The relationship between strategic leadership, organizational culture and self-renewal strategy in integrated secondary school in south of Iran

Abstract

This study attempts to examine the relationship between strategic leadership (STRL), organizational culture (OC) and self-renewal strategy (SRWSTR). The final underlying factors of strategic leadership are strategic conversation and dialogue (PSTRCD), strategic management (STRM), problem solving approach (PSA) and effective communication skill (ECS). The components of organizational culture are trust and sense of ownership (SOWN); and lastly self- renewal strategy focus on learning organization, creativity and innovation. The study employed a cross-sectional design for the collection of survey data from 332 respondents to answer the research questions of the study. This study proposes an integral model, designed to capture the interdependencies between the theory’s central concepts as a whole. Data analysis involves two stages, EFA and descriptive analysis using SPSS and CFA and hypothesis testing using SEM-AMOS. Eight hypotheses were tested. The general model of strategic leadership was found to have positive influence on self-renewal strategy. In regard with dimensions of strategic leadership, strategic management, problem-solving approach, and effective communication skills also had significant and positive influence on self-renewal strategy. While the participation in the strategic conversation and dialogue was not reliably associated with self-renewal strategy. The general model of strategic leadership had a significant and positive influence in building sense of ownership. Strategic management and problem-solving approach also were found to have significant and positive influence in building a sense of ownership. Whereas participation in strategic conversation and dialogue as well as effective communication skills were not positively related to a sense of ownership. Trust and sense of ownership had significant and positive influence on self-renewal strategy. In terms of indirect relationship between strategic leadership and self-renewal strategy through sense of ownership; the study showed that strategic leadership, in general, has a positive influence on self-renewal strategy through sense of ownership. Furthermore, the results indicated that two specific factors of strategic leadership, namely strategic management and problem-solving approach indirectly and positively influence self-renewal strategy through sense of ownership. However; participation in strategic conversation and dialogue and Effective communication skill failed to influence self-renewal strategy through sense of ownership. Results of the study contribute to understanding that self-renewal strategy by strategic leadership and organizational culture to adapt to the change. The thesis concludes by offering several implications, contributions, and recommendations for the future research.