The Roles of Strategic Leadership in Ensuring Sustainable Competitive Advantage: Empirical Evidence from Pharmaceutical Distribution in Emerging Markets

This research addresses the crucial yet underexplored area of strategic leadership roles in enhancing sustainable competitive advantage in the pharmaceutical distribution sector of emerging markets, particularly focusing on South Africa. The relevance of this study lies in its exploration of strategic leadership within a sector experiencing significant growth and global competition, specifically in the context of emerging markets where such investigations are scarce. The primary aim is to delineate strategic leadership roles crucial for fostering sustainable competitive advantage in this sector. The choice of the pharmaceutical distribution sector in South Africa as the research object is due to its dynamic nature and the unique challenges it presents in emerging markets. This study covers a significant period that reflects the evolving dynamics of the industry. Utilising a qualitative research methodology, the study involves in-depth interviews with 10 strategic leaders in South African pharmaceutical distribution firms. This approach provides a robust informational and statistical basis for the research. Through thematic analyses, the research uncovers five key strategic leadership roles: setting strategic direction, managing business complexity, promoting organisational structure, managing organisational culture, and developing human resources. These roles are pivotal in establishing and maintaining a sustainable competitive advantage in the pharmaceutical distribution industry in emerging markets. The study confirms the hypothesis that effective strategic leadership is vital for achieving sustainable competitive advantage. It reveals specific trends and quantitative regularities in leadership strategies that contribute to this goal. This research offers substantial practical significance for managerial decision-making in the pharmaceutical distribution industry, particularly in emerging markets. Its insights are crucial for leaders aiming to create and sustain competitive advantage, thereby contributing to the industry's growth and stability. Furthermore, it lays a foundation for future investigations across various contexts within the pharmaceutical sector and different leadership perspectives.