Strategic Leadership Dimensions and Their Effect on Learning Organizations
Artikel
Aug 10, 2026
Abstract
Purpose: This study examines the influence of strategic leadership on the process of building learning organizations within the higher education sector, drawing on a field investigation carried out at Kirkuk University. The dimensions of strategic leadership addressed in the study are human capital, ethical practices, organizational culture, and strategic vision, while the dimensions of the learning organization consist of shared vision, leadership, learning, and change.
Research Methodology: A descriptive-analytical approach was adopted, and a structured questionnaire was distributed to 120 administrative and academic leaders, including deans, assistant deans, heads of departments, and directors of divisions and units. Data normality was verified before applying parametric statistical procedures through SPSS version 26.
Results: The findings indicate a positive and statistically significant correlation between strategic leadership and learning organizations, and every dimension of strategic leadership was found to exert a significant effect on learning organizations, with strategic vision emerging as the strongest predictor.
Conclusions: Strengthening strategic leadership practices contributes meaningfully to the transformation of universities into learning organizations.
Limitations: The cross-sectional design and the single-institution sample restrict the generalizability of the findings.
Contributions: The study extends the strategic leadership literature within an Iraqi higher education context and offers practical guidance for university administrators seeking to cultivate organizational learning.
Keywords
Ethical Practices
Human Capital
Learning Organizations
Strategic Leadership
Strategic Vision
References
1
Abdel Wahab, M. O. (2025). The impact of strategic leadership on marketing proficiency through intellectual capital: An analytical exploratory study in Zain Iraq Telecommunications Company. Al-Mustansiriya Journal for Arab and International Studies, 22(92), 23–41.
2
Al-Janabi, A. S. H. (2022). Learned organizations: The base of creativity. Journal of Dijlah University College, 5(2), 167–176.
3
Al-Kurdi, O., El-Haddadeh, R., & Eldabi, T. (2018). Knowledge sharing in higher education institutions: A systematic review. Journal of Enterprise Information Management, 31(3), 446–475. https://doi.org/10.1108/JEIM-09-2017-0129
4
Al-Qawasmi, M. A., & Shaqour, S. (2026). Strategic leadership practices and their role in achieving organizational excellence: A case study of Al-Istiqlal University. Arado Business Journal, 1(2), 1–18.
5
Al-Qutop, M. A. Y., Moh'd Futa, S., & Ma'ani, A. I. (2011). The relationship between learning facilitators and transforming into a learning organization: An empirical study of the insurance sector in Jordan. International Business Research, 4(3), 211–220. https://doi.org/10.5539/ibr.v4n3p211
6
Ali, M., & Ahmad, N. (2023). Cultural antecedents of knowledge-oriented leadership and its impact on innovation performance. Journal of Knowledge Management, 27(1), 1–21.
7
Aman, S., & Surwanti, A. (2026). The evaluation of learning organization and employee performance with bibliometric analysis. Discover Education, 5, 412. https://doi.org/10.1007/s44217-026-00412-3
8
Andrews, S. M. (2023). Strategic leadership, change and growth in not-for-profit, membership-based, value-driven organisations. Journal of Organizational Change Management, 36(4), 517–540. https://doi.org/10.1108/JOCM-11-2022-0345
9
Ashkevari, S. B., & Ghasemi, B. (2023). The impact of strategic leadership on organizational performance with regard to the role of organizational innovation. Journal of Organizational Behavior Research, 8(2), 40–53. https://doi.org/10.51847/vSDdNm6S8t
10
Bilgin, Y., Bilgin, G. D., & Kilinc, I. (2020). Strategic leadership in civil society organizations: A research on Turkish charities performing international operations. VOLUNTAS: International Journal of Voluntary and Nonprofit Organizations, 31, 839–863. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11266-017-9945-0
11
Cai, H., Wang, J., & Jin, X. (2026). The relationship between learning organization system on innovation performance: Testing moderated mediation role of organizational cultural identification. Frontiers in Psychology, 17, 1828291. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2026.1828291
12
Cao, T. H. V., Chai, D. S., Nguyen, L. P., Nguyen, H. T. H., Han, C. S., & Park, S. (2025). Learning organization and employee performance: The mediating role of job satisfaction in the Vietnamese context. The Learning Organization, 32(7), 53–73. https://doi.org/10.1108/TLO-09-2023-0177
13
Cuomo, M. T., Tortora, D., Colosimo, I., Giordano, A., & Metallo, G. (2023). The state of the art of strategic leadership. Journal of Business Research, 158, 113676. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2023.113676
14
Dawood, S., Mamoon, F., & Ahmad, A. (2015). Learning organization: Conceptual and theoretical overview. International Journal of Humanities Social Sciences and Education, 2(4), 93–98.
15
Dessler, G. (2020). Human resource management (16th ed.). Pearson.
16
Ferede, T., & Getahun, T. (2026). Strategic leadership and organizational sustainability: A review of dimensions and outcomes. Journal of Strategic Management Studies, 4(1), 1–19.
17
Fonseca, I., & Alves, M. (2024). Analysing the role of leadership in fostering a learning organization. International Academic Journal of Innovative Research, 11(4), 27–32. https://doi.org/10.9756/IAJIR/V11I4/IAJIR1104
18
Gautam, D. P. (2022). Status of the learning organization practices in the pharmaceutical industries of Nepal. Global Scientific Journal, 10(3), 361–372.
19
Githuku, G. K., Nzulwa, J., & Kwena, R. (2022). Learning organization culture and firm performance: A review of literature. International Journal of Managerial Studies and Research, 10(2), 38–50. https://doi.org/10.20431/2349-0349.1002005
20
Grieves, J. (2008). Why we should abandon the idea of the learning organization. The Learning Organization, 15(6), 463–473. https://doi.org/10.1108/09696470810907383
21
Gusmão, F. D. (2018). The influence of strategic leadership and organizational learning on organizational performance with organizational citizenship behavior as an intervening variable. International Journal of Scientific Research and Management, 6(4), 124–131. https://doi.org/10.18535/ijsrm/v6i4.em01
22
Hadrawi, H. K. (2018). Network analysis of the effect of strategic leadership on organizational success: Evidence from Iraqi heavy industry. Academy of Strategic Management Journal, 17(4), 1–14.
23
Hair, J. F., Black, W. C., Babin, B. J., & Anderson, R. E. (2019). Multivariate data analysis (8th ed.). Cengage Learning.
24
Hidayah, N. (2015). How to develop strategic leadership in higher education institution? An empirical study in Jakarta, Indonesia. International Journal of Economics, Commerce and Management, 3(5), 1163–1175.
25
Ho, L. A., Lin, C. Y. Y., & Wu, M. L. (2022). How culture facilitates knowledge sharing: A perspective of social interaction ties. Management Decision, 60(1), 10–30. https://doi.org/10.1108/MD-04-2020-0498
26
Hrnjić, A., Ivaniš, M., & Sutović, L. (2025). The impact of learning organization principles in enhancing organizational performance and quality. Economic Review: Journal of Economics and Business, 22(2), 15–42.
27
Kadim, A., Yusnita, I., Sutarman, A., Lesmana, R., & Ramahdan, F. A. (2025). Assessing the impact of corporate governance and strategic leadership on economic growth and market stability. IAIC Transactions on Sustainable Digital Innovation, 6(2), 177–187. https://doi.org/10.34306/itsdi.v6i2.671
28
Kassaneh, T. C., Bolisani, E., & Scarso, E. (2023). Level of adoption and use of knowledge management practices in supply chains. Journal of Information & Knowledge Management, 22(6). https://doi.org/10.1142/S0219649223500442
29
Khay, S. (2024). Exploring the prerequisites for transforming school as a learning organization. Central European Journal of Educational Research, 6(1), 39–52. https://doi.org/10.37441/cejer/2024/6/1/14231
30
Luhn, A. (2016). The learning organization. Creative and Knowledge Society, 6(1), 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1515/csj-2016-0001
31
Mohammad, S., Sağsan, M., & Şeşen, H. (2024). The impact of learning organizations on innovation: The mediating role of employee resilience and work engagement. SAGE Open, 14(4), 1–16. https://doi.org/10.1177/21582440241289185
32
Mondy, R. W., & Martocchio, J. J. (2016). Human resource management (14th ed.). Pearson.
33
Nomas, T. H. (2025). The role of strategic leadership in organizational success: An analytical study in Warith Al-Anbiya University in Karbala. Journal of Warith Al-Anbiya University, 7, 228–243.
34
Obeidat, B., Obeidat, U., Alrowwad, A., Alshurideh, M., Masadeh, R., & Abuhashesh, M. (2021). The effect of intellectual capital on competitive advantage: The mediating role of innovation. Management Science Letters, 11(4), 1331–1344. https://doi.org/10.5267/j.msl.2020.11.006
35
Olanipekun, A. (2022). Workplace ethics and employee commitment in modern organizations. Journal of Business and Organizational Behavior, 4(1), 48–59.
36
Pinheiro, G., & Alves, J. M. (2024). Organizational learning within the context of the functioning of educational teams: The progressive emergence of a professional metamorphosis. Education Sciences, 14(3), 247. https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci14030247
37
Prasertcharoensuk, T., & Tang, K. N. (2021). The effect of strategic leadership factors of administrators on school effectiveness under the Office of Maha Sarakham Primary Educational Service Area 3. Kasetsart Journal of Social Sciences, 42(2), 316–323. https://doi.org/10.34044/j.kjss.2021.42.2.13
38
Samimi, M., Cortes, A. F., Anderson, M. H., & Herrmann, P. (2020). What is strategic leadership? Developing a framework for future research. The Leadership Quarterly, 31(1), 101353. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.leaqua.2019.101353
39
Soh, W. G., & Ali, M. B. (2021). Bibliometric analysis of learning organization. Journal of Contemporary Issues in Business and Government, 27(1), 792–801.
40
Taber, K. S. (2018). The use of Cronbach's alpha when developing and reporting research instruments in science education. Research in Science Education, 48(6), 1273–1296. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11165-016-9602-2
41
Thys, K., Vandekerkhof, P., Steijvers, T., & Corten, M. (2023). Top management team and board of directors as the strategic leadership system: The effect of behavioral integration on strategic decision-making quality. European Management Journal, 41(6), 1005–1016. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.emj.2022.10.006
42
Wallo, A., Kock, H., Coetzer, A., & Lundqvist, D. (2023). Leadership and learning at work: A systematic literature review of learning-oriented leadership. Journal of Leadership & Organizational Studies, 30(3), 315–334. https://doi.org/10.1177/15480518221133970
How to Cite
Section
Artikel
Authors
A
Aram Taha Muhammad Salih
Kirkuk University, Iraq
Downloads
Published
Published
Aug 10, 2026