Exploring local leadership in Lao-based INGOs

Abstract

The aim of this study is to understand how local leadership development is operationalised in the INGO sector in the social context of Laos. Until recently, leadership has been studied academically from a psychological paradigm. This paradigm sees leadership from the Western individual attribute perspective. A growing body of research addresses the sociocultural context of leadership. The sociocultural view is derived from a container model-a Nation-state perspective-which pays limited attention to the external social forces that come with globalisation. In practice, organisational research shows that leadership development initiatives often take the form of "fill-the-gap" approach emphasising mechanical fixes for intra-personal competency deficits through the provision of training.This study transcends the individual attribute approach. The focus of this study is to explore local leadership development in INGOs from a glocalisation perspective: seeing the social context of leadership from a combination of domestic and international guiding norms.

Water and Energy Nexus: Who and How to Persuade? Analysis of Strategies for Emerging Leaders in Lao PDR to Achieve Integrated Urban Wastewater Management

“…Two studies were found that studied leadership in Lao PDR (Nanthanavone 2014; Pratt and Yongavit 2014). No studies were found on leadership in urban wastewater management or the water sector in general.…”