Strategic Leadership and Its Role in Enhancing the Effectiveness of Crisis Management in Institutions: A Field Study in Zolten

Abstract

This study aimed to analyze the role of strategic leadership in enhancing the effectiveness of crisis management within institutions, through a field study conducted in the city of Zolten, Libya, in light of the rapid changes in the work environment and the increasing challenges and crises they impose. The research problem lies in the relative shortcomings in the application of strategic leadership practices in some institutions, which negatively affects their level of preparedness in dealing with crises, especially given the scarcity of applied studies in the local context.

The study sought to achieve several objectives, most notably identifying the level of strategic leadership practices, measuring the effectiveness of crisis management, analyzing the relationship between them, and examining the contribution of strategic leadership dimensions (strategic vision, strategic planning, and decision-making) in enhancing crisis management.

The study adopted the descriptive-analytical method and used a questionnaire as the main data collection tool. The data were collected from a random sample of (50) employees working in institutions in Zolten. Statistical methods such as means, standard deviations, and Cronbach’s alpha were used for data analysis and reliability testing.

The findings revealed that the level of strategic leadership practices was high, particularly in the dimensions of strategic vision and strategic planning. The effectiveness of crisis management was also found to be good, with a statistically significant positive correlation between strategic leadership and crisis management effectiveness. However, the results also indicated some weaknesses, including limited employee participation in decision-making and insufficient training programs in crisis management.

The research gap is highlighted by the limited number of field studies addressing this topic within the Libyan context, as well as the lack of applied models linking the dimensions of strategic leadership with the stages of crisis management. The study recommends strengthening strategic leadership practices, developing training programs, and expanding participation in decision-making to improve institutional preparedness and enhance the ability to manage crises effectively.