Identifying the Dimensions and Components of Digital Leadership Based on Information Culture and Knowledge-Sharing Behavior
Keywords:
Digital Leadership, Information Culture, Knowledge Sharing, Thematic Analysis, Knowledge Management, Digital Transformation, Educational OrganizationsAbstract
The present study aimed to identify the dimensions and components of digital leadership based on information culture and knowledge-sharing behavior from the perspectives of experts in educational management, educational technology, and knowledge management. This study adopted a qualitative research approach using thematic analysis. The research population consisted of experts in educational management, educational technology, digital leadership, and knowledge management who were selected through purposive sampling. Data were collected through semi-structured, in-depth interviews with 16 experts, and the interview process continued until theoretical saturation was achieved. The collected data were analyzed using thematic analysis. To ensure the validity of the findings and achieve expert consensus, the extracted themes were evaluated through a two-round Delphi process. The thematic analysis resulted in the identification of four overarching themes, fourteen organizing themes, and sixty-two basic themes. The overarching themes included “Perceptions of Digital Leadership Based on Information Culture,” “Mechanisms of Information Culture in Digital Leadership,” “Perceptions of Digital Leadership Based on Knowledge Sharing,” and “Knowledge-Sharing Mechanisms in Digital Leadership.” The Delphi results indicated that thirteen organizing themes were confirmed in the first round, while one theme required revision. In the second round, all organizing themes were approved by the experts. Agreement coefficients ranged from 0.70 to 0.85, demonstrating a satisfactory level of consensus and supporting the validity of the extracted conceptual framework. The findings revealed that digital leadership is a multidimensional and knowledge-oriented phenomenon that emerges through the interaction of information culture, knowledge sharing, organizational learning, transparency, participation, and technological infrastructures. The development of digital leadership in educational organizations requires strengthening information culture, establishing effective knowledge-sharing mechanisms, enhancing organizational trust, and supporting continuous learning. The proposed framework can serve as a conceptual foundation for designing digital transformation policies and leadership development initiatives in educational systems.
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