Strategic Leadership and Innovation Culture as Drivers of Public Sector Performance: A Systematic Literature Review

Abstract

Strategic leadership and innovation culture are critical determinants of organizational performance in the public sector. As government institutions face pressure to deliver efficient and adaptive services, the ability of leaders to foster innovation-oriented environments becomes vital. This is particularly relevant in tourism governance, where institutions must respond to rapid technological change and global competition. Despite growing literature, the integration of strategic leadership and innovation culture in explaining public sector performance remains theoretically fragmented and empirically underexplored. This study synthesizes existing literature on this relationship through a systematic literature review. Using the PRISMA approach, peer-reviewed articles from international journals were identified and analyzed to examine research themes and trends. Findings indicate that strategic leadership plays a pivotal role in shaping vision and mobilizing resources, while innovation culture acts as a mediating mechanism strengthening knowledge sharing and collaboration. However, several gaps remain: leadership and innovation are often studied separately, empirical evidence in tourism governance is limited, and the roles of digital transformation and collaborative governance are insufficiently addressed. This study proposes a conceptual framework integrating these elements. The results provide theoretical insights and practical implications for policymakers seeking to strengthen institutional performance through leadership-driven innovation.