Institutional management and strategic leadership: a theoretical perspective

Authors

  • Wilson Bladimir Bernal Maila Fuerza Terrestre. Quito. Ecuador
  • Christian Alfredo Peñaherrera Vargas Fuerza Aérea Ecuatoriana. Ecuador
  • Tatiana Elizabeth Merino Medina Instituto Geográfico Militar. Quito. Ecuador.
  • Christian Sebastián Ortiz Guerra Fuerza Aérea Ecuatoriana. Ecuador

Keywords:

public administration; military doctrine; management; leadership.

Abstract

Strategic leadership constitutes a fundamental axis for institutional management in public organizations characterized by high structural and mission-related complexity, such as the Ecuadorian Armed Forces. The article aims to analyze, from a theoretical perspective, the relationship between strategic leadership and institutional management, as well as its impact on strategic planning, decision-making, and the organizational capacity for adaptation in contemporary security scenarios. Methodologically, a theoretical-documentary research was developed, based on a systematic review of academic literature published between 2019 and 2024, linked to public administration, organizational studies, and military doctrine, with an emphasis on Latin American contributions. The results of the analysis allowed us to identify that contemporary approaches to strategic leadership favor processes of modernization, professionalization, and strengthening of human talent in military organizations, provided they are coherently articulated with institutional doctrine and the current constitutional framework. As its main contribution, the article proposed an integrating conceptual framework that linked strategic leadership, modern institutional management, and military doctrine, which contributed to the understanding of the managerial role in complex security contexts and provided theoretical bases both for future research and for the design of training and management policies in the field of defense.

Author Biographies

  • Wilson Bladimir Bernal Maila, Fuerza Terrestre. Quito. Ecuador

    Ingeniero Comercial. Máster en Administración de Negocios. Fuerza Terrestre. Quito. Ecuador.

  • Christian Alfredo Peñaherrera Vargas, Fuerza Aérea Ecuatoriana. Ecuador

    Ingeniero Comercial. Máster en Seguridad y Defensa. Fuerza Aérea Ecuatoriana. Ecuador.

  • Tatiana Elizabeth Merino Medina, Instituto Geográfico Militar. Quito. Ecuador.

    Ingeniera en Informática y Ciencias de la Computación. Master of Science in Geographical Information Science and Systems. Instituto Geográfico Militar. Quito. Ecuador.

  • Christian Sebastián Ortiz Guerra, Fuerza Aérea Ecuatoriana. Ecuador

    Ingeniero Comercial. Máster en Seguridad y Defensa. Fuerza Aérea Ecuatoriana. Ecuador.

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Published

2026-02-22

Issue

Section

Artículos de revisión

How to Cite

Institutional management and strategic leadership: a theoretical perspective . (2026). REDEL. Revista Granmense De Desarrollo Local, 10(2), 396-415. https://revistas.udg.co.cu/index.php/redel/article/view/5728