Leadership Style and Resource Allocation Inequalities as Correlates of Factionalism in Higher Education Institutions

Abstract

Anecdotal evidence suggests that leadership style and inequitable resource allocation contribute to the persistence of factionalism in higher education institutions. However, empirical research directly examining these relationships remains limited. This study addressed this gap by investigating the extent to which university governance styles and resource allocation inequalities predict factionalism in public universities in Northern Ghana. The objective was to generate evidence-based insights to inform governance reforms, enhance inclusivity, and foster collegial and cohesive academic environments. Anchored in Social Identity Theory, the study employed Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) to analyze data from 200 university staff, using a structured questionnaire as the primary data collection instrument. The results revealed that governance style and resource allocation inequalities significantly and positively predicted the prevalence of factionalism. Both governance and resource-related variables also exhibited significant direct effects on communication. Additionally, the analysis identified a modest but theoretically meaningful mediating role of communication climate in the relationship between governance, resource allocation inequalities, and factionalism. These findings underscore the critical role of internal communication climate in shaping identity-driven conflicts within higher education institutions. The study offers practical and policy implications, highlighting the need for inclusive and participatory governance models, equitable and transparent resource allocation frameworks, and deliberate investment in strengthening internal communication systems to mitigate the incidence of factionalism. Based on these insights, the study recommends that university leadership prioritize training in inclusive and transformational leadership, ensure fairness in resource distribution, and institutionalize mechanisms for two-way communication and grievance redress.

Keywords: Leadership, Resource allocation inequalities, Factionalism, Communication climate

DOI: 10.7176/JEP/16-11-14

Publication date: October 30th 2025