South Asian Studies, Vol 32, No 1 (2017)

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Spiritual Leadership in Organizational Context: A Research Gap in South Asia

Umm-e-Farwa Mubashar, Dr. Yaamina Salman, Dr. Sidra Irfan, Prof. Dr. Nasira Jabeen

Abstract


There is an emerging research area related to vision, hope, faith and intrinsic motivation as ―spiritual leadership‖. Researchers are presently in quest of publication channels as knockers argue whether this novel leadership theory is ominously discrete, practical, and valued for organizational triumph. The purpose of this research was to find research studies that discovered ―spiritual leadership‖ theory to evaluate and produce the instruments, dimensions, consequences, and effects of ―spiritual leadership‖. Therefore, we pursued to offer an evidence well-versed solution that by what means ―spiritual leadership‖ work, and in what way can we put on it? We led a ―SLR‖ (Systematic Literature Review), an approach embraced from the medicinal disciplines to synthesize research in an organized, clear, and reproducible way. A well-organized screening procedure stemmed in an ultimate sample population of 62 fitting research studies. The synthesis of these empirical research studies shown: (a) there is no agreement on the definition of ―spiritual leadership‖ (b) The investigation discloses that there are merely three frequently cited (73%) dimensions which have been verified empirically by means of both Quantitative and Qualitative Methods. These are Altruistic Love, Hope and Faith proposed by Fry et al 2003; 2005; 2008 (Table 3). Rest of the 27% dimensions have been least tested empirically and cited. (c) Empirical authentication of ―spiritual leadership‖ models other than Fry 2003; 2005; 2008 which are contributing 27% of empirical and 75% of the conceptual/review studies needs to be done in establishments like schools, cities, police, military units, and for profit officialdoms with numerous sample dimensions for authentication of these models (d) ―Spiritual Leadership‖ theory is being examined crossways in a diversity of settings and cultures but there is a significant research gap in this area of research (where the Spiritual Leadership is being studied in organizational contexts) in South Asian countries including Pakistan India, and Sri Lanka etc. (e) ―spiritual leadership‖ is a practical leadership theory that aids organizations and mends the well-being of groups. This scholarship backs to the advancement of ―spiritual leadership‖ notion and practice. Also, this scholarship contributes to the practice for piloting Systematic Literature Reviews in the arena of management, stressing an operative process for plotting out thematically, and inspecting holistically, novel research themes.

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