Innovative Leadership and Educational Management in the 21st Century: A Literature Review

Abstract

The rapid evolution of 21st-century education, driven by digitalization, globalization, and demands for advanced competencies, poses multifaceted challenges. These dynamics necessitate transformative educational leadership and management to address ongoing changes effectively. Yet, leadership practices in many settings remain largely administrative and insufficiently innovative, constraining improvements in educational management quality. This systematic literature review (SLR) examines the role and contributions of innovative leadership in 21st-century educational management. Following a PRISMA-guided protocol, we analyzed 19 peer-reviewed national and international articles published from 2019 to 2025, employing thematic analysis. Findings indicate robust associations between innovative leadership and enhanced educational management effectiveness, teacher performance, school organizational culture, and digital technology integration in learning. Innovative leadership also drives institutional change, collaboration, and sustainability. Theoretically, this study enriches innovation-based leadership discourse; practically, it provides actionable insights for educational leaders and policymakers navigating 21st-century challenges.