Research article | Open Access
International Journal of Excellent Leadership 2026, Vol. 6(1) 63-76
Is Successful Management A Byproduct of Effective Leadership? A Scoping Review
pp. 63 - 76
Publish Date: June 30, 2026 | Single/Total View: 0/0 | Single/Total Download: 0/0
Abstract
Purpose: This scoping review examines how recent scholarship conceptualizes leadership and management in relation to organizational effectiveness.
Method: The review synthesizes 25 peer-reviewed empirical studies published between 2021 and 2025 across public sector organizations, private firms, healthcare systems, militaries, and project-based environments. Searches were conducted in Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, Emerald Insight, and MDPI. The review followed the scoping review framework developed by Arksey and O’Malley (2005) and reported findings in accordance with PRISMA-ScR guidelines (Tricco et al., 2018).
Findings: Most studies positioned leadership as the primary antecedent to effectiveness outcomes, with management appearing as a mediated system, a relational mechanism, or a contextual substitute depending on organizational conditions. A smaller group of studies showed that strong administrative capacity and managerial quality can drive performance independently of leadership influence. The review also identifies a recurring measurement overlap between leadership and management that may overstate leadership’s contribution to effectiveness.
Implications for Research and Practice: Leadership and management are neither interchangeable nor independent; their relative influence depends on organizational structure, resources, and institutional context. Organizations may benefit from investing in both leadership development and management systems rather than treating one as a byproduct of the other.
Keywords: leadership, management, organizational effectiveness, scoping review, administrative capacity
APA 7th edition
Segovia, R. (2026). Is Successful Management A Byproduct of Effective Leadership? A Scoping Review . International Journal of Excellent Leadership, 6(1), 63-76.
Harvard
Segovia, R. (2026). Is Successful Management A Byproduct of Effective Leadership? A Scoping Review . International Journal of Excellent Leadership, 6(1), pp. 63-76.
Chicago 16th edition
Segovia, Richard (2026). "Is Successful Management A Byproduct of Effective Leadership? A Scoping Review ". International Journal of Excellent Leadership 6 (1):63-76.
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