Strengthening Transformational Leadership in Establishing Adaptive Educational Management in the Digital Era

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FORMOSA NEWS - NTB - Strong Transformational Leadership Key to Building Adaptive Schools in the Digital Era, Study Shows. Transformational leadership significantly boosts the ability of educational institutions to adapt to rapid digital changes. A study published in July 2026 by researcher I Nyoman Wijana from Institut Agama Hindu Negeri Gde Pudja Mataram in Indonesia shows that leaders who articulate a clear digital vision and empower their staff directly strengthen organizational resilience, flexibility, and overall management effectiveness.

Background and Relevance

Educational institutions face mounting pressure to integrate digital technologies, ranging from learning management systems to artificial intelligence. However, installing new hardware and software is insufficient on its own. Sustainable digital transformation requires agile governance, strong organizational culture, and human readiness. Understanding how school leadership directly influences adaptive management is vital for policymakers and educators navigating rapid technological shifts.

Methodology
The study employed an explanatory quantitative survey design to analyze the relationship between transformational leadership and adaptive educational management.

• Sample: 180 school principals and teachers across primary, junior high, and senior high schools in Mataram City, West Nusa Tenggara Province, Indonesia.
  
• Sampling Technique: Proportional stratified random sampling to ensure accurate representation across school levels and positions.
  
• Data Collection: Structured closed-ended questionnaires using a five-point Likert scale.
  
• Data Analysis: Structural Equation Modeling based on Partial Least Squares (PLS-SEM) executed via SmartPLS 4 to evaluate measurement and structural models.
  

Key Findings
The research revealed that transformational leadership has a direct, positive, and statistically significant impact on building adaptive education management.

• Explanatory Power: Transformational leadership accounts for 46.4% of the variance in adaptive education management ($R^2 = 0.464$).
  
• Strong Correlation: Statistical testing yielded a path coefficient of 0.681 ($t = 14.972, p < 0.001$), confirming a strong positive relationship.
  
• Highest Leadership Strengths: "Digital vision and empowerment" received the highest score among leadership dimensions (average 4.33 out of 5.00).
  
• Highest Management Strengths: "Technology innovation and integration" recorded the highest score among management adaptability dimensions (average 4.21 out of 5.00).
  
• Areas for Improvement: "Individual attention" by leaders (average 3.94) and "data-driven decision-making" in management (average 3.82) scored lowest, indicating that personal coaching and data usage lag behind technological adoption.
  

Real-World Impact and Practical Implications
These findings offer clear guidance for school administrators, educational boards, and governments working to modernize education:

• Leadership Development: Professional development programs should focus on cultivating transformational skills, particularly setting operational digital visions and empowering staff.
  
• Data Literacy and Individual Coaching: Schools must bridge the gap between adopting tech tools and using data systematically for decision-making, while providing targeted support to individual teachers.
  
• Resource Allocation: Local governments and educational bodies need to support schools with digital infrastructure, data literacy training, and sustainable evaluation frameworks.
  

Author Profil
I Nyoman Wijana, M.Pd. (or equivalent academic degree holder in education management) is an academic researcher affiliated with Institut Agama Hindu Negeri Gde Pudja Mataram, Indonesia. His field of expertise encompasses educational management, educational leadership, digital transformation, and organizational innovation in academic institutions.

Source
I Nyoman Wijana. Strengthening Transformational Leadership in Establishing Adaptive Educational Management in the Digital Era. Formosa Journal of Applied Sciences (FJAS). Vol. 5, No. 7, Halaman 1643–1658.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.55927/fjas.v5i7.92
URL: https://journalfjas.my.id/index.php/fjas