Toward an understanding of digital global leadership: the role of digital literacy for managers in multinational contexts

Purpose The article undertakes a comprehensive investigation into global leadership practices as they are conducted in the digital age. It underscores the need for leadership approaches to meet the demands of technological advancements, particularly in an international context. Design/methodology/approach Drawing on extant global leadership and digital literacy literature, the paper combines the concept of global leadership and digital literacy to offer an integrated framework for understanding the nuances of leading a geographically dispersed and technologically connected workforce. Findings We propose that global leadership includes task-oriented and relation-oriented forms, while digital literacy encompasses digital skills, such as digital information management and virtual communication as well as a digital mindset, characterized by technological developmental orientation and cyber awareness. The integration of the two concepts leads to our articulation of the term digitally literate global leadership (the capability to strategically use digital tools and mindsets to navigate complex global tasks and relationships), aimed at providing a better understanding of the role of digitalization in cross-cultural and international management disciplines. Practical implications The article argues that mastering the complexities of digitally literate global leadership prepares leaders for success in an increasingly interconnected and digital global business context. Originality/value The article is one of the first to develop a framework for the intersections of global leadership and digitalization, specifically focusing on the central contingency of digitalization for effective global leaders.