THE IMPACT OF SPIRITUAL LEADERSHIP, WORKPLACE SPIRITUALITY AND LEARNED OPTIMISM ON PROMISE-BASED MANAGEMENT IN MALAYSIAN HIGHER LEARNING INSTITUTIONS: THE MEDIATING ROLE OF TRUST

Authors

  • Ku Luqmannul Hakim Ku Yaacob Postgraduate Candidate, Kulliyyah of Economics and Management Sciences, International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM), Jalan Gombak, Selangor, Malaysia
  • Rodrigue Ancelot Harvey Fontaine Associate Professor, Kulliyyah of Economics and Management Sciences, International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM), Jalan Gombak, Selangor, Malaysia
  • Muhammad Tahir Jan Associate Professor, Kulliyyah of Economics and Management Sciences, International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM), Jalan Gombak, Selangor, Malaysia
  • Nik Hziman Nik Mat Assistant Professor, Kulliyyah of Economics and Management Sciences International Islamic University Malaysia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.22452/

Keywords:

Spiritual Leadership, Workplace Spirituality, Learned Optimism, Promise-Based Management, Trust

Abstract

Malaysian public universities are increasingly challenged to strengthen ethical governance, institutional accountability, and stakeholder trust amid ongoing structural reforms. However, limited empirical research has examined how value-based leadership and psychological resources jointly influence promise-keeping behaviour in higher education institutions. This study aims to investigate the effects of Spiritual Leadership, Workplace Spirituality, and Learned Optimism on Promise-Based Management (PBM), with Trust examined as a mediating mechanism. Guided by a positivist epistemology and objectivist ontology, this research adopts a quantitative cross-sectional design. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire administered to 483 administrative staff from 20 Malaysian public universities. The data were analysed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) to test the hypothesised relationships and mediation effects. The results indicate that Spiritual Leadership, Workplace Spirituality, and Learned Optimism have significant positive effects on PBM (p < 0.001). Furthermore, Trust significantly mediates the relationships between all three antecedents and PBM, confirming its central role in translating values and psychological resources into effective promise coordination. The model demonstrates strong explanatory power, with substantial variance explained in PBM (R² > 0.60). These findings provide important theoretical contributions by integrating leadership, organizational climate, and cognitive psychology into a unified governance framework. Practically, the study recommends that university administrators invest in spiritual leadership development, community-oriented workplace practices, and resilience-building interventions to strengthen trust and institutional accountability. Future research should employ longitudinal and mixed method designs to examine causal dynamics and extend the model to academic staff and private universities. In conclusion, this study offers robust empirical evidence that trust-centred, value-driven leadership is critical for strengthening promise-based governance in Malaysian higher education.

Author Biographies

  • Ku Luqmannul Hakim Ku Yaacob, Postgraduate Candidate, Kulliyyah of Economics and Management Sciences, International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM), Jalan Gombak, Selangor, Malaysia

    Postgraduate Candidate, Kulliyyah of Economics and Management Sciences, International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM), Jalan Gombak, Selangor, Malaysia

  • Rodrigue Ancelot Harvey Fontaine, Associate Professor, Kulliyyah of Economics and Management Sciences, International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM), Jalan Gombak, Selangor, Malaysia

    Associate Professor, Kulliyyah of Economics and Management Sciences, International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM), Jalan Gombak, Selangor, Malaysia

  • Muhammad Tahir Jan, Associate Professor, Kulliyyah of Economics and Management Sciences, International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM), Jalan Gombak, Selangor, Malaysia

    Associate Professor, Kulliyyah of Economics and Management Sciences, International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM), Jalan Gombak, Selangor, Malaysia

  • Nik Hziman Nik Mat , Assistant Professor, Kulliyyah of Economics and Management Sciences International Islamic University Malaysia

    Assistant Professor, Kulliyyah of Economics and Management Sciences

    International Islamic University Malaysia

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Published

2026-04-24

Issue

Vol. 6 No. 1 (2026): Online Journal of Islamic Management and Finance

Section

Islamic Management

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