To read this content please select one of the options below:

(excl. tax) 30 days to view and download

Influence of evolving culture on leadership: a study of Fijian cooperatives

Buriata Eti-Tofinga, Heather Douglas, Gurmeet Singh

European Business Review

ISSN: 0955-534X

Article publication date: 14 August 2017

1214

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine how leadership is shaped by a changing cultural context.

Design/methodology/approach

This is an exploratory study based on semi-structured interviews with leaders of Fijian cooperatives.

Findings

The political and cultural environment in Fiji has changed over time, and these changing arrangements shape expectations of what is considered to be appropriate leadership in Fijian cooperatives. To be consistent with changing societal values, leaders of Fijian cooperatives employ a context-sensitive hybrid leadership style in which legitimacy is an important dimension.

Research implications

Researchers need to examine the cultural context as a dynamic influencing element of leadership.

Practical implications

Leaders of cooperatives and similar values-based organizations would benefit from applying a legitimate and context-sensitive hybrid leadership style.

Originality/value

This study contributes new understandings of the cultural influences on organizational leadership.

Keywords

Citation

Eti-Tofinga, B., Douglas, H. and Singh, G. (2017), "Influence of evolving culture on leadership: a study of Fijian cooperatives", European Business Review, Vol. 29 No. 5, pp. 534-550. https://doi.org/10.1108/EBR-10-2015-0122

Publisher

:

Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2017, Emerald Publishing Limited

Related articles