elicit data from 137 heads of academic and public libraries and their deputies in South West, Nigeria. Findings It was found that transformational and transactional leadership styles were more effective than laissez-faire style in managing libraries during crisis. Library operations were reduced during the COVID-19 era, and communication and meetings were conducted via social media. The spread of the pandemic was curtailed through enforcement of the use of face mask and nose covers and awareness campaign through posters and handbills. Practical implications It is the library heads with effective leadership styles that will be productive in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. Originality/value This study is novel, as it approaches the handling of COVID-19 in libraries from the perspective of the leadership styles of the library leaders. No studies have emanated from Africa in this area. The few available narratives are centred around the Western countries. Meanwhile, managers of libraries in Nigeria are not immune to leadership crisis in the handling of the COVID-19 in their respective libraries.


2019 ◽  
Vol 23 (5) ◽  
pp. 836-859 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarra Berraies ◽  
Syrine Zine El Abidine

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to examine the effect of the transformational and transactional leadership styles and its sub-dimensions on exploitative and exploratory innovations. The authors deepened the analysis by highlighting the contribution of ambidextrous leadership on ambidextrous innovation.Design/methodology/approachThe conceptual model defined through a thorough review of the literature is tested empirically on a sample of 265 senior managers working in Tunisian knowledge-intensive firms (KIFs). A quantitative analysis is performed via a questionnaire. The analysis of the data collected is carried out using the partial least squares method.FindingsResults show that exploratory innovation is linked to transformational leadership and in particular to individualized consideration, intellectual stimulation and inspirational motivation. Moreover, exploitative innovation is promoted by transformational and transactional leadership styles and particularly by attributed idealized influence and contingent rewards. Also, ambidextrous leadership affects positively ambidextrous innovation.Originality/valueWhile little studies have investigated how the transformational and transactional leadership styles as constructs of second-order influence differently exploitative innovation and exploratory innovation, this research deepens the analysis by focusing on sub-dimensions of leadership styles that promote each type of innovation within KIFs. It also pioneers the investigation of the effect of ambidextrous leadership on ambidextrous innovation that has never been explored. This research provides important insights for leaders of KIFs and sheds the light on the key aspects of leadership that boost ambidextrous innovation.


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