An examination of the external environmental complexities affecting leadership effectiveness in the uMzimkhulu Local Municipality

This research aimed to examine the external environmental complexities affecting leadership effectiveness in uMzimkhulu Municipality using the complex adaptive leadership theory as its theoretical framework. It used a mixed methods approach. Purposive sampling was used to draw a sample of managerial employees from the municipality and semi-structured interviews were used to collect data from them. A survey questionnaire was used to collect data from non-managerial employees from the same municipality. The results showed agreeability that community pressures, political change dynamics and changes in economic cycles were the key external factors that challenged the municipality's ability to meet its service delivery goals. The external environment of the UMLM is complex, intricate and dynamic enough to adversely affect leadership effectiveness. As recommended, on the strategic front, the municipality needed to enhance contingency strategies that directly deal with the external environment challenges that affect service delivery. On the leadership development front, it needed to equip its leaders with skills to manage external environment complexities, including through the guidance of the complex adaptive leadership theory.