Cultural Influence on Educational Leadership in Albania

Abstract

Leadership theories, the "Great Man” theory, charismatic theory of leadership, contingency theories, the theory of attributes, etc. help us understand and explain the leadership process and the role of leader, but none of them treats the complexity of human interaction in the leadership phenomena. Implicit theory began to draw some conclusions in early 90s, by defining leadership from the perspective of subordinates when leadership attitude is manifested, and more specifically how cultural groups "prepare" and respond to leadership. The main aim of this paper is to describe some aspects of management styles of school organizations in Albanian society, by taking in consideration the cultural influence on management effectiveness. Implicit theory of leadership developed by Lord - Maher, as well as the results of the prestigious GLOBE project, guided the elaboration of this work. Cultural dimensions used by researchers in GLOBE project, are reused in data collection of this study, but in a narrow context: only for educational organizations, in a Region in Albania. Concerning literature, we have tried to explain how school management practices are built upon an epistemological relationship and empirical life experience, which is qualitatively distinct from north to south and from east to west.