Dilemma of Responsible Leadership in Pakistan: Finding the Fulcrum Between Responsibilities and Resources using Delphi, DEMATEL, and ANP

Responsible leadership entails balancing the needs of various stakeholders, yet resource constraints and the pursuit of visible benefits for both the community and the organization pose challenges. This study proposes a methodology to identify the most essential and impactful responsibilities for leaders. Utilizing the Delphi technique, decision making trial and evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL), and analytical network process (ANP), data were collected from 40 respondents representing diverse stakeholder groups. The study first identified five major criteria through Delphi technique which included: (a) needs of the surrounding community, (b) areas with minimal government support, (c) enhancement of organizational image, (d) contribution to organizational performance, and (e) quantity of resources required. DEMATEL analysis revealed that criterion (e) was the most influential, followed by (b), (c), (a), and (d). Criteria (a), (b), and (c) acted as influencers, whereas (d) and (e) were receivers. Then, using the Delphi technique, five key responsibilities were identified: (R1) supporting children’s education, (R2) capacity building for the local community, (R3) setting up water filtration plants, (R4) improving the working environment, and (R5) reducing discrimination. ANP analysis prioritized these responsibilities according to the already identified criteria as R1, R2, R5, R4, and R3 respectively. This structured approach is expected to guide leaders in making decisions to allocate resources optimally, thereby maximizing benefits for both the organization and the community.