Leaders Shape Research Articles

A Comprehensive Review of Food Safety Culture in the Food Industry: Leadership, Organizational Commitment, and Multicultural Dynamics

Food safety culture (FSC) has transitioned from a narrow compliance-based concept to a comprehensive organisational value that is essential for ensuring food safety. This review explores the pivotal roles of leadership, organisational commitment, and cultural diversity in shaping an effective FSC. It highlights how leadership style, particularly transformational leadership, can enhance employee engagement and foster a proactive safety culture. Additionally, the impact of national and organisational cultures on FSC is analysed, emphasising the challenges posed by a multicultural workforce in standardising food safety practices. This article also provides a comparative analysis of FSC across various sectors, such as meat and dairy processing, identifying sector-specific challenges and best practices. In particular, high-risk sectors tend to exhibit a stronger FSC due to regulatory pressure, while other sectors struggle with issues like communication and employee ownership. The importance of integrating behavioural training with cultural considerations is underscored as a key strategy for sustaining a positive FSC. For maintaining a strong FSC, tailored approaches, which account for cultural and operational differences, are necessary for improving food safety outcomes. This comprehensive analysis provides valuable insights for industry professionals and policymakers, offering a foundation for future research and the development of more effective food safety management practices.

How the Science–Religion Interface of Christian Religious Leaders Shape Their Perceptions of Depression

This study explores the relationship between Christian religious leaders’ beliefs about the science and religion interface and their understanding of the causes and treatments for depression. We focus on Christian religious leaders because they often serve as first responders for congregants seeking help with mental health issues and are influential figures in maintaining the authority of religious institutions. Previous research has neglected the role of religious leaders’ perceptions of the science–religion relationship in shaping their views on mental health. Relying on responses from approximately 1200 Christian religious leaders from the National Survey of Religious Leaders in the United States, this study adopts ordinal logistic regression to examine how epistemological conflict, epistemic openness, and views of institutional conflict shape religious leaders’ interpretations of and treatments for depression. This study contributes to knowledge of science and religion, religious leaders, and mental health in the United States.

Organizational Culture and Leadership Style Among Local Government Unit of Davao del Norte, Philippines

This study investigates the relationship between organizational culture and leadership styles among Local Government Unit (LGU) departments in Santo Tomas, Davao Del Norte. A descriptive correlational research design was employed, with data collected from 108 department head employees using a sample size calculator. The organizational culture questionnaire was adapted from Dawson et al. (2011), while the leadership style questionnaire was derived from Marx et al. (2015). Respondents completed the questionnaires personally distributed and collected by the researchers. The findings revealed a mean score of 4.45 (very high) for organizational culture and 4.51 (very high) for leadership style. A significant positive correlation was identified between organizational culture and leadership styles (r = 0.573, p = 0.001), indicating that higher levels of organizational culture are associated with enhanced leadership styles. These results highlight the crucial role of organizational culture in shaping leadership behaviors within LGU departments. The implications of these findings are discussed about organizational development and leadership practices in public administration.

Leading Through Generations: Crafting Adaptive Leadership Styles for Modern Enterprises

This contribution examines the evolution of leadership styles over time. It explores the ways in which these styles have adapted to changing economic environments and generational shifts, also highlighting the intricate interplay between leadership and cultural nuances. The research applies a longitudinal lens to the development of leadership styles, focusing on their adaptability across the lifecycle stages of two universities in Austria and Ukraine. The findings stress the importance of leadership adaptability to organizational and generational changes and emphasize the influence of cultural factors on leadership styles. The investigation employs two case studies, enabling an exploration of the interplay between leadership, lifecycle, culture, and generational nuances. The findings reveal differences in leadership styles, underscoring the impact of cultural, lifecycle and generational factors on leadership genesis. The study concludes that leadership must be adaptive and evolve in tandem with the lifecycle stages of an organization. It also stresses generational differences in leadership and the crucial role of culture in shaping leadership styles. This contribution augments the discourse on leadership adaptability, offering insights for future research and practical implications for leadership and governance in varying cultural and generational settings.

Enacting policy change in Jordanian public schools: interrogating the reproductive habitus of Al Faza’a leadership

ABSTRACT An extensive longitudinal study examining the enactment of Jordan’s Education Reform for Knowledge Economy (ERfKE) policy in public schools uncovered the pervasive influence of Al-Faza’a leadership, which is deeply rooted in tribal values of solidarity and kinship. This article analyses Al-Faza’a leadership as a culturally potent force that profoundly challenges policy change for education reform. Through a sociological study guided by Bourdieu’s theory of practice, our findings reveal Al-Faza’a leadership as a distinctive form of illusio that is all the more powerful when intertwined with the doxa of Sheikhocracy. We illustrate how Al-Faza’a leadership embodies a persistent reproductive habitus, obstructing ERfKE’s transformative potential and exemplifying resistance to externally imposed and culturally ill-suited reform agendas in Jordan’s schools. By dissecting nuanced sociocultural dynamics shaping leadership practices, the article focuses on the experiences and perspectives of public school principals charged with policy enactment. It illuminates embedded cultural practices within schools and the Ministry of Education that are steeped in long-held traditions and beliefs which undermine policy objectives. This grounded theory-building study highlights the unsuitability of imported policy ideals that assume universal applicability and emphasizes the necessity of culturally sensitive approaches to education policymaking, policy enactment, and, hence, to education reform.

Preventive and Responsive Intervention Strategies of Teachers in School Bullying

School bullying is a persistent issue that negatively impacts students’ psychological well-being, academic performance, and social development. In South Korea, where societal hierarchies and academic pressures are prevalent, addressing bullying requires a comprehensive approach involving both preventive and responsive strategies. This paper examines the pivotal role of teachers in combating school bullying, focusing on their preventive and intervention tactics. Preventive strategies emphasize fostering a positive school climate, enhancing teacher-student relationships, and promoting empathy among students. Responsive strategies, meanwhile, involve immediate and effective intervention through restorative practices, behavioral counseling, and emotional support for victims. Additionally, the paper highlights the critical influence of school climate and leadership in shaping the efficacy of anti-bullying measures. Strong leadership provides the necessary framework for consistent policy enforcement and resource allocation, empowering teachers to act confidently. This study underscores the importance of integrating prevention, intervention, and leadership to create a safer and more supportive educational environment. By analyzing current practices and offering evidence-based recommendations, this research aims to guide schools in reducing bullying and fostering a nurturing atmosphere conducive to learning and personal growth.

Enhancing The Usage Of Microlearning System In Public Sector

This study explores the factors influencing the use of microlearning in the public sector by applying the DeLone and McLean Information Systems Success Model (DMISM). The study focuses on the role of overall quality, compatibility, and transformational leadership in shaping the actual use of microlearning systems. Using a quantitative approach, data were collected from 317 employees of Indonesian Government Financial Institutions (Lembaga Keuangan Pemerintah) through an online survey. The data were analyzed using covariance-based structural equation modeling (CB-SEM) in LISREL 8.8. The results indicate that overall quality, compatibility, and transformational leadership have significant and positive impacts on the actual use of microlearning systems. Among these factors, compatibility emerged as the strongest predictor of use. The findings suggest that improving the quality of microlearning content, aligning it with employee preferences, and developing a supportive leadership environment are key to increasing the adoption and effectiveness of microlearning in public sector organizations. Further research is recommended to explore other potential factors and expand the scope to other government sectors

How and Why Top Executives Influence Innovation: A Review of Mechanisms and a Research Agenda

Scholars have shown increasing interest in the relationship between top executives and firm innovation. However, no systematic effort has been made to integrate or synthesize the theoretical mechanisms in this literature. Without such an integrative framework, this field remains fragmented, offering limited guidance for future research. In this study, we integrate and synthesize findings from over 100 articles on the effects of top executives on innovation. Our review identifies four major categories of theoretical mechanisms (Motivations, Cognitions, Leadership Behaviors, and Influences), eleven sub-categories of mechanisms, and three prominent causal chains in the literature. Our review also examines how these mechanisms align with those in the broader innovation literature, highlighting numerous opportunities for future research. These include deeper integration within and across four categories of mechanisms in strategic leadership literature, drawing insights from strategic leadership research to better inform future research on organizational motivations for innovation, examining top executives’ economic motivations for innovation, and elucidating how strategic leaders shape absorptive and economic capacities to innovate.

Dynamics in the heritability of leadership role occupancy: Evidence from a three-wave twin sample

Studies show that genetics matter in who becomes a leader. However, we know little about the dynamic properties of the heritability of leadership emergence or how genetics might interact with environmental conditions to shape leadership emergence. We track leadership role occupancy at three time points among a cohort of 1,079 Danish twin pairs over ten years. Our results suggest that genetics matter less when the cohort is young and increase over time as the cohort grows older. We argue that labor market entry costs coupled with free access to education constrain the effect of genetics in the cohort during early adulthood, suggesting differing effects of the environment on genetic expression as the cohort ages. Sorting based on individual predisposition towards leadership likely strengthens as the cohort grows older and gains labor market experience. This result implies that we should not view the effect of genes on leadership role occupancy as static and that environmental experiences could disproportionately affect critical early leadership advancement. Our study reinforces calls to consider dynamic properties such as gene x environment interactions to advance our broader understanding of leadership’s biology.

A Study of Leadership during Crises: Strategies for Effective Decision Making and Organizational Resilience

This research explores the role of leadership in shaping an organization’s response to crises, with a focus on decision-making and strategies for building resilience. By analyzing real-world examples, the study highlights how effective leaders manage challenges such as uncertainty, stress, and disruption, while maintaining clear communication and providing strong direction for their teams. Key leadership traits like adaptability, transparency, and timely decision-making are emphasized as crucial elements in minimizing damage and fostering recovery. The goal is to provide actionable insights and practical guidance for organizations aiming to enhance their crisis management capabilities and navigate future crises with greater confidence and sustainability.

How do early childhood education leaders shape professional learning communities?

ABSTRACT This study examined how early childhood leaders working simultaneously as kindergarten teachers perceive the professional learning communities they lead – explicitly identifying the factors that promote or hinder the communities’ development from the leader’s point of view. A qualitative-phenomenological approach was applied using semi-structured interviews of ten early childhood leaders. Factors that contributed to a community’s successful functioning were discussions on practices and real-life dilemmas, active involvement of teachers in community meetings, and creating an atmosphere based on trust and closeness. On the other hand, hindering factors were essentially allocated time to transferring agendas and information from superintendents and limited collaborative culture among teachers beyond community meetings. The findings highlight the considerable potential of professional communities for providing significant assistance to kindergarten teachers to promote children’s education. Nevertheless, leaders need more autonomy in determining the content of meetings and additional knowledge and strategies to strengthen pedagogical collaborations between community participants.

The Impact of Cultural Differences on Leadership Styles: A Systematic Literature Review

This study synthesizes the findings from a systematic literature review of 58 articles which then was curated into 18 articles, focusing on the relationship between personality traits and leadership effectiveness across different cultural contexts. The study aimed to explore how cultural differences influence the impact of personality traits on leadership outcomes. The literature review revealed that certain personality traits, such as extraversion, conscientiousness, and openness to experience, are generally associated with effective leadership across cultures. However, cultural differences can significantly impact how these traits are perceived and valued in leaders. The study also highlighted the importance of considering cultural dimensions such as performance orientation, assertiveness, future orientation, humane orientation, institutional collectivism, in-group collectivism, gender egalitarianism, power distance, and uncertainty avoidance in understanding leadership effectiveness across cultures. The GLOBE study, which examined leadership across 62 cultures, found that certain leadership styles, such as charismatic and group-oriented leadership, were generally effective across cultures, while others, like self-protective leadership, were less effective.Furthermore, the review emphasized the role of cultural variations in leadership styles, with different cultural clusters having distinct preferences for leadership communication styles. For example, the Middle Eastern cluster preferred a more traditional leadership profile that included attributes such as familial, humble, faithful, self-protective, and considerate. In conclusion, the study underscores the complex interplay between personality traits and cultural differences in shaping leadership effectiveness. Understanding these cultural variations is crucial for developing effective leadership strategies that can be applied globally.

Sociální klima učitelských sborů: Kvalitativní kvaziexperiment

The favourable social climate of the teaching staff is one of the key indicators of the quality of school functioning. The text presents five research phases of a qualitative longitudinal pre-post quasi-experiment implemented in the environment of school life. In 37 schools, the climate of the teaching staffs was repeatedly measured with the OCDQ-RS questionnaire in the pre- and post-intervention phase of the experiment. In six of these schools, qualitative research procedures were carried out in order to determine the causes and contexts of the state of the climate and intervention procedures aimed at supporting the development of a favourable teaching staff climate. In the post-intervention phase, focus groups were implemented in six intervened schools to supplement the context. The aim of the research was to find out what effects intervention procedures can have on the climate and under what conditions they can be successful. The results confirm repeated findings about the key role of school leadership in shaping and maintaining a favourable climate of the staff by increasing trust across the staff, promoting open communication and meaningful cooperation of all actors, and leading to shared meanings of events in the school and general acceptance of the school’s values and concept.

THE ROLE OF THE LEADER IN THE FORMATION OF CORPORATE CULTURE OF THE ENTERPRISE

Relevance: the role of leadership in shaping the corporate culture of an enterprise is crucial for the success and sustainable development of the organization. Purpose: the article aims to determine the importance of leadership qualities in the process of formation and development of corporate culture of enterprises. Research methods: to achieve this goal, the article uses a methodology that includes analytical review, categorization and integration of data from various sources to better understand the relationship between leadership and corporate culture, which allowed to identify effective approaches to cultivating corporate values. The study found that leaders play a key role in shaping corporate culture through their personal and professional qualities, ability to motivate and unite the team, and ability to implement corporate values in the company's daily operations. Various approaches to management, from strict control to open participation, have a significant impact on the formation of corporate culture, which requires leaders to be flexible in choosing their leadership style based on the needs of the business and its strategic vision. The effectiveness and productivity of corporate culture depend on the ability of leaders to demonstrate diverse qualities that include not only professionalism and personal characteristics, but also social responsibility, value orientations and strategic marketing thinking. Such qualities contribute not only to effective management and team spirit, but also to creating an atmosphere conducive to innovation and longterm development. Corporate culture is a key factor that affects all areas of an organization's life, with people at the center of this process with their relationships, respect and personal growth, which is the basis for creating an effective work environment. Practical significance: the results of the study can be used by managers to formulate an effective strategy for the development of corporate culture.

Leading with Insight: How Intellectual Capital Shapes Supervisory Leadership

This study investigates the impact of various dimensions of intellectual capital—domain knowledge, formal knowledge, management experience, and intrinsic motivation and creativity—on supervisory leadership. Using the knowledge-based view (KBV) as the theoretical framework, the research aims to elucidate how these elements contribute to effective leadership. The findings reveal that domain knowledge, management experience, and intrinsic motivation and creativity significantly enhance supervisory leadership, while formal knowledge alone does not show a significant impact. These results underscore the importance of integrating both formal and experiential knowledge, as well as fostering intrinsic motivation and creativity, to develop effective leaders. The study contributes to the KBV by providing empirical evidence on the nuanced roles of different types of knowledge and experiences in shaping leadership effectiveness. The implications for theory and practice suggest that organizations should adopt a holistic approach to leadership development, prioritizing experiential learning and creating a culture that supports intrinsic motivation and innovation.

Explaining transformational leadership in the digital age: The example of Facebook group leaders

The prominence of digital leadership in social networks has established this role as a crucial area of investigation, particularly because these networks serve as key sources of information, decision-making, and support for countless individuals. Consequently, the actions of digital leaders have far-reaching implications for millions of people's lives. This study investigates the phenomenon of digital leadership within social networks, focusing specifically on the case of Facebook group leaders. One hundred eighty-one Facebook group leaders participated in an online survey assessing their overall Transformational Leadership scores and leadership styles. The findings reveal that the leaders primarily employed an authority-based style while exhibiting Idealized Influence (Behavior) style the least frequently. Furthermore, several factors, such as interpersonal skills and digital literacy, were found to be highly significant in determining leadership styles. In contrast, variables such as information literacy, gender, age, education level, group size, and group-related income played a negligible role, if any, in shaping leadership styles. The research findings have implications for leaders in digital spaces and can be applied to enhance leadership skills and create better groups for members in both the business and private sectors.

The Neuroscientific Validation of the Leadership Competency Model Drenica

The Leadership Competency Model Drenica, developed by Çitaku and Ramadani in 2020, offers a comprehensive framework encompassing essential competencies crucial for effective leadership. However, validating the efficacy of these competencies necessitates exploring their neuroscientific underpinnings. This study conducted an extensive literature review to elucidate the neural mechanisms associated with each competency outlined in the Drenica model. The findings reveal a robust neuroscientific basis supporting these competencies, ranging from decision-making to communication and collaboration. Key neuroscientific validations include the role of prefrontal cortex activity and neurotransmitter balance in decision-making, the involvement of neural circuits in language processing and empathy for communication skills, and the contribution of neuroplasticity mechanisms to continuous learning and adaptability. Furthermore, the analysis underscores the importance of neurotransmitter systems such as dopamine, serotonin, and oxytocin in shaping leadership behaviors across various competencies. Understanding the neural substrates of effective leadership allows organizations to tailor leadership development programs to enhance organizational outcomes and foster a culture of innovation and inclusivity. Integrating neuroscience into leadership studies holds promise for advancing the understanding of leadership effectiveness and facilitating evidence-based practices in leadership development. In essence, this study underscores the significance of the Drenica model as a versatile tool for leadership development, enriched by neuroscientific insights, thus paving the way for Neuoleadership—a paradigm that leverages neuroscientific principles to cultivate effective leadership behaviors and drive organizational success.

The multifaceted perspectives of future business continuity- aftermath of COVID 19

"The Multifaceted Perspectives of Future Business Continuity- aftermath of COVID-19" explores the diverse and complex dimensions of business continuity in the post-pandemic era. This study examines the various challenges and opportunities faced by organizations as they navigate the aftermath of COVID-19 and adapt to the new normal. It examines the multifaceted perspectives that encompass economic, technological, social, environmental, and organizational aspects, shedding light on the potential strategies and innovative solutions that can enhance resilience and ensure sustainable business continuity. The findings highlight the critical importance of agility, digital transformation, stakeholder collaboration, risk management, and adaptive leadership in shaping the future of business continuity. The study uses mixed methodology to capture the expert opinion and the stakeholder’s views on this topic.

Editorial: More Practical Gender Research is Needed in Higher Education Leadership and Management

This Editorial explores the challenges and barriers faced by women in leadership roles within higher education institutions using Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory. This Editorial investigates internal, external, and institutional obstacles hindering women's progression into leadership positions. Gender biases, socio-political traditions, cultural expectations, and institutional norms contribute to the under-representation of women in leadership roles. Additionally, internal factors such as lack of confidence and fear of failure further impede career advancement. Despite these challenges, the editorial highlights the pivotal role of women in shaping leadership standards and underscores the transformative impact of diverse leadership teams. The Editorial advocates for pragmatic scholarly approaches to considering achievement of equal opportunities for women in leadership, emphasising education, progressive workplace policies, mentorship programs, and cultural shifts. By embracing an approach nested in the macro-, meso-, and micro-level environments, a more holistic approach to research aimed at fostering innovative scholarly advancement is encouraged.

Linking digital transformational leadership, symmetrical internal communication with innovation capability: a moderated mediation model

Purpose The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between digital transformational leadership (DTL) and innovation capability (IIC) in multinational (MNC) firms’ settings. The current study emphasises the mediating-moderating impact of symmetrical internal communication (SIC) and trust in leadership (TIL) in further shaping this relationship. Design/methodology/approach The researchers adopted three-wave data consisting of responses from 323 cross-border team members working in MNC firms. A moderated-mediation model was tested using Hynes’ Process Macro and IBM Amos. Findings The empirical findings underscore a positive relationship between DTL and IIC and the mediation by SIC. Furthermore, the researchers also identified a moderated mediation relationship of TIL. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to investigate the moderated mediation relationship among DTL, SIC, IIC and TIL using the complexity leadership theory perspective.