El liderazgo transformacional en el desarrollo comunitario de los habitantes de la parroquia El Progreso, 2023

Abstract

This research addresses the theme of "Transformational Leadership in Community Development: A Case Study of the inhabitants of El Progreso Parish in 2023." Its objective is to identify the benefits of practicing transformational leadership to foster social cohesion and collaboration among people in implementing actions aimed at developing the parish. Within this context, it was observed that weak leadership hampers individuals' involvement in decision-making and activity implementation, thereby impeding the achievement of adequate social welfare necessary for improving their quality of life. Hence, the aim of this thesis is to determine the contribution of transformational leadership to the community development of the inhabitants of El Progreso Parish. Given the scant intervention by authorities to engage the population in local issues, many individuals are unaware of their problems or the realities of their context, hindering the search for collective solutions to achieve social welfare. The study draws upon the structural-functionalism theory of Talcott Parsons, which analyzes social structures and the functions performed by each component part. It underscores the necessity of balance and order in activities to achieve the social cohesion requisite for social development. Methodologically, the research employs a mixed approach, combining qualitative and quantitative methods. Interviews were conducted with authorities, and surveys were administered to a sample of 369 individuals from the twenty sites of El Progreso parish. The utilization of instruments such as interview guides and questionnaires facilitated the collection of information from primary sources to gauge inhabitants' opinions regarding the main issues they face, community participation, and the effects of the absence of transformational leadership. Findings from field research indicate a low level of inhabitant participation in El Progreso parish, with 58% of respondents indicating minimal involvement in social, economic, political, and cultural activities. Additionally, there is scant intervention in decision-making, attributed to widespread disinterest and lack of motivation in addressing local issues. Weak leadership capacity and collaboration barriers have stymied community development, resulting in limited access to basic services, deficient healthcare systems, and scarce employment opportunities. Immediate intervention is necessary to bolster the relationship between leaders and the community, fostering commitment to work towards individual and collective well-being. These findings inform the formulation of an intervention proposal: "Implementation of Community Workshops to Promote inhabitant Participation in Activities and Decision-Making." The proposal aims to stimulate active engagement in parish affairs through training, workshops, meetings with authorities, and the involvement of specialists who can impart knowledge about community participation, thereby addressing existing challenges to achieve an adequate standard of living.