thesis
Strategic leadership process in business schools : a political perspective
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Abstract
This study focuses on the political perspective of the process and context of
strategic leadership, in three top international Business Schools, IMD, INSEAD and
London Business School. It remedies three inadequacies in the current literature. These
are: first, the scarcity of empirical studies on strategic leadership with a processual
perspective, despite the interest demonstrated in theoretical studies on leadership in the
last decades, second, the lack of links between the leadership and strategy fields; third,
scholars' call for studies on leadership from a political perspective.
Longitudinal and comparative case studies were conducted with the purpose of
describing the Strategic Leadership Process (SLP) in each and across the three Business
Schools, over the period 1990-2004, through strategic agenda-building and -executing, in
relation to a specific strategic initiative: Becoming a top international Business School.
Findings show firstly, that among the three key actors (Board, Dean and Faculty),
the Dean is the main key actor in the SLP because of his critical role of building and
executing the School's strategic agenda. Secondly, for the Dean to succeed, it is crucial to
deliver an inclusive approach with regard to the other key actors' (Board and Faculty)
interests and priorities. Thirdly, Performance represents a precondition for the Dean to be
credible and receive support from Faculty and Board. Fourthly, for an effective direction-setting,
the Dean's capacity to scan and understand the external voice, signals and trends
and raise them to the School's strategic agenda is fundamental. Fifthly, the ability to
articulate and communicate vision through coalition-building combined with adequate
delegation, represent critical competences to raise and execute breakthrough initiatives
for the School