Dimensions that relate to excellence in leadership in Cambodia: an exploratory study

This paper explores leader behaviour in a Southeast nation which has a strong Hindu-Buddhist heritage and in recent years’ experienced political turmoil. In particular it attempts to extend the boundaries of leadership theories by studying cultural imperatives in a nation that has roots in Sanskrit philosophies as opposed to Confucianism found in neighbouring Vietnam, China, Korea and Japan. The research employs structural equation modelling to generate a leadership profile of managers in Cambodia and in so doing identified cultural factors that influence excellence in leadership among Cambodian managers. The findings suggest that Theravada Buddhism and Cambodia’s turbulent recent political history has strong influence on the managerial behaviour of the country’s managers.