Research orientation in public leadership: strategic insights from global practices to Vietnam

Purpose This study aims to examine various aspects and proposed research themes in public leadership globally and explore Ho Chi Minh's ideology, the perspectives of the Communist Party of Vietnam and studies by Vietnamese scholars. Based on this, it proposes future research directions in public leadership in Vietnam. Design/methodology/approach The study adopts a systematic literature review (SLR) approach, following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses 2020 guidelines. It utilizes literature published between 2000 and 2024. A preliminary database was constructed to identify research orientations in public leadership both globally and within Vietnam, guided by four research questions. Findings Concepts of public leadership have evolved over time, leading to shifts in research themes and proposals within the field. Certain themes have remained consistent, such as public leadership in politics, legal compliance and the public interest. In the Vietnamese context, public leadership research has largely focused on political willpower. However, it also needs to further develop themes such as political faith, the spirit of the law, innovation in public leadership and adaptive leadership in an increasingly dynamic environment. Research limitations/implications This study focuses on peer-reviewed journal articles, official publications available on online platforms and books. Practical implications The study contributes by (1) developing the concept of public leadership within the Vietnamese context; (2) identifying which themes relating public leadership research have been discussed in recent years; (3) highlighting lessons from international research from which Vietnam can learn to improve current and future public leadership and (4) suggesting promising directions for future theoretical and empirical research on public leadership in Vietnam. Originality/value This study offers valuable proposals for future research on public leadership tailored to the Vietnamese context.