Trial of distributed leadership in institutional management

Purpose: The paper investigates challenges associated with institutional leadership engagement of main staff to fill inner vacancies. Design/methodology/approach: The study rates merit, experience, rank, competencies, long service, in-depth knowledge, and deeper consultation as key requirements for appointment in some selected academic institutions. The survey collects data through questionnaires and semi structured interviews. The SPSS and descriptive statistics were used for the analysis of data presented in percentages, tables, and graphs. Findings: The results show that over 80% of respondents said that the prerogative of leaders in second-cycle institutions to share leadership needs a reassessment. As it undermines specific parameters and subsequently creates emotions among staff and unsatisfactory students' behaviours at school. The study found social and external factors as the basis for some nominations that weaken institutional unity and performance. Recommendation/limitations: The legislative instrument should be amended to suit the current management environment. Besides, ethical leadership and emotional intelligence should be encouraged at schools for effective management and harmony. Practical implications: Organizational failures across economies to a large extent are results of stimulus variables. Originality/value: The paper demonstrates how institutional leaders are often torn between stimulus and prospective variables resulting in self-interest to the detriment of institutional vision.