Digital Leadership in the New Century

Abstract

The emergence of information and communication technologies have impacted greatly on organizations and subsequently their leaders. The virtual context in which many leaders now operate both provides opportunities and poses challenges. The virtual environment, demands that leaders develop some different practices but this is not to say that traditional leadership has no place in the new virtual environment. Rather, the traditional leadership theories and leadership styles studied previously conceptualized by researchers and scholars enhances electronic leadership (e-leadership). E-leadership is supported by Rogers' facilitative leadership. It is important to realize that leadership theories are not ideologies that must be followed to the letter but rather that leadership theories can be applied in part or in whole. In the present chapter the authors consider the relevance of existing leadership theories to e-leadership, highlight the impact of technologies on leadership practice, and raise discussion around e-leadership challenges, and key e-leadership skills.