دانلود رایگان مقاله انگلیسی هوش فرهنگی و سبک رهبری در قسمت تعلیم و تربیت - امرالد 2017

Abstract

Purpose –Schools in UAE are multicultural in nature. In this context, cultural intelligence (CQ) is a tool, which can increase an individual’s ability to interact with people outside his/her culture. The purpose of this paper is to explore the perceptions of the school leaders regarding the key influences of Cultural intelligence on their ability to adapt their leadership style in the Abu Dhabi Education Sector. Design/methodology/approach – An Extensive review of literature was carried out to acknowledge the cultural intelligence and leadership style adaptability concepts. This research has adopted a qualitative method of inquiry. Data for the study has been collected from three focus groups with 14 Schools Leaders in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. Findings – This pilot study reveals that cultural intelligence has some influence on the school leaders’ ability to adapt their leadership style within a diverse work environment. This influence is complex in nature and multiple factors have been identified. Research limitations/implications –The main limitations of this study are associated with the small sample size. Regarding the implications, while this study was conducted in a UAE cultural context, it can be extended to other Gulf countries. Future research should prompt educational leaders, administrators, students, and research academics to further consider the impact of cultural intelligence on leadership style. Practical implications – The study contributes toward cultural intelligence literature. Schools should provide cultural training to managers before appointing them to leadership positions, which helps in understanding the culture which they are going to operate in, and effectively manage their drives, workforce, students and the community. Originality/value – The paper highlights six core factors that influence the ability of school leaders to adapt their leadership style in culturally diverse environments. These preliminary factors need to be examined further to validate the dimensions of leadership adaptability in various contexts.

Conclusion

This pilot research has set out to explore the factors influencing the school leader’s ability to adapt their leadership style in a multicultural context. Abu Dhabi school leaders’ adaptability to different cultural environments has been influenced by six factors identified in this paper, some of which are specific to leaders’ characteristics and practice and others driven by the context in which leadership takes place. This pilot research proposes that cultural intelligence could be an important tool to use during the selection, training, and professional development of these educational leaders.

Educational leadership research has, over time, lacked longevity of research foci (Leithwood and Jantzi, 2005), which leaves a significant area for future study. It is observed that leadership style created a seismic shift in the concept of leadership, and consequently created a dramatic shift in the field of leadership studies (Antonakis et al., 2003; Bass, 1993; Hunt, 1999). Cultural intelligence, as a construct, has the potential to affect a similar transformation in the field of intercultural competency.

Kelley (1927) stated that cultural competence, as an area of study, suffered from being a ‘jingle and jangle fallacy’. That is, that constructs are labelled in similar ways, but are very different concepts; while others, conversely, have comparatively similar meanings but are labelled differently (Gelfand et al., 2008). It does, however, present distinctive positive attributes. While still a relatively new concept, it offers theoretical synthesis and coherence, and theoretical precision; it also identifies where cultural competencies are absent, and can link research between different disciplines (Ang et al., 2007; Gelfand et al., 2008).

Naturally, further empirical studies are still necessary to increase the weight of research on cultural intelligence to the impressive levels of that on leadership styles. That being the case, the present pilot research should prompt educational and general managers, administrators, students, and research academics to further consider the impact of cultural intelligence on their ability to adapt their leadership style.