Promoting learning and innovation in organizations through complexity leadership theory

M. Mendes, C. Gomes, P. Marques-Quinteiro, P. Lind, L. Curral

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

24 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Purpose: Current organizations face a complex competitive landscape driven by globalization and technology that puts them in the course of a new economic age. This complexity stresses learning and innovation as fundamental mechanisms for organizational survival. This paper aims to propose that how learning and innovation emerge and affect organizational performance can be better understood through the complexity leadership theory. Design/methodology/approach: The authors review literature on complexity leadership theory, learning and innovation in complex bureaucratic environments and then present reflections regarding how learning and innovation can be achieved through the interaction of three complexity leadership functions: adaptive, administrative and enabling. This conceptual framework suggests that individuals are in constant interaction, exchange information, influence each other and collectively produce emergent properties that promote effective learning and innovation. Findings: We propose that learning and innovation can be better achieved in organizations if the complexity leadership theory is applied as an alternative to centralized forms of influence and control. Originality/value: This paper presents a reflection on the benefits of the complexity leadership theory as an alternative framework to understand organizational leadership. Furthermore, this paper proposes that the complexity leadership theory is more adequate to generate learning and innovation in complex, fast-changing work environments.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)301-309
Number of pages9
JournalTeam Performance Management
Volume22
Issue number5-6
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 8 Aug 2016
Externally publishedYes

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2016, © Emerald Group Publishing Limited.

Keywords

  • Communication
  • Innovation
  • Leadership
  • Learning
  • Organizational performance

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