Relationship Between Organisational Culture and Leadership in Romanian County Councils

Purpose: This study examines the relationship between leadership styles and organisational culture in Romanian county councils to identify the predominant leadership style and its alignment with cultural dimensions in the public sector.Approach: Data were collected from 985 respondents in 29 of Romania’s 41 county councils. Denison’s model of organisational culture was applied, and three leadership styles were considered: transactional, transformational and servant leadership. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was used to construct a ‘leadership style’ variable, which was then correlated with Denison’s four cultural dimensions: mission, consistency, involvement and adaptability.Findings: The analysis indicates that transactional leadership predominates in the Romanian county councils studied. It is strongly associated with the consistency and mission dimensions of Denison’s model, indicating an emphasis on stability, control and goal achievement.Academic contribution to the field: The study contributes to the literature on the alignment between leadership and organisational culture by providing empirical evidence from the public sector, where this relationship has received less attention. It also demonstrates how Denison’s model can be combined with leadership theories in public administration.Research limitations: The study is limited to Romanian county councils, and its findings may not be generalisable to other public administrations or private organisations. Future research could extend the sample and explore the effects of leadership–culture alignment over time.Practical implications: The findings can inform leadership development and organisational change initiatives in public institutions, particularly by highlighting the role of transactional leadership in shaping cultural stability and a clear sense of mission.Social implications: Understanding the relationship between leadership and organisational culture in the public sector can improve governance, accountability and citizens’ trust by supporting more effective, resilient and performance-oriented public organisations.Originality: This research is among the few empirical studies to examine leadership styles in Romanian public administration using Denison’s cultural framework. Its originality lies in mapping the relationships between leadership and organisational culture in a transitional administrative context, offering both theoretical and practical value.