Change Leadership in a Global Environment

Carl Cooper¹, Ronald Victor Steffel², Thomas E. Griffin²
(1. University of San Diego, San Diego, USA; 2. Nova Southeastern University, Ft. Lauderdale, USA)

Abstract: Peter Schwartz (1996) in “The Art of the Long View” talks of scenarios instead of the traditional strategic approach. The strategy designed with a laser focus often fails because of exogenous variables that are not considered. For example, cultural issues in a diverse global environment can undermine the focused strategy if not properly accounted for in the business model. The leadership that drives the culture of an organization is critical variables to any strategic scenario. Conversely, the culture of an organization is critical to the acceptance of any change. In the turbulent global environment of today’s organizations, a conventional approach to leadership in a worldwide environment will not give one the results mandated. Projects and process changes in global organizations require specific attention. Leaders need to identify and overcome the resistance to change that goes beyond charisma and vision by using the skills of true leadership, to consider the attributes of systemic leadership to synthesize changes in culture and change leadership, thereby achieving a vision and strategic objectives. The authors have reduced some of the primary variables to two major defining elements that affect Change Leadership in a Global Environment namely: Culture and Change Leadership. We offer a synthesis of those elements in the form of “systemic leadership” espoused by Beerel (2012). What has been missing beyond traditional trait and transformation models are the means of empowering leadership in others, understanding and use of emotional intelligence, requirements for continuous organizational learning and the mandate to draw on the knowledge, the passion and the creativity of employees—a Systemic Leadership approach.

Key words: systematic leadership approach; culture and change leadership

JEL codes: M10, M140, M190, Z00, Y2