The Effects of Leadership on the Organizational Culture: The Case of the National Institute of Social Security

Abstract

Research objective: Leadership and culture are critical dimensions to understanding organizational dynamics. This article analyses the effect of leadership on organizational culture at the National Institute of Social Security in Brazil. The study also identifies the predominant types of leadership through the Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire and the type of organizational culture through the Competing Values Framework.Theoretical framework: Models of leadership and organizational culture widely used in the international literature support the article. The Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire is a model composed of constructs about leadership styles and leadership outcomes. The Competing Values Framework is a model that provides a classification of corporate culture and values.Methodology: This study is based on the survey as a research method. Data collection includes 153 professionals from the National Institute of Social Security. For data processing, descriptive and exploratory analyzes were performed. Structural equation modelling and partial least squares estimation were also used in the research method.Results: The results reveal that leadership influences culture through a positive effect relationship with statistical significance. The results also show the predominance of the transformational leadership style and the clan culture in the case studied.Originality: The article originally contributed by exploring the relationship between forms of leadership and organizational culture in a public organization. The study uses new constructs for the national literature by incorporating the models of the Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire and Competing Values Framework.Theoretical and practical contributions: The article contributes to the advancement of theory in Public Administration by showing the influence of forms of leadership on organizational culture. The study also has practical and managerial implications as it indicates how forms of leadership should be developed to create collective identities. Keywords: Leadership, Organizational culture, Structural Equations, Public administration, Non-profit organization.