Leadership in times of crisis: cultivating crisis management through digital transformation and organizational agility

Purpose This study aims to investigate transformational leadership in the construction sector in the context of economic crises coupled with political strife. Design/methodology/approach This study used a quantitative approach to examine the transformational leaders’ influence on crisis management through mediating and moderating the role of digital transformation and organizational agility, respectively, within construction small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Pakistan. The random sampling technique was used, and data were collected through a dyadic survey approach and were analyzed on SPSS-23. Findings Findings reveal that transformational leaders would lead the organizational shift to digital transformation in economic crises in order to preserve the resources and increase the efficiency of business operations. Results have further shown that digital transformation alone may not foster crisis management unless construction SMEs uphold agility in times of crisis. Research limitations/implications This study includes valuable recommendations for SMEs to survive during economic crises and political instability and emphasizes the systematic approach when overcoming such issues to survive. Originality/value This study includes valuable recommendations for construction sector SMEs to survive during economic crises and political instability and emphasizes the systematic approach when overcoming such issues to survive.