Leadership for quality: a systematic review and future directions

• Leadership is a critical factor in implementing and sustaining Quality Management in organizations.
• Significant gaps exist in understanding how leadership traits and styles vary across different industries, organizational levels, and cultural contexts.
• Future research should focus on developing a Leadership Maturity Model and exploring the relationship between leadership styles and national cultures.

Leadership plays a crucial role in successfully implementing and sustaining Quality Management in organizations. Leadership behaviors, such as commitment to quality and removing obstacles, are essential for driving quality initiatives. However, significant gaps remain in understanding how leadership traits and styles vary across different industries, organizational levels, and cultural contexts. These gaps highlight the need for further research to identify specific leadership traits that are most effective in promoting quality, depending on the context.

Different leadership styles may be required at various levels within an organization, from senior management to the shop floor, and these styles may also differ across industries like manufacturing, services, and the public sector. Additionally, there is limited research on how leadership traits differ between small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and large corporations. Exploring these differences is essential for developing effective leadership strategies tailored to organizational needs.

Developing a Leadership Maturity Model for Quality Management could provide a valuable tool for assessing and improving leadership effectiveness in promoting quality. There is also a need to explore how leadership styles are influenced by national cultures and how they may vary between developed and developing economies. Addressing these research areas will enhance understanding of how leadership can effectively drive quality management, helping organizations navigate the complexities of maintaining high standards globally.

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