The role of digital governance in mediating the relationship between transformational leadership and the effectiveness of regional development strategies: evidence from local governments in South Sulawesi, Indonesia

This study examines the mediating role of digital governance in the relationship between transformational leadership and the effectiveness of regional development strategies in local governments of South Sulawesi, Indonesia. Grounded in socio-technical and institutional perspectives, the research adopts a quantitative design using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) with a sample of 200 civil servants and officials. The findings reveal that transformational leadership positively affects both digital governance and regional development strategy effectiveness. Furthermore, digital governance significantly enhances strategy effectiveness and partially mediates the influence of leadership on development outcomes. These results highlight the complementary roles of leadership vision and digital infrastructure in strengthening transparency, accountability, and citizen-centered governance. The study contributes to the literature by integrating leadership and digital transformation perspectives while providing practical insights for policymakers to align leadership competencies with digital initiatives. This alignment is essential for ensuring that regional development strategies are not only well-formulated but also effectively implemented and sustainable.