Servant leadership and its role in meeting sustainable production practices in food factories in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq: Social responsibility as a mediating variable

Abstract

The current study aims to gain a better understanding of the role servant leadership can play in achieving sustainable production practices, given the presence of social responsibility as an intervening variable in the industrial sector, specifically in food factories in the Iraqi Kurdistan Region. To accomplish this objective, a quantitative approach was chosen to collect data within the framework of the case study. A structured questionnaire was designed and pre-tested, and then distributed to relevant leaders in the study sample using an online questionnaire and an internal questionnaire. (68) valid responses were obtained for statistical analysis. The study results revealed that servant leadership, with its dimensions, particularly the wisdom dimension, as pivotal tools plays a vital and decisive role in achieving sustainable production practices. The results also indicated that social responsibility, as an intervening variable, plays an effective role in enhancing the impact on achieving sustainable production practices in the factories under study. This all comes in response to the focus on the efficient and effective use of available resources to serve the interests of producing sustainable products in the contemporary market environment. Based on the findings, the study recommended that the managements of the industrial organizations surveyed, to ensure success in implementing sustainable production practices soundly and effectively in terms of achieving the desired results, seriously pay attention to the concepts of servant leadership and social responsibility and prioritize them as essential strategic investments to enhance the ability to adapt and respond to the sustainable environmental challenges that any industrial system may face in the current era of intense competition.