Citation
(2014), "2013 Awards for Excellence", International Journal of Public Sector Management, Vol. 27 No. 1. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJPSM.04227aaa.001
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
2013 Awards for Excellence
Article Type: 2013 Awards for Excellence From: International Journal of Public Sector Management, Volume 27, Issue 1
The following article was selected for this year's Outstanding Paper Award for International Journal of Public Sector Management
``Leadership': a perniciously vague concept''
Paul Spicker
Centre for Public Policy and Management, Aberdeen Business School,
The Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen, UK
Purpose - Despite the vast amount of literature covering the concept of leadership, it remains contentious, under-conceptualised and often uncritical. The purpose of this paper is to question the validity of the concept and dispute its application.
Design/methodology/approach - The paper reviews what the idea of leadership means, how it relates to competing accounts of management in the public services, and what value it adds.
Findings - There is no evident reason why the supposed roles, tasks, or qualities of ``leadership'' either need to be or should be concentrated in the person of a leader; the tasks involved in ``leading'' an organisation are not in fact the tasks of motivation, influence or direction of others which are at the core of the literature; and there is no reason to suppose that leadership is a primary influence on the behaviour of most organisations.
Practical implications - In the context of the public services, there is no set of skills, behaviours or roles that could be applied across the public services; the emphasis in leadership theory on personal relationships may be inconsistent with the objectives and character of the service; and the arrogation to a public service manager of a leadership role may be illegitimate.
Originality/value - The argument here represents a fundamental challenge to the concept of leadership, its relevance and its application to public services.
Keywords Leaders, Leadership, Public administration, Public sector management,
Public sector organizations, Public services
http://www.emeraldinsight.com/10.1108/09513551211200276
This article originally appeared in Volume 25 Number 1, 2012, International Journal of Public Sector Management
The following articles were selected for this year's Highly Commended Award
``Proposed scholarly research agenda for transforming Malaysia into a model developing nation''
John Antony Xavier, Zafar U. Ahmad
This article originally appeared in Volume 25 Number 3, 2012, International Journal of Public Sector Management
``Public management in an age of complexity: regional economic development in Canada''
Charles Conteh
This article originally appeared in Volume 25 Number 6, 2012, International Journal of Public Sector Management
Outstanding Reviewer
Viola Burau