Proposing a Model for the Impact of Quantum Leadership Skills on the Social Capital of Universities in Babol County

Abstract

The present study aimed to propose a model for the impact of quantum leadership skills on the social capital of faculty members at universities in Babol County. In terms of purpose, this study was applied research, and in terms of data type, it employed an exploratory mixed-methods design (qualitative–quantitative). In the qualitative phase, the grounded theory method was used, while in the quantitative phase, a descriptive-survey design was applied. The statistical population in the qualitative phase consisted of 23 experts, specialists, and faculty members from universities in Babol County, and in the quantitative phase, it comprised 1,051 faculty members from universities in Babol County. In the qualitative phase, a non-probability purposive sampling method was used, and based on the saturation rule, 10 participants were selected. In the quantitative phase, using the Cochran formula, 281 participants were selected through stratified random sampling. For data collection, a semi-structured interview was used in the qualitative phase, and in the quantitative phase, a researcher-made Quantum Leadership Skills Questionnaire with 97 items and the Nahapiet and Ghoshal (1998) Social Capital Questionnaire with 28 items were employed. In the qualitative phase, expert judgment was used to assess validity, and test–retest and intra-coder agreement methods were used to evaluate reliability. In the quantitative phase, face, content, and construct validity were used to assess validity, while Cronbach’s alpha coefficient was used to determine reliability. The results indicated that the instruments had acceptable validity and reliability. The findings showed that quantum leadership skills in the universities of Babol County consist of eight dimensions: systemic and holistic thinking; uncertainty management and nonlinear decision-making; cognitive flexibility and continuous learning; intuition; creativity and innovation; dynamic communication and interactions; foresight and strategic thinking; emotional management and emotional intelligence; and inspiration and organizational culture-building. Therefore, the impact of quantum leadership skills on the social capital of university faculty members in Babol County is positive and significant, and the proposed model has a good fit.