The Role of Leadership in Academic Culture in Diverse Scientific Communities: A Systematic Literature Review

Abstract

This systematic review explores effective leadership mechanisms for managing cultural diversity in universities, aiming to identify key practices that foster a positive and inclusive academic environment. A systematic review methodology was used to search electronic databases and Google Scholar, resulting in the inclusion of 22 studies published between 1979 and 2020. A meta-synthesis revealed a comprehensive framework with four dimensions and 32 mechanisms: 1. Pre-organizational: Focuses on the leader's background influencing their approach to diversity. 2. Operational: Explores leadership practices and strategies for managing cultural diversity. 3. Output: Examines the tangible outcomes of effective leadership in creating a positive cultural environment. 4. Feedback: Emphasizes the importance of feedback mechanisms for refining leadership practices. This review contributes to existing research by proposing a holistic framework for effective leadership in culturally diverse universities, encompassing all stages of leadership effectiveness.