Rizki Ananda, Sirda Eldita, Fathimah Qotrunnada Aljannah

Leadership In Public Sector Reforms: Navigating Transformational And Transactional Approaches Across Diverse Contexts

Introduction

Leadership in public sector reforms: navigating transformational and transactional approaches across diverse contexts. Explore leadership styles (transformational, transactional) in public sector reforms. This study analyzes how context, culture, and politics impact reform success globally.

Abstract

Administrative reform in the public sector, a global imperative, relies heavily on the quality of leadership. This study explores the intricate dynamics between leadership styles—specifically transformational and transactional—and their impact on successful administrative reforms across varied national contexts. Through a systematic literature review of academic sources published between 2000 and 2024, sourced from databases including Taylor & Francis Online, Springer Link, and Scopus, this research uncovers key trends and insights. The findings highlight the robust correlation between transformational leadership and favorable reform outcomes, though this link is moderated by contextual factors. These include entrenched organizational structures, deep-rooted cultural norms, political control over bureaucratic processes, and a nation's capacity for institutional change. Such variables can either enhance or inhibit the effectiveness of leadership, even in the most capable hands. This study underscores the need for further research to elucidate the complex interplay of leadership and reform within specific national and cultural contexts. A deeper understanding of these dynamics will equip public sector leaders to navigate the often-unpredictable landscape of administrative reforms more effectively.

Review

This paper addresses a highly pertinent and globally significant challenge: the role of leadership in driving public sector administrative reforms. By focusing on the intricate interplay of transformational and transactional leadership styles within diverse national contexts, the study promises valuable insights into a complex and often resistant domain. The chosen methodology, a systematic literature review spanning over two decades and utilizing reputable academic databases, appears robust and well-suited to identifying broad trends and synthesizing existing knowledge on this critical topic, thereby establishing a strong foundation for understanding the current academic landscape concerning leadership's influence on reform. The abstract highlights a crucial finding: the robust correlation between transformational leadership and favorable reform outcomes. However, the study commendably moves beyond a simplistic association by identifying significant moderating contextual factors. These include deeply embedded organizational structures, prevailing cultural norms, the extent of political control over bureaucratic processes, and a nation's inherent capacity for institutional change. By pinpointing these variables, the research effectively underscores that leadership effectiveness is not universal but rather intricately tied to the socio-political and structural realities in which it operates. This nuanced perspective adds considerable value, moving the discourse beyond mere identification of leadership styles to a more sophisticated understanding of their conditional efficacy. While the systematic literature review provides an excellent overview and synthesis, a potential inherent limitation, common to this methodology, is the inability to delve into deep empirical evidence or causal mechanisms within specific contexts. The study acknowledges this implicitly by calling for further research to elucidate the complex interplay of leadership and reform in specific national and cultural settings, which is a vital and forward-looking recommendation. Overall, this paper offers a significant contribution to both theory and practice, providing public sector leaders with a clearer framework for understanding how leadership styles intersect with contextual realities to shape reform success. It is a valuable resource for academics and practitioners seeking to navigate the challenging landscape of public sector transformation.

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