An information-processing perspective on leadership and culture: A case for connectionist architecture

An information-processing model of the relationship between culture and leadership is developed in the present paper. In contrast to previous work in this area, we propose that a connectionist network is useful for understanding how culture and leadership affect follower reactions and behaviour. A brief discussion of connectionist architectures is provided and the overlap between the conceptualisation of schemas within such architectures and current discussions of culture and leadership schemas is noted. The present model is flexible enough to account for cognitively efficient processes that occur at either a subconscious or conscious level of awareness. Further, the model is able to account for the sensitivity of leadership schemas and cultural meaning systems to contextual information. Finally, the critical nature of the self-concept for understanding the process by which culture and leadership interact to affect follower reactions and behaviour is discussed.