LEADERSHIP PRACTICES IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION: EVIDENCE ON INSTITUTIONAL EXCELLENCE AND INNOVATION IN AN INTEGRATIVE SYSTEMATIC REVIEW
Abstract
Innovation in the public sector often faces institutional inertia and an excessive focus on procedural compliance. To overcome these barriers and generate value for society, the behavioral performance of government managers emerges as a key factor. The objective of this study is to analyze, through an integrative review, the evidence regarding the relationship between leadership, institutional excellence, and innovation in the public service. The study follows the PRISMA 2020 protocol. Searches were conducted on December 17, 2025, in the Ebsco, Scopus, Web of Science (WoS), and Scielo databases. The sample included peer-reviewed primary research articles published between 2020 and 2025 in Portuguese and English. The extracted data were interpreted using the Thematic Analysis method. The risk of bias was assessed using the MMAT to evaluate methodological rigor and mitigate methodological biases. Of the 186 articles initially identified, 23 were analyzed. The articles were categorized by method: quantitative (n=7), qualitative (n=14), and mixed (n=2). Thematic categories related to leadership, performance, well-being, and governance were identified. Evidence indicates that leadership is one of the most prominent factors associated with the capacity for innovation in public agencies, being central to innovation. Among its limitations, the study draws on heterogeneous evidence from different national and international institutional contexts, with a predominance of cross-sectional studies.
Author Biographies
Holds degrees in Marketing from Universidade do Sul de Santa Catarina (2010), Administration from Centro de Ensino Superior de Maringá (2017), and Catholic Theology from Centro Universitário Internacional (2021). Holds specializations in People Management, Christian Counseling and Chaplaincy, Public Procurement and Administrative Contracts, and Active Learning Methodologies. Worked at the bidding center of the Military Fire Department of Santa Catarina and as Coordinator of Procurement and Contracts at the State Secretariat of Civil Protection and Defense of Santa Catarina. Currently works in the operational support coordination of the Public Security Secretariat of Santa Catarina (SSP-SC).
Holds a degree in Data Processing Technology from Universidade de Caxias do Sul (1998), specializations in School Administration and Supervision from Faculdades de Amparo (2004) and Professional Education from Instituto Federal Catarinense (2021), and a Master’s degree in Agricultural Education from Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro (2011). Currently a Ph.D. candidate at Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina (UFSC) in the Graduate Program in Engineering and Knowledge Management (PPGEGC) and professor at IFC – Santa Rosa do Sul.
Ph.D. in Business Administration from RWTH Aachen University (1988), M.Sc. in Production Engineering from Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina (1981), and degree in Geological Engineering from Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto (1977). Professor of the Graduate Program in Engineering and Knowledge Management at Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina and coordinator of the Leadership and Responsible Management Laboratory at UFSC.
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