Innovative Leadership and Educational Management: A Systematic Review of the Relationship and Impact

Abstract

The increasing complexity and rapid changes in global education systems require educational institutions to adopt adaptive, innovative, and sustainable management practices. Leadership is recognized as a key determinant of effective educational management. This study aims to systematically examine the relationship and impact of innovative leadership on educational management based on research published over the last five years. This study employed a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) approach by analyzing 17 relevant national and international scholarly articles. Data were collected through a systematic literature search, screened using inclusion and exclusion criteria, and analyzed using thematic analysis. The findings indicate that innovative leadership has a strong and consistent relationship with educational management effectiveness and plays a significant role in transforming governance structures, strengthening innovation culture, and improving learning quality and educational services. Furthermore, innovation culture emerged as a key mediating mechanism that enhances the impact of innovative leadership on organizational performance in educational settings. This study contributes to the advancement of educational management theory by positioning innovative leadership as a strategic construct and provides practical insights for educational leaders and policymakers in developing innovative and sustainable leadership strategies.