Navigating Leadership in the Fishing Industry: The Case of Iceland BT - Demystifying Leadership in Iceland: An Inquiry into Cultural, Societal, and Entrepreneurial Uniqueness

Abstract

Agust Einarsson, one of the pioneers in the research on Icelandic fishing industry, contends that Icelanders are a small nation that stands among the world’s largest fishermen. At a time when international scholars’ and practitioners’ attention is focused on identifying optimal practices related to the management of fisheries, Iceland serves as a model for excellent performance in this industry. In a country where traditional fishing and processing have declined over the decades, the value has doubled, despite that fishing as an industry in Iceland really only began in the nineteenth century. In light of the broader discourse that emphasizes leadership in fisheries management as one of the keys, yet largely unexplored concepts in the industry, this chapter offers two contributory points. Firstly, it presents a conceptual framework of leadership components in the fishing industry, and secondly, it illustrates a unique interplay of components in the case of Iceland.