Public Sector Leadership: A Meta-Analysis of Transformational Leadership's Efficacy in Bureaucratic Change and Development

Mustafe Mahamoud Abdillahi

doi:10.37899/mjdpp.v3i2.350

Authors

Mustafe Mahamoud Abdillahi Department of Political and Administration Studies (PAS) Kampala International University, Uganda

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.37899/mjdpp.v3i2.350

Keywords:

Bureaucratic Change, Leadership Development, Organizational Innovation, Public Sector Governance, Psychological Empowerment

Abstract

This study examines the effectiveness of transformational leadership in supporting bureaucratic change and organizational development within public sector institutions. Using a meta-analytic approach, the study synthesizes empirical findings from 45 quantitative studies across multiple public sector contexts. The analysis evaluates transformational leadership across three dimensions: change implementation, bureaucratic challenge mitigation, and leadership development effectiveness. The findings reveal that transformational leadership has a positive and statistically significant effect on organizational change, employee psychological empowerment, and innovation capacity. Leadership development programs also improve transformational competencies, particularly when training is long-term and practice-oriented. However, leadership effectiveness is moderated by bureaucratic formalization, cultural hierarchy, and institutional rigidity. These results indicate that transformational leadership is valuable for improving public sector adaptability but cannot operate optimally without supportive organizational structures. The study contributes to leadership and public administration literature by providing evidence that successful bureaucratic transformation requires both leadership capability and institutional reform.

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