Attributes of the Learning-Innovation Transformational Leader

Introduction

Current competition coupled with globalization have led to revisiting competition models and theories. For instance, the Porter five forces model (Porter, 1980) has also opened a wider debate among practitioners as to what else organizations should do to sustain their competitive advantages? This debate prompted Stata (1989) to propose that “the rate at which individuals and organizations learn may become the only sustainable competitive advantage”. It should be noted that in a response to these rapid changes to business environments, Senge’s (1990) proposed the learning organization model which identifies five disciplines of learning organization as central theme of any learning organization.

Furthermore, López, Montes Peón, and Ordás (2006) also suggested that some organizational failures could be attributed to lack of appropriate management of organizational learning which is closely related to unsatisfactory management of or organizational knowledge. This view was supported by Senge (2006) who also suggested that the traditional competitive advantages may be overridden by new set key competitive advantages such knowledge management, learning and creativity.

In addition, Christensen (2007) also argued that knowledge sharing is indeed a process and therefore it must have objectives. Some of these objectives may be exploiting and identifying existing but accessible knowledge, in order to solve specific complex tasks more effectively than other traditional methods. Maqsood, Walker, and Finegan (2007) added further that satisfactory management of knowledge and learning activities not only a prerequisite for innovations but also the link between knowledge, learning and innovation and that knowledge management should be considered a key organizational activities. This view was supported by Garvin, Edmondson, and Gino (2008) who noted that one of the main aspects of dynamic and continuously evolving organizations is that the organization must be truly learn organization (Rebelo & Gomes, 2008; Kalkan, 2008; Mehrez, 2010; Soliman, 2010a, 2010b).

Transforming from learning organization into an innovative firm require strategies designed to utilize knowledge to foster learning at later stages. Some of these strategies would involve the engagement of managerial staff that could facilitate the implementation of the appropriate learning management programs. In other words the transformation from learning organization knowledge is a task that needs to be carefully executed so that the transformation does not hinder the organization’s efforts in delivering goods or services in accordance with the organizations strategic plans.

In addition, leaders must learn how to operate in challenging environments that have competitors fighting for limited resources. For leaders to remain relevant in their respective industries, they must create an environment for innovation. This requires them to be innovation leadership with different skills that and characteristics and innovative thinking (Horth, & Buchner, 2009). The leadership style that supports innovative leadership is transformational leadership, because it supports changes and gives followers freedom to enlarge their innovative thinking. Transactional leadership does not support innovative leadership because it provides no room for change, and followers must adhere to set instructions and rules. This means that there is no room for expansion thinking and for innovative ideas. The attributes of transformational leadership that support innovative leadership include creativity, good social skills, ability to work with teams and to use expertise in leadership operations, ability to sacrifice financials and time for the success of innovation. Leadership styles contribute to innovativeness of leaders. It should be noted that some leadership styles support positive relationship with innovation, while others do not.