Results of socially responsible transformational leadership: increased holism and success

Abstract

Purpose

The aim of this paper is to present a research on how – the extremely necessary – systemic rather than one-sided and short-term behavior can enjoy support from (corporate and individual) social responsibility (SR) enhanced by transformational leadership as a source of success.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on the previously published empirical research, the authors use qualitative research methodology including desk and informal field research, the Dialectical Systems Theory and its law of requisite holism.

Findings

The entire humankind is in big trouble and facing the danger of the Third World War resulting from the “war against terrorism” proclaimed in USA in 2002 and making close to 100 million persons need relief aid; this situation is because of monopolies in the global economy, both business and government monopolies. Application of knowledge that might be able to solve the problem depends on values, culture, ethics and norms that prevail in all/any entities from families via corporations and other organizations, countries, international entities (such as European Union) to the entire world and humankind (and its United Nations Organization). The most influential of all of them are the corporations, hence, their corporate governance and strategic management. Hence, they should urgently implement SR principles and methods supporting its realization instead of the prevailing short-term and one-sided criteria of right and wrong, for clear and proven economic reasons; satisfied and healthy people are causing much less cost and trouble than strikes, medical care, renewal of safe natural environment, wars, unhappy/abused partners, etc.

Research limitations/implications

The hypothesis is researched to the greatest extent possible, with qualitative analysis in desk and field research. Quantitative methodological approach took place in the cited previous publications.

Practical implications

For humankind and managers, the use of the transformational leadership is very important because of its positive impact on health and well-being of employees and, hence, on humankind’s survival in the current global socio-economic crisis.

Social implications

Good health and well-being of employees reduce many societal troubles and related cost resulting otherwise from the too short-term and narrow-minded behavior of managers and employees, potentially their families as well, all way to tens of millions of homeless migrants, killed and injured people, children with no chance for education, etc.

Originality/value

No similar concept is offered in the available literature.

Citation

Šarotar Žižek, S., Mulej, M. and Veingerl Čič, Ž. (2017), "Results of socially responsible transformational leadership: increased holism and success", Kybernetes, Vol. 46 No. 3, pp. 400-418. https://doi.org/10.1108/K-06-2016-0129