ABSTRACT: The effects of globalization, advancement of information and communication technology, together with economic volatile situations have forced academic institutions to adapt to strategic changes, so that they could remain relevant and competitive advantages. Hence, effective and efficient leadership behavior has become more critical than ever. Previous studies showed that transformational leaders’ support is seemed to be an essential factor in promoting institutional success. However, to what extend this is true, especially in the local public universities. Therefore, this study was intended to examine the nature of transformational leadership behavior and its augmentation effects as perceived by the academics in a Malaysian higher educational institution. Using a stage cluster sampling, a total of 169 academic staff from UiTM (Universiti Teknologi MARA or MARA University of Technology) in Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia participated in the study. The result revealed the academic staff perceived that their superiors exhibited a transactional leadership style rather than transformational leadership style. The study also revealed that augmentation of transformational leadership was moderate. Hence, this study has several practical implications for policy makers and academic leaders in higher learning institutions to provide leadership program, particularly in making organizational change efforts successful.

KEY WORDS: Leadership, globalization, transformational, transactional, effectiveness, extra-effort, higher learning institutions, and satisfaction.

About the Author: Norshidah Nordin is a Lecturer at the Faculty of Education UiTM (Universiti Teknologi MARA), Seksyen 17, 40200 Shah Alam, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia. For academic purposes, the author can be contacted via mobile phone at: +60133373410 or via e-mail at: shidah147@gmail.com

How to cite this article? Nordin, Norshidah. (2014). “Do Academic Leaders Matters? A Study on Transformational Leadership Behavior in a Higher Learning Institution” in EDUCARE: International Journal for Educational Studies, Vol.7(1) August, pp.7-18. Bandung, Indonesia: Minda Masagi Press and UMP Purwokerto, ISSN 1979-7877.

Chronicle of the article: Accepted (February 2, 2014); Revised (April 25, 2014); and Published (August 17, 2014).

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